The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-20
EACH HOUR ADDED GRAVITY.
Pope Was Slowly SINKING Throushout
aa, the Day and Evening.

80 ROME, July 19.@Today each hour
added to the gravity of the reports
from the sick room of the pontiff until
all Rome waited, almost breathlessly,
in momentary expectation Of the an
nouncement of his death. Since the
state of depression which seized upon
the pope during the latter part of the
night his condition went steadily down
ward and throughout the day the Most
intense anxiety prevailed. For the
first time also the weather was strong
ly against him. A blistering heat fell
on the city and the great piazza of st.
Peters took up the fierce sun and
threw it back against the Vatican until
1T was like fiery furnace. Even the
slight breeze which prevailed came
in hot waves from the south. This
patient He had spent a restless night.
sleeping only for short intervals and
even then his sleep was agftated DR..
Lapponi remained in the sick room
throughout the night
At the morning conference the phys
icians noted distinct change for the
worse, particularly in the accelerated
pulse. which had risen to 90, after re-
naming for many days between SO and
80. The distinguished patient appear
ed to have lost all of that vitality of
which he had hitherto SO remarkably
maintained. He appealed piteously to
those about him, asking not to be left
alone. Although his mental vigor was
nearly exhausted he again asked that
mass be celebrated. This was per-
formed In the rooom adjoining that
In which the pontiff lay. He followed
the ceremony and took communion
with extreme difficulty. Almost i'm
mediately he sank into a state of COM
plete exhaustion. AT first this took on
the character of unnatural sleep and he
lay as one inanimate with his eyes
closed. But occasionally he started up
and cried out as though In fear.
Gradually, however, his sleep became
heavier and assumed a condition of
semi or torpor.
After noon there was hardly any re-
vival from this continued state Of tor
por, and the doctors remained contin-
uouSly in attendance. Their night bull
letin announced for the first time their
patient had been in state of coma,
which they said has been almost I'M
interrupted during the day. How long
not venture to say.
AS DR.. Lapponi came from the sick
room at 6 o'clock this evening for q
breath of fresh air, he summed I'D the
steady decline in the patients condi-
ton at that time by saying 'hThe pope's
condition tonight is worse than this
morning and last night and while the
end may come at any moment. vet an
imminent catastrope is hardly antici-
pated, as the state of coma NAV be
prolonged many hours, : az
Meantime the critical condition of
the pontif caused intense excitement
throughout the city. When the state
of coma first occurred the doctors
formally communicated the gravity Of
the condition of his holiness to Car
dlnal Rampolla, who in turn advised
the cardinals of the sacred college. At
the same time the general public be-
came aware of the alarming change In
the pope's condition and the entrance
of the Vatican was soon thronged with
dignitaries Of the church and mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, making
anxious inquiries. Twice rurnors Of
the death Of the pontiff gained circula-
ton. The cardinals and diplomats
upon their arrival were informed of
the gravity of the situation, but many
Of them left upon learning that the
rumors Of the pope's death were I'M
true.
The condition. of coma was inter-
rupted shortly after sunset. Cardinal
Wives Tuto and Mgr. Piffer, the
pope's confessor, were then called into
J the sick room. When. they began to