The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-28

Leo was inferred in st. Peters tonight
sounded through the immense dome Of
the cathedral announced to the earnest
gathering in the nave that Leo XIII
had been laid to rest. At sundown the
most important and most solemn Of
all the obsequies took place. The front
doors of the Basilica were closed and
the vast church, except for a row of
lights at the shrine of st. Peter the
candles about the bier and those per-
sons who had quietly and with the ut
most reverance gathered there, appear
ed deserted.
About 1000 persons had received in
vitations to attend the ceremonies.
The cardinals who met earlier in the
vatican entered, the chapel choir wait
ing there for the arrival Of the process
sion Cardinal Oreglia, the Camerlengo.
holding the keys OF command.
Through special permission a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press was
allowed to enter the chapel Of the sac
rament before the remains of the dead
pontiff were removed.
Cardinal Rampolla as arch priest Of
the Basilica was waiting outside the
gates, in violet robes, surrounded by
the chapter of the cathedral which was
led by Monsignor Ceppetelli. who con-
Quoted the service. Doctors Lapponi
and Mazzoni directed the work of the
removal of the bier which was execut-
ed by eight sediari, or pope's carriers.
attired in their brilliant red brocade
costumes. They at first tried to raise
the bier. but finding It TOO heavy, they
slowly slid it onto a low car with
noiseless wheels.
Then to the strains of the "Miserie. '
which walled Though the lofty church.
and preceded by a g!ittering cross held
aloft, the procession, carrying candles
and torches slowly left the chapel and
| went up the church, passing the bronz
| statute and beyond the Shrine of St
Peter. Those gathered fell to their
| knees
| After slow progress around the
| church the sad cOrtege arrived at the
| chapel choir, the bier being so carried
1 that the dead pope entered head first
| according to the ceremonial, the chape
| from semi-obscurity flashing into the
| brilliancy of the suddenly turned or
| electric light. Here all those who had
received invitations were stopped, re.
| naming in the main part Of the basili-
ca behind a double line Of the Wiss
Gus, in their peculiar yellow, red an6
black uniforms, and armed with hal
herds and serpentine swords.
! Within the chapel was Count Camil-
10 Pecci, a nephew of the pope, wear.
| ing the red uniform of a general of the
noble guard.
| In the chapel the music changed tt
notes of joy and triumph and in para.
| disium rang out with telling effect
| From the outside the five bells Of ST
Peters rang their accustomed salute tt
the coming night, mingiing harmoni
ously with the music Of the choir.
| The scene in the chapel was mos
remarkably effective. The bier bear
| ing the body was raised by Cardina
| Oreglia. 1t was placed in the centr
| backed by an altar with a beautiful
image of the madonna, before which
l were burning 1OuI lIJIi-lSt CdIlOleS IL
| silver StaffS.
Around the two sides Of the. chape
in the choir seats were thirty-six car
| dinals all wearing violet robes excep
! Cardinals Gotti and Pierrotti who wor
the white mantles Of their orders; Car
| dinal MartinelH in black. as an Angus
tinian and Cardinal Nivesey Tuto il
Franciscan brown.
The body was sprinkled with hol!
water, absolution was given and tn
foot of Leo XIII. was kissed for tn
last time by Majordomo Caginiano
master of the chamber Bisleti ant
Count Camille.
The Majordomo then covered tn
venerable features and hands with
white silk veil bordered with gold. Owe
this the prefect of ceremonies spreac
a larger silk veil, which covered tn
whole person. Fire was lighted in
brazier and blown by bellows, tn
sparks rising almost to the ceiling
while Mgr. Bartelini read for twe1t.
minutes the Grafton brevis eulogiZini
the dead pontiff. and Notary Popeni.