The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-24

ing and piety are universally recog-I
niZed.
This is the man VIII for the time bel
ing IS practically pope. 1t was he who'd
issued the orders to clear the vatican
from 1ntruders and brought tranquil
lily out of the confusion immediately
following Pope Leo's death.
The death of the pontiff at a timeI
when all Voc s~ingularly calm through
put the vatican as people had been sol
long expecting the final that
their sensibllities were we'll nigh NUM-
bered.
Scarcely q soul passed up the marble
Damaso was deserted except for the
heavy black carriages of the cardinals
and their coachmen who were waiting
their masters. 1t was the hour of the
siesta. Nothing could have been more
peaceful.
AT 20 minutes past 4 a man dashed
madIy across St. Peters square then
quite empty. A second later another
followed on a bicycle. Within a few
seconds, as if by magic newspaper men
! gendarmes and messengers, running,
driving and g~esticulating. dashed to
and from the portals of the vatican.
Like a wireless message there flash
ed around the words: He is dead
Rubbing the afternoon sleep from their
eyes. bare headed men and women,
many carrying babies, emerged from
the darkened houses and cafes and be-
sieged the DOR of the vatican. Trans
formation was complete. The quick
rapidly gathering crowd now permeat
ed where a few minutes before there
had been no sign of life.
The French ambassadors carriage
drove furiOuSly from the vatican anC
drew up at a nearby telegraph office
| without VIC; -Ir f1- +LD hnrcn- fn CtnT
the ambassador jumped out and mott
fed his government of the pope:
death.
There soon followed the cardinal:
who with set faces drove slowly home
ward.
Behind the shutters of Pope Leo!
room which still remain closed all wa
over. The heavy bronZ doors Wer
swung to and entrance to the vatican
was only ~obtainable by knocking at
little wicket which was closely KEEP
within by the papal guard n wlthou
by the Italian police. The latter ha
been slightly reinforced but had n
difficulty in controlling the crowds VIII
were allowed to remain in the Squar
just as they were accustomed to d
5 before the death. but not to enter tn
: vatican itself.
5 Carriages kept rafting up their oc
cupants mostly holding in their hand
l SulllOl1o liz -
? death which the local papers quickl
[ got out.
? On the steps Of St. Peters sat = erou
I of young Roman princes discussing tn
situation. Nearby was gathered a
most every type of peasant and Worl
E ing women who make Rome so pic
: turesnue. \ few entered the baslllc
= itself and there offered up ~rayers fc
Pope Leo's soul Among the suppl
D ant We're many monks who wit
hands upIifted prayed long and earl
eStly At the gates of the dimly HShte
1 ShTIneS.
= THE DETAILS INFINITELY TOLD
Rome. july 2O.-The whole day We
: one of continual emotion, one distres:
ing scene following another. When
became known shortly after 4 p. IT
that the pOpe's journey through II
valley OF death was almost finished "a
= dinal V%annutelli hurried again 10 n
\ bedside. and was shortly followe
;, by what is called in vatican phrase
: oiogy. the .'papal secret family al
! the noble family" besides the "pe,
sonal family" including the late pope
: nephews, Comte Ludopico. Riccart
and Cammillo and also the cardinals
the vatican. who afterwards retired
n the adjoining library, after they h
n taen allowed to kiss the pontiff'5 han
n and pass along. presenting another
$ these pictures which Will live in Il
memory OF all those participating in
d The aged pOntiff was lying prone al
: unconscious propped up to assist hi
in breathing, one hand laid on the rt
z silk coverlet. the heavy pontifiCial rlr
in danger Of falling q the shrunkt
u finger. while the other hand clutcht
his rosary and CrucifiX. Though
was entirely unconscious. CLEANS of il
: ~teIligenCe seemed to flicker across Il
Worn face and the shadow of a smi
fell over the pallid lips when the II
phew's passed and r~everently KISS
the pope'S hand. No word was spoke
y The only sound which broke the silen
q of the death was the rattle of !
arms OF the noble guard, n were st
toned at every doOr of the pontiff
- private apartments. il being their pr
ilege and tight under the Circumstance
70 axe possession OF the apartment
,e and guard the body of the pope.
a In the ante chamber had aSSemhl
Y the high ecClesiaSticS. members of {
diplomatic corps and representatives
a the papel ariStOcraCy awaiting the a
IL nounCement that the fnal NJ Ii,
= come.
Pr Profound silence reigned in the pope
bedroom only broken by the dOctC