Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-31
Beginning of Three Requiems for
Repose of Soul of Departed
Pope Celebrated.
SACRED COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
CONDUCTS THE CEREMONY
Presence of Church Dignitaries. Dip
lomats and Guards Makes the Scene
Most Striking Ceremony Takes
Place In Famous sistine Chapel in
the Vatican.


day morning in the Sistine chapel. All
the cardinals now in Rome, the diplo-
matte corps, the Roman nobility and
many other distinguished persons were
present No such mass had been seen in
Rome since the death of Plus TX.
In the Sistine chapel stood a huge
white catafalque, 80 feet high, and on it,
upon two scarlet cushions, rested a
triple crown of gold, shining brightly in
the light of hundred candles. The
catafalque completely hid the altar.
Thanking the catafalque, on benches
specially constructed, sat almost all the
members of the sacred college, wear
ing scarlet capes over their violet robes.
AT their feet, on stools, were the con-
clavists or secretaries, in violet. In
the narrow aisle behind, between the
benches and the wall, the heads of the
religious orders, archbishops, patri-
archs, monsignors, and monks. knelt or
stood in picturesque confusion.
At the four corners of the catafalque
burned candles ten feet high. Beside
these stood noble guards, motionless,
with drawn swords. Other noble guards
were posted at the chancel entrance.
were all the diplomats. The intermin-
gled uniforms of France, Russia, Prus-
STA, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Portugal,
Brazil. Chilli, Colombia, Guatemala and
Bavaria formed vivid contrast with
the simple evening dress of the Roman
princes and the Grape wells and black
dresses of the princesses, who sat direct
ly across the aisle. In addition, two gal
leries had been erected. In the gallery
to the left were about a hundred ladies,
all in deep black. In the right gallery
were the special missions, among them
being Sir Thomas Esmonde and Capt.
Donelan, representing the Irish party
in parliament. Beneath the galleries the
priests and 1aymen who had been for
tunate enough to secure tickets, but
who were not distinguished enough for
special places, were packed in dim seclu-
sion. Swiss and noble guards, chamber
lains and other vatican officials lined the
aisle Michael Angeles frescos on cell
ing and walls seemed merely faint re-
Elections of the brilliant maze of color
that stretched below from door to altar
A Wonderful Sight.
At the altar Cardinal Serafino Van
nutelli was assisted by Cardinals
Agliardi, vincenzo Vannutelli, Satolli
and Richard, wearing white mitres and
glistening vestments. AS the SO car
dinals and so conclavists gathered
around the catafalque, and alternate
ly knelt and rose, their movements
resembled an amazing kaleidoscope of
crimson and violet, with colors so
bright as to be almost trying to the
eyes.
Then came the singing of the Sane
tus, modulated almost into whisper.
All present knelt as the choir ceased
tntoning its grand chant and the dead
silence of the conservation which fol-
lowed was suddenly broken by the
clash of arms as the Noble Guards pre-
sented swords. Then there was an
other clatter of arms as the soldiers
scabbards clashed on the marble floor
ing when they dropped on one knee,
lowering their swords, and brought
their left hands to their helmets in
rigid salute.
Clouds of incense rose from the
censors until Michael Angeles ia
nous Last Judgment" was almost
hidden from view.
Suddenly the sharp tinkling of
bell rang through the edifce, and told
the worshipers that the host had been
elevated.
At the conclusion of the mass the
choir again burst out into song. and
Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli, preced-
ed by the cross-bearer, passed solemn
ly around the catafalque, after sprink-
ling it with holy water. Each of the
officiating cardinals followed in turn,
and the ceremony was concluded with
the chanting of the Oremus.
The meeting of the congregation of
cardinals was very short. After an ex-
change of views on current affairs,
Mgr. Merry Del Val, secretary Of the
consistorial congregation, gave each
cardinal a diagram, showing where his
apartments in the vatican will be To-
Gated during the conclave.
Ship Wrecked, One Drowned.