The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-23
LYING IN STATE.
The Body of Pope Leo Rests in
Basilica of st. PETERS.
Doors Opened to the Public and
Thousands Enter.
SAT UP ALL NIGHT
To Make Sure of Gaining En-
trance to the Church.
The Crush Began at Six O'clock
and Was Terrific.
SAT- UP ALL NIGHT

St Peters, while thousands of persons
from the ordinary walks of life filed
past to pay their last tributes of love
and veneration. The impressive cere-
monies Of yesterday were viewed by only
a favored few of the nobility. aristro
Gratis and the highest clergy, but today
the doors were opened to the entire pub
lie. Many remained on the piazza
throughout the hot night in order TO
gain a place al the head of the line. By
o'clock this morning there was a
crowd of several hundred which had in
creased by o'clock to several thous-
ands.
Elaborate preparations had been made
to guard against accidents in the crush.
All converging streets were cleared of
vehicles, leaving them free for foot pas
sengers, while six ambulance stations
had been erected including one at the
entrance to the piazza and another be-
side the door OF St. Peters.
Exactly at 6 o'clock the bells of the
great cathedral began tolling mournful-
ly-a small bell beginning in the high
notes and the chimes running down
through the scale until a deep bass
stroke had completed the minor chords.
At the sound of the first bell two regi-
ments of Italian grenadlers marched
smartly across the piazza to the stone
steps and soon the east portico swarm
ed for the first time in years with Ital-
ian troops-three hundred on the pOrticO
and Il hundred surrounding the colon
nades. The grenadiers wore long blue
service coats and peaked caps. They
stood in double column at parade rest,
the lines extending from the Threshold
of the church through a narrow gate
way of a temporary wooden structure
which was holding back the crowd. At
five minutes after six the gate was op-
ened and the human tide began to flow
in. The jam at the narrow entrance soon
became terrific, threatening serious re-
suits to the struggling mass of half
fainting women and children. Although
the crowd was not extraordinarily large
the steady movement into the funnel
like enclosure made the pressure ter
rife Many women had their dresses or
wells torn off and some were lifted. ex-
hausted, over the wooden enclosure and
out of the crush. Fortunately, there
were no serious accident and the ambu-
lances were not summoned
Within the church temporary railings
had been erected to keep the people in
a straight line leading directly to the
bier This was the center to which all
eyes turned. The body lay on cata-
falque ten feet high so that all could
see it. The body was slightly inclined.
with the head raised and facing the
passing throng. The visage had a
chalky whiteness and appeared to be
unnaturally shriveled. 1t was robed in
the full vestments as the Roman pub
lie knew the pOntiff in life. Around the
bier burned thirteen high candles.
while on each side stood the Noble
guards, mOtionleSs. Further back were
kneeling priests and acolytes softly in
toning invocations.
The crowd pushed against the iron
trellace which separates the chapel
from the main portion of the church.
but those who expected to kiss the
slippered feet were disappointed, as the
officials had adopted precautiOnarS
measures so that the lower eXtremities
OF the body were half a yard back OF
the iron grating.
All ranks and stations OF life were
represented in the throng. Many were
working people. There also were
groups of convent girls under the care
of nuns, and of school boys headed by
priests. Crowds continued to pass be-
fore the bier throughout the morning.
At o.30 a m. solemn pontihcal
requiem mass was celebrated in St.
Peters for the repose of the soul of
Leo XIII. The crowd was kept con-
stantly moving within the wooden bar
riers, but over entrances were pro-
Vided for those desiring to assist at the
mass on the other side of the church.
Several thousand people were present
although in so vast a church, capable
of containing 10000 persons, they APP
peared to be g mere handful especially
Cardinal Oreglia, dean of the sacred
college. feels Worn out owing to his un-
accustomed eXertions. His life as a
cardinal was one of uninterrupted Sc
renity, and he now practically bears
the entire burden of the church and
also the minute details of the prepara-
tiOnS for the Obsequies and the con-
clave. notwithstanding this he opened
this mornings meetingof the congrega-
tion of cardinals. The number of those
present today was augmented bv the
presence of two new arrivals. Cardina,
DOmenicO SVampa. archbishop n,
archbishop of Ferrara. The former
was especially warmly welcomed bv his
colleagues, as being one of the mos,
prominent members of the sacred col,
lege and because he is mentioned among
those most likely to succeed Pope I .eo
It is being remarked that Cardina
Oreglia's responsibilities have softenee
ms austerity, and that he is direcIing
affairs with firmness but without
harshness, showing the cardinals every
consideration and giving constant proc
of equanimity.
During the hot hours of the day the
crowd at St Peters decreased and great
difficulty was experienced in viewine
the body.
An extraordinarily significant element
was introduced later in the morning by
Italian soldiers entering the church, fol
the maintenance of order, in full uni
form, wearing their caps and sidearms
Ihey lined the aisles and stood two deer
in front of the body itself until tbs
whole church assumed in aspect alunos
more military than religious. The event
which was unprecedented. created wide.
spread comment The presence of tn.
soldiers was generally interpreted l.
mean another step towards a rap.
proachement between the church ant
state as heretofore the vatican has al
ways maintained that it had a suficien
force of soldiers to insure order within
its own territory and the inference i.