The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20

ROME. July %. $50 a. m-Nov that the
supreme last moment in the memorable life
and reign Of Pope Leo is expected almost
hourly. the contrast between the quiet
within and the excitement without the
Vatican Is most striking. In the vast palace
there is hushed calm of expectation the
only apparent wakeful souls being the
Swiss guards The doctors and attendants
OF the dying Pontoff speak in whispers and
move noiselessly about, so that from the
sick room no sound comes except the heavy
breathing of the unconscious Pope or his
occasional cries for Pho Contra and DR..
Lapponi- His tone is one of fear. as though
he felt himself abandoned. In reality sleep
is very far from all eyes. Mo matter at
what hour death comes the whole palace
Will spring into sudden life. as though
touched by a magician's wand
In the piazza of St. Peters, on the con-
trary. all is movement. there being a regu-
lar encampment of journalists before the
famous bronze doors, which are now closed
In their faces, and behind which the regular
tramp of the Swiss guards can be heard.
Many eyes are glued to the window in the
Pope's chamber. overlooking the piazza,
while the nearby cafes. especially those
with telephones. are crowded Bicycles
ready for use are piled up outside them and
cabs are lingering about in the hope of
catching fare. This strange scene is
illuminated by the magnificent starlight,
while the two grand and celebrated foun-
tains give kind of spectral grace to the
whole.
The Osservatore Romano. the chief Vat
lean organ. has received orders to hold
itself in readiness to issue almost at
moments notice special edition. The only
thing wanting to complete the paper is the
hour of Pope Leo's death. The staffs of all
the other papers are at their posts, ready to
issue special editions at any hour.
IN A STATE OF COMA
The Pope lies in state of coma. and there
are doubts in the minds of his doctors
whether he will ever completely emerge
His immediate dissolution seems only to be
averted by the reliability of the action of
his heart. His pulse. though weak. con-
tinues steady. Shortly before midnight Dr.
Lapponi said:
The Pope at the present moment is in
state OF coma, which may be called con-
diton preceding the last agony. the dura-
tion of which IL Is impossible TO forecast
although everything leads 10 the belief that
his condition cannot last To be more ex-
o0f he fG Ia Sfa4o Of
por. from which. however. he rouses occa-
slolally when he hears sharp sounds as
for instance, the insistent voice of one of
his faniliars calling loudly TO him. Left
alone he relapseS Immediately into a condi-
ton OF torpor. AT intervals he rrI,irpurs
I'm his sleep. continuing to have forebodines
that he Is being abandoned by his valet.
Centra, and myself These are the symp-
eral exhaustion He can no longer turn in
his bed without assistance and fs being kept
alive by artificial stimulants. During the
last twenty-three hours he has had two in
jections OF camphorated oil. three of caf-
feline and two hypodermics of salt water
besides drinking stimuants-"
Mgr. Bislotti. master of the Pope's cham
ber said earlier I'm the evening that the
pulse of his Holiness had not yet shown
any signs OF becoming intermittent. so. de-
spite his extreme weakness and coma he
believed the Pope would survive the night
and possibly tomorrow.
Both the Italian government and the au-
thorities OF the Vatican have made final
preparations for the Pope's death The gov
ernment Is Tigidly censoring all kilograms
and telephone communication between
Italy and the rest of the continent AT this
hour but few people remain at the Vatican.
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