Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-06
POPE VERY ILL.
Fears That He May Survive
But a Short Time.
At One Time Thought He Would Not
Live Through Night.
His Holiness Suffering from an Attack
of Pneumonia.

Rome, July 6-3 A. E-"Gods will
be done. Who would have believed it.
when only 10 days a'-o l was presiding
over public consstory," feebIv muir
INJURED Pope Leo. late last evening as
he felt himself sinking into a sleep
which lasted about three hours. until
excruciatinC pain, brought the dying
Pontiff back to consciousness. He
groaned and complained of pains on
both sides of the thorax. Tenderly. DR..
Lapponi, assisted by Pope Leo's valet,
Pho Contra. and the physicians second
assistant, DeCastro. lifted the frall
form and changing the position sue
ceeded in giving the patient some re-
lief
Though lowering on the brink of
death, the life of the Pontiff is still pro-
longed by means of strong stimulants
and concentrated nourishment. and
while he is still alive his wonderful
vitality may again resist and conquer
the attack of this illness. Late this
evening, after the excitement of the
ceremony of the last sacrament was
over, the Pope seemed less restless,
partly soothed by the religious service
and partly by dose of choral, which
was given to him in considerable guam
tity. The Pontiff is lying on a small
bed drawn up to a window overlooking
the piazza of St. Peters. The chamber
is very large and draped with green
curtains. The only picture in the room
is an antique Madonna and the sole or
nament a great ivory crucifix.
The interior of the Vatican during
the early hours of this morning testi-
fies to the conviction that the passing
of Pope Leo is very near. The court
yard of ST. Damasco is filled with the
carriages of the cardinals. Cardinal
S;atolli drove to Rome from Frascati,
this evening, the beautiful carriage
horses covered with dust and perspir-
alton. In the Cortile are drawn up the
carriages of cardinals and many
notables. Servants and messengers
hurry across the court with bundles of
huge wax tapers and with the robes
of the ecclesiastical dignitaries who
are waiting within the palace. The
ante chambers of the palace We're
thronged, tonight, with princes of the
church, high noblemen and members
of the diplomatic corps. kilograms
of inquiry have been received from sew
eral of the monarchs of Europe.
All kinds of speculations are already
in circulation as to the probable sue
cessor to the throne of st. Peter. Opin
ions are much divided owing to the
many interests which will be affected
according to the choice made by the
Sacred College. The first question the
cardinals will have to solve will be
whether the conclave shall be held in
Rome or outside of Italy.
1t is believed that the supporters of
the idea of the abandoning Rome will
be even fewer than in the conclave
held after the death of Plus TX when
80 out of 81 cardinals voted in favor of
Rome.
The second question will be whether
the next Pope must be an Italian or a
foreigner. 1t is generally believed that
he will he an Italian, because in view
of the struggle between the church and
the state since the fall of the temporal
power and the constitution of the Unit
ed Italy all the clergy, as well as the
clerical party, and even foreigners,
think that an italian Pope can protect
better than a stranger the advance of
the religious and political interests of
the church.
The candidates chiefly spoken of are
Carolina Rampolla and Cardinal Sc
rafino Vannuttelli. They are both rep
resentatives of the conservative pol
icy, but are bitter antagonists of each
other. The most probable liberal candi-
dates are Cardinal Bishop Agfiardi and
Cardinal Priest Satolli. The most
probably religious candidates are Car
dinal Priest Gotti and Carolina Priest
Angelo Di Pietro. All these candidates
live in Rome.
1t is considered certain that if Cardi-
nal Rampolla sees the impossibility of
succeeding to the Pontifcal throne he
will throw all his strength in favor of
an outsider, with view to preserving
his candidacy for the next conclave. II 8
an opportunity arises for foreign
cardinal to be chosen the most author
tive members of the college think that
the only one who could obtain the pre-
scribed majority is Cardinal Gibbons.
Rome, July $40 p. MAI this
hour the Pope is sinking so fast that
1t has been considered best to grad
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