Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-25
Cardinals and Relatives Are Gath
cred at Bedside and Receive
q Last Benediction.
patheticS Genes in Sick Room During
Last Hours--Hope Abandoned
Early in the Day.
How the News II Received Through
out the WOrld-ShOrt Bio
graphical Sketch.

Rome, July 21.-The pope died
shortly after foui o'clock Monday aft
ernoon. His last moments were COM
paratively peaceful and painless and
were preceded by period of insensi-
bility. Around the bedside at the final
moment were the cardinals, the rela-
tives and the members of the papal
court. Before lapsing into uncon-
sciousness the dying pontiff feebly
moved his lips, his last articulate
words being those used in bestowing q
benediction.
Gradually the shadow Of death
spread over the pontiff, his extrem-
tiles became cold, his features as
sumed the fixed rigidity of death and
DR.. Lapponi noted his last fluttering
heartbeats, which gradually became
slower and slower until they finally
stopped.
The news Of the popes death spread
rapidly throughout Rome and caused
a most profound sensation. The whole
city is in mourning.
His Last Moments.
Shortly before noon the pope was
seized with a sinking spell. For few
moments it was believed that catas-
trophe was about to occur. So near
death was the pontiff that Cardinal
Vannutelli, the grand penitentiary, be-
gan at his bedside to recite the prayers
for the dying. and administered abso-
luton in artlculo mortds. The pope.
however, once again demonstrated his
marvellous vitality by rallying from the
apparently fatal seizure, but only to
relapse Immediately into a state OF
semi-consciousness
Thinks Of the Past.
Although the morning bulletin had
given the impression that the pope'a
condition was somewhat ameliorated,
in reality the doctors did not think so.
They considered that the lowering Of
the pulse and the diminution of the
respiration were due to great prostra-
ton of the whole organism, which was
augmenting, Notwithstanding the fact
that the patient at times took a little
nourishment. The pope continued now
and then to mutter phrases, although
unconscious. His mind evidently re-
him most before his illness began. At
one moment he was feeling about with
his hands and moving his head from side
to side. trying to lift himself, while he
murmured: What crowds! What de-
votion! My dear people!" Then, fall
ing back inertly, he sighed and said:
''Oh, the weight of these robes. Can
hold out until the end?" This was fol-
lowed by scraps of Latin verses and
prayers and then came an interval of
silence, which was broken by another
moment Of energy, in which the pope
cried: 1.-THE consistory is over! They
can reproach me no longer! How many
faces Of all kinds! How many foreign
ers! The church Is triumphing!" and
so on, over and over again.
Realizes End Is Near.
A wonderful thing about Pope Leo
was that every time his mind became
clear he seemed to grasp the fact that
it might be the last, and he made the
highest use of it. When, during the
alarming crisis, about noon. he was ly-
ing on his bed, perfectly motionless,
while around him knelt the cardinals
and other members of tho papal court,
praying and not knowing whether the
pope was not already dead. without any
preliminary restlessness the pontin
opened his eyes, which fell on Cardinal
Oreglia, who was at his: side, and ,he
said, solemnly:
ITO your eminence, who will soon
seize the reins Of supreme power. con-
f1de the church in these difficult times. I"
Then Mgr. Bisleti. the master of the
chamber, asked for the pope's benedic-
ton for the court, which the pontin
granted. adding: '.........
BE this my last greeting"
Then the pontitt gave his hand to kiss
to the cardinals present, who were Greg
liza, Rampolla, Seraflno Vannutelli, Dolla
Volpe and Wives y Tuto.
President Deeply Touched.
Washington. July 21.-The state de-
partment. upon learning Of the death
of the pope, sent the following cable
gram to Cardinal Rampolla: -.
Cardinal Rampolla, the Vatican,
Rome: *~.' T. - *@.
''The president desires me to express
his profound sense of the loss which
the Christian world has sustained in
the death of his holiness, Leo XIII.
BY his lofty character, his great learn
ing, and his comprehensive charity he
adorned his exalted station and made
his reign one Of the most illustrious az
+ has been one Of tho longest IL Tho