Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-05
1T Is POPE Plus x
Continued from page, -

ing upon the crowd the cardinal dis
appeared from the window and the at
tendants quickly drew up the banner
Those below instantly made a rush
to st. Peters and a mad scramble en-
sued for the basilica. Thousands rush.
ed toward the huge doors and in spite
of their width a desperate jam oc-
Cured. in which two women narrowly
escaped injury. Like a roaring wave
the people swept into ST. Peters, still
cheering and waving hats.
Within pandemonium reigned. Those
already standing in good position to
see the gallery window, where Plus X
was momentarily expected to appear,
were hurled back to the further end
Of the nave by the irresistible compact
of those seeking entrance. Pope
Plus" and "Sarto" were the cries which
could be family heard above the COM
motion which was raging from end to
end of the historic cathedral.
The attendants at the gallery VIM
dow, who had hung out the same BAN
ner as was previously displayed from
the window in front, now hastily drew
it up. With the very sign of excite
ment they motioned the crowd to go
back to the steps of st. Peters.
A great cry arose. Those who few
moments ago were fighting their way
into the cathedral now struggled with
redoubled energy to get out. 1t was
the climax of the excitement. The
new Pope was going to bless the world
from the outside Of the basilica, which
had not been done since the days when
the Vatican ruled Rome,
1t was a revolution which each
seemed to think had been brought
about by Divine favor and a terrific
effort was made to get out in time.
With extraordinary rapidity the basili-
ca was almost deserted. The attend
ants hung the banner outside and as
the thousands waiting in the piazza
saw it and realized what was intended,
a great shout of approval arose.
Then came a sudden revulsion, as
quickly as the banner had been let
down it was drawn up. The plans
had been again changed. The last
rush that Immediately followed for the
doors of St. Peters was almost in
describable. How so many people en-
tered the basillca in SO short a time
without injury will always remain a
mystery. Inside the pandemonium in
a wheat pit in it's widest moments
could not compare with the stately
nave of ST. Peters at this moment.
AT the gallery window stood Cardinal
Mathew. Monsignor Merry Del Val, and
! several other cardinals. The center
place was vacant. Among the seethins
mass below which never ceased way
ing straw hats, two members of the
American pilgrimage, Father Lynch of
Niagara University and Father Nc
Gowan of New York, held aloft the
American flag. These sNayed brightly
around the nave as the bearers We're
alternately borne forward and back
ward by the ebb and flow of the throng.
In a few moments terrific cheers
burst from every throat. There, with
| the sun stealing in from the window
behind, was the new Pope. His rich
red Papal. robes shone resplendent
amidst the more sombre colors of those
Who stood beside him. For few mo-
ments the tall form remained perfectly
still The Pontiff was gazing at the
crowd beneath. The deafening roar of
cheers showed no signs of diminishing.
Monsignor Merry Del Val and others
| wdS ed for peace, but none came.
! Then Plus X raised his hand. In the
twinkling of an eye the crowd, mad
with excitement but moment before,
became dumb and a deathlike silence
prevailed throughout the basilica 1t
| was broken only by the clear strong
voice of the new Pope. Auditorium
nostrum in nomine domini," he chant
ed. The response swelled up from the
crowd below. There was another 81
lence and another response
Then came the benediction such as
| few will ever forget All crossed them
selves and with magical rapidity the
scene ceased to be one of devotion.
oud cheers burst from the people as
| the Pope started to go back to the Vat
| lean. by way of the terraces. Those
acclamations continued long after Plus
\ had disappeared. Then the thou
sands streamed out, all happy at the
conclave's choice of the Pontiff and
| heartily glad that the suspense had
ended.