The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-21

was occasionally broken by a hacking
cough. due to the gathering of phlegm in
Pope Leo's throat. These coughing spells
had the effect of rousing the Pontin, caus-
ly. While the doctors were examining their
patient this morning, believing him In a
stupor, his Holiness suddenly fixed his
eyes, even then bright and by no means
lifeless, on them, saying:
This time. doctors, you will not win In
your brave fight with death"
1t is your Holiness who is brave, re-
piled DIR. Lapponi but before the remark
was uttered the Pope was again unable to
understand what was said.
At II 40 a. m. there was great alarm, as
the Pope was suffering from grave In
crease of cardiac affection. DR.. Lapponi
really thought the end had arrived and
Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli the grand
penitentiary, began the prayers for the
dying and gave the Pontif absolution in
articulo mortis. His death was considered
so imminent that all the cardinals Were
present and the members of the diplomatic
corps were admitted to the sickroom as,
according to tradition, Popes must die sur
rounded by the Sacred College, the ron,
tifical Court and the diplomats accredited
to the Vatican. Just at that moment a
large party of American tourists. unaware
of the critical situation OF the Pontln, as
cended the grand staircase, talking and
darme, who said: PLEASE do not make any
noise as the holy Father is dying This
produced great emotion among the tourists
and they Immediately retired.
MUTTERED PHRASES.
Throughout the morning the Pope con-
tinued now and then to mutter phrases, al
though unconscious. His mind evidently re-
turned TO the events which impressed him
most before his illness began. At one mo-
ment he was feeling about with his hands
and moving his head from side to side, try
ing to lift himself, while he murmured:
What crowds! What devotion! My dear
people!''
Then falling back inertly he Sighed and
said: "Oh, the weight of these robes. Can
hold out until the end?"
This was followed by scraps of Latin
verses and prayers and then came an in
terval of silence, which was broken by an
other moment Of energy. in which the Pope
cried
THE consistory is over, They can reproach
me no longer, How many faces of all kinds.
How many foreigners. The church is tri-
umphing!' and SO on, over and over again
A wonderful thing about Pope Leo was
that every time his mind became clear he
seemed to grasp the fact that 1t might be
the last and he made the highest use of it,
When, during an alarming crisis. about
noon, he was lying on his bed, perfectly mo-
tionless, while around him knet the cardi-
nails and other members of the papal court
praying and not knowing whether the Pope
was not already dead, without any prelimi-
nary restlessness the Pontiff opened his eyes.
which fell on Cardinal Oreglia, who was at
his side, ana ne Sd1Q SOlemnly.
ITO your Eminence, you will so soon seize
the reins of supreme power. l confide the
church in these difficult times
Then Mgr. Bisleti the master of the cham
ber, asked for the Pope'S benedictiOn for the
court which the Pontiff granted, adding:
BE this my last greeting"
Then the Pontif gave his hand to kiss to
the cardinals present. who were Oreglia,
Rampola. Serafino. Vannutelli, Bolla Volpe
and Wives Tuto. DR. Lapponi rrofited by
the Popes animation TO administer restora-
tives, whereupon the patient sank back as
suddenly as he had revived.
When il became known shortly before
4 p. m. that the Pontiffs journey through
the valley of death was almost finished, Car
dinal Vanutelli hurried again to his bed
side, and was followed shortly afterwards
by what is called in Vatican phraseology
the "Papal secret family and the noble
family" besides the personal family" in
cludifg the late Pope's nephews, Comte Lu-
dovico. Riccardo and Camillon, and also all
the cardinals at the Vatican, who after
wards retired TO the adjoining library after
they had been allowed to kiss the Pontiff's s
hand and pass along. presenting another of
those pictures which will live in the mem
ory of all those participating in it.
NO WORD WAS SPOKEN.
The aged Pontiff way lying prone and un-
conscious, propped up. TO assist him in
breathing, one hand laid on the red silk
coveret, the heavy pontifical ring being in
danger of falling from the shrunken finger,
while the other hand clutched his rosary
and cruciix. Although he was entirely un-
conscious. CLEANS of intelligence seemed to
flicker across the worn face, and the
shadow of a smile fell over the pallid lips
when the nephews passed and reverently
knelt and kissed the Pope's hand No word
was spoken. The only sound which broke
the silence of the death room was the rattle
of the arms of the noble guard who were
stationed at every door of the Pontif' :
private apartments, IL being their privilege
and right under the circumstances to take
possession OF the apartments and guard the
body of the Pope
The final scene I'm the death chamber was
profoundly impressive. The Pope's death
having been expected since noon. his death
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. COL. Il