The Irish standard., 1903-08-15
The Great Basilica Supposed Never to have
been Quite Full was Overlooking
with Humanity.
The Scene Presented when the Pope Mounted
the Papal Throne Formed
Magnificent Picture.

Seventy thousand persons crowding
the vast cathedral of ST. Peters broke
into unrcstrAinrd accamatons Sunday
morning as Cardinal Macchi. dean of
the cardinal lrachnS. placed the Syln-
bolic triple crown on the head of GilS-
cppc Saro. Pope Plus \. The choir in
toned a hymn of triumph ana all the
bells of Rome rang out Il joyful peal.
The coronation of Pope Lco's successor
within the venerable wallis of the
hnSilicA of st. Peters was Il scene
never to bc forgotten and the thou
sands who endured the long fatigue
OF waiting were we'll repaid. Splcn-
did indeed WAS the aSSrlnbawc of the
princes, Nigh church diynitarics and
Roman mobiles gathered to take part
in this most magnificent rite in the
Roman Catholic Church.
II is lifty-scven years since the Ro-
mans and Europe assisted such n
function iii ST. Peters The great
hasilica, popularity supposed never to
alnv" been quite full. was ovcrflowing
with humanity. The papnl throne, II
hcwihlrring mixture of gold, red and
silver, was erected in front of the
lliEh altar. AS, contrary to custom on
these rrrrmonious occasions. there were
no galleries. the baSilirn bore more of
itS nnrInn1 1SIlprt ~ ~ II 1t,r .l,i I,
was. dressed in Write. stood the fa-
nous silver gilt c;lndrStrkS ana II
Magnificent cruciiix. All the available
standing space within the cathedral
W:S divided into sections by wooden
barriers, which to Il certain extent kept
the vast crowd in order In the carly
hours after sunrise Il thick fog hung
over Rome and one bank Of the 'ribcl'
could not b" seen from tile other, while
from the ST. Angelo bridge one seemed
to look into Il fHthOmlrSS abyss in
stead of into tho river The effect was
especially magnificent Oh entering the
pinZZn of ST. Peters. ~. times Michael
Angeles great dome disappeared com
plctcly from view, while at others it
appeared through the flowing golden
mist. AS the morning wore on the fog
dispersed and the sun Shonc with all
it's southern intensity until il became
unbcnrahly hot, and the stones, col
,lnns ana statues seemed to radiatc
the heat Oh the thousands waiting to
enter the church. AT 6 Il. M. the ring,
ing of the bells announced the inmi-
nrnt opening of the doors and a com
motion at once began among the crowd
But ten minutes had to clapsc before
the doors were opened and each seem
cd an hour to the waiting crowd
which already had been standing for
hours before the closed portals. The
police and Italian soldiers had q diff,
cult task to maintain order as the
crushing and fatigue had begun to
tell on the patience of the people
When the doors were opened the in.
rush was terrific. Many who started
from the bottom of the steps outside
We're lifted off their feet and carried
into the cathedral. 1t was q great
human torrent let loose, thousands of
people rushing, crushing and sIuccz.
ing, amid screams, protests, gcsticu
ALTON and cries for help. But once in
the whirlpool there was no escape and
the cOmpa ctncss of the crowd proved
to be the safety Of those caught in it.
Women tainted i'm large numbers and
even men were overcome by the heat.
but no serious accidents were report
cd. Fortunately there were very few
children present. After their entrance
the people had further long hours of
waiting and it is computed that the
majority were on their feet altogether
ten hours. five before the ceremony
and another five l.n,lrs while it lasted
Those who had received special in
vitntions, including the high rcclesias-
tics. who were not participating in the
procession. the diplomats and the Ro-
man aristocracy. had a reserved en-
trance through the sacristy of st.
Peters. Prince Massimo arrived ac-
compnnied by his dnughtrr-in-l
Princess Beatrice, the daughter of