The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-07


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dition of Pope Leo's health this
morning was so unnatural considering
the gravity of his illness, that it was
feared that possibly it was only the
last flickering of the vital flame.
During this brighter interval the
Pope resumed his habits of command
and insisted on giving orders for the
preparation of the brief appointing
Monsignor Volponi, secretary of letters
to princes, as secretary of the consis-
torial congregation, a post vacant, ow-
ing to the promotion of Monsignor No
celia to the cardinalate. The impor-
lance of such an appointment, esps-
cially at the present moment, is man
ifest when it is considered that on the
Pope's death the secretary of state
ceases to exercise his functions, which
are assumed Immediately by the secre-
tary of the consistorial congregation.
AS the Pope objected to having the
oxygen inhaling apparatus continually
under his nostrils, DIR. Lapponi arrang-
ed to impregnate the whole atmos-
phere of the room with oxygen.
That is much better" said the Pom
tiff, before l felt as though l had lost
my liberty"
Did Not Need the Doctor.
Although DR.. Lapponi continually
recommended the patient not to speak
and to pay no attention to what is
passing outside, the Pope gently re-
fused to abandon participation in what
is going on. He said, smiling, to DR..
Lapponi
Il know you say this because of your
affection for me, but either my last
day is rapidly approaching, in which
I nGf rsIRS oil h. ,sr.Ia
is left to me so far as I can, or else
l shall recover, again postponing the
end. If this is the will of the Almighty
nothing can change it."
The Pope wished his arm chair to
be carried near, his writing table and
then to the window, overlooking the
piazza of st. Peter. Noticing many
people in carriages. the Pope said:
The piazza looks as it does when
am about to perform some public func-
ton"
The only persons allowed in the
Popes bedroom this morning, besides
the doctors and attendants, were Card
inal Rampolla, Monsignor Bisleti, the
master of the pontifical chambers, and
Brig. Gen. Count Camille Pecci, of the
Noble Guard, a nephew of the Pope.
Was Ready to Depart.
The Pope conversed for a long time
with Count Pecci, even rising and
walking about the room for a few min
utes, leaning on his arm. The Pontiff
on this occasion remarked:
Now l am ready 10 depart, having
settled all my affairs. / feel / have
done all in my power for the good of
the church and of humanity"
During the day the Pope also received
Count Ricardo Pecck another nephew,
and spoke to him with great serenity
of the probability that he would not be
long with him, and then the Pontiff re-
! ceived his secretaries, Monsgnors An
geli and Marxolini, conversing with
them regarding personal affairs, in
structing them about his writings and
| giving directions as to the disposal of
| his books.
! Over 800 kilograms, expressing SYM
| pathy with the Pope or asking for news
of his condition, arrived at the Vatican
! to-day. including messages from Presi-
| dent Roosevelt, King Edward and EN-
| peror Francis Joseph.
Cardinal Di Santo Stefano, the dean
of the Sacred College, who established
| himself in rooms in the Vatican above
! the Pope's apartments, had a long con-
| ference with his secretaries to-day and
| gave orders that various documents
| connected with the election of a new
| Pope be conveyed to the Vatican.
Asked About Inquiries.
The Pontiff made eager inquiries as
| to what commIUnica tons have been re-
| ceiVed at the Vatican from foreign
rulers and was extremely pleased to
learn that M. Nisard, the French am
bassador to the Vatican had, in spite
of the strained relations between the
French republic and the Holy See,
called daily during the Pontiff's illness
and had expressed to Cardinal Ram
polla the concern of the French gov
eminent as we'll as that of President
Loubet.
On hearing that the Austrian ambas-
sador to the Vatican Count Szecesen
de Temerin, was i'll, the Pope expressed
his sorrow and said he hoped it was
not as serious as his own case.
When the Pope was informed of En-
peror Francis Joseph's dispatch, COM
municated to the Vatican by the Aus
trian embassy. he said:
THE Emperor and l are the only sur
ViYors of a past generation
Might Live Two Days.
At 1915 p. m. the Pope grew worse,
and, the news spreading. together with
the tone of the last bulletin, caused
considerable alarm. The Associated
Press correspondent saw DR.. MAJ
Zono, who repeated in substance what
DR.. Lapponi said to-day, adding that
tonight ii was necessary to keep up
the Pontiff's strength through artificial
respira ton. The doctors do not believe
as some perdict, that a catastrophe
will occur during the night, and Dr.
MazZoni expressed the opinion that
Pope Leo might live perhaps two days
without excluding the hypothesis of
a possible ultimate recovery.
LappOni ON His Case.
The correspondent of the Associa ted
Press interviewed DR.. Lapponi during
bis brief absence from the Vatican to-
day. 1t was easy to read in the pale
face the signs of anxious days and
nights spent watching his august pa
tient, while his words proved unmis-
takably how deep an affection he bears
for the Pope.
Unfortunately, said DIR. Lapponi,
II cannot give you any really consoling
news. 1 cannot share the optimism
which is spreading to-day. The truth
is that the Pontiff's condition is sta
tionary, which means that ii is very
grave.
Il will so so far as to say that al
though he may live for several days,
it would be cherishing an Illusion to
think he may recover unless some I'M
foreseen crisis occurs.
His pulse has become, to use a
medical term. evanescent, which means
almost imperceptible. The Pope, ex-
cept during short periods of uneasi-
ness, when his cough is troublesome,
is generally bright and in good spirit
and displays great force of character.
What surprises all who approach