The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-28

was mortal of Leo MIL in a cypress
coffin lined with red satin and bearing
on the cover an inlaid cross. the entire
| sacred college and Prince Colonna ris-
ing 10 their feet as a last tribute and
sign Of respect.
When the body had been carefully put
| in the coffin it was entirely concealed
with the red velvet covering which be-
fore had been on the bier.
When all had been arranged. the Su-
preme prayer was said nd the last
benediction given. all present joining.
sides.
| We're softened and soothed by the
sweetness of the singing choir and the
prayers of the clergy.
When the last supreme comment came
the heavy collins, ewighing in all ], ,322
pounds, were rolled out of the chapel
preceded by mace bearers singing as
they went and followed by all the car
dinals. among whom the bowed figure
of Oreglia, the strong, up right Van
nutelli brothers, the white haired
Agliardi and the immense black browed
Svampt were the most conspicuous.
PulleyS We're attached to the coffin
and soon, to the strains of the "Bene-
dictQs doninuS deus Israeli it was
hoisted into the stone sarcophagus
above the door where it will remain
until the grateful cardinals created by
the late pontiff, shall erect a suitable
tomb in the Basilica Of st. John Yate
which was chosen by the pope him
self as his final resting place.
Thus was Pope Leo XIII. consigned to
his long rest.
Color and life were given to the whole
scene by Gendarmes and Palatine and
noble guards. The last named have
never left the remains since the pope
died.
Above the cardinals. behind a grating
were the ladies of the aristocracy and
the family of the pope.
The diplomatic body was also present
as were many men of the Italian arts
tocracy led by Prince Madismo who
claims descent from Quinto's fabius
maximus. in his uniform of papal post
the oldest veteran of the ~@nal army
who fought as commander of the
ZOuaves against the Italians in 1870
was also among those who attended
the ceremony.
Rome, July 25.-On the stroke Of mid
day, as the noon gun from the castle of
ST. Angelo was fired, the lying in state
of the body of Pope Leo XIII. came
quietly to an end and those few who
still fingered at the gates of the chapel
of the sacrament, in ST. Peters were Or
dered to leave and some two or three
hundred persons including Cardinal
Goossens, who arrived from Mechlin
just in time, passed slowly out of ST.
Peters into the sun lit piazza and the
worlds last farewell to the great pope
was over. -.
Ten minutes later the infantry and
gendarmes poured out of the basilica
and lined up ON the steps in imposing
array. The outer gates were then
closed and the body of the late pope
was left to the tender care of those
who had watched by Leo XIII in his
life time. The preparations for this
evenings interment were immediately
commenced.
While the bells of the basilica rang
out their daily melodious noon chorus,
the troops formed in column and wave
marched to the barracks. Their his
toric incursion into vatican territory
ended without the slightest friction.
1t is estimated that $4,000 people pass
ed the catafalque since Thursday
morning. The last funeral mass in St.
Peters was celebrated this morning in
the chapel of the choir by Mgr Panicy,
canon of the vatican basiGca. At the
same time funeral masses were cele-
brated in most of che churches of
! Rome.
The most imposing ceremony today
was the reception by the sacred college
in the hall of the consistory of the
| whole diplomatic body accredited to the
| vitican. All the diplomats wore gor-
geouS uniforms and the cardinals had
on their magnificent violet robes and
| were seated in huge arm chairs, accord
ing to right of precerdence. The Port.
| uguese ambassador, NJ. Martins dan
| tas. dean of the diplomatic corps, was
at the head of the body. He advocated
| and delivered an address in French
| expressing the sorrow of all the powers
at the death of Pope Leo, who had ac-
quired the universal esteem of the
| world.
Cardinal Oreglia, dean of the college
| of cardinals, rose and answered in Ital.
| ian. He thanked the diplomats in the
| name of the sacred college for the
part all the government had taken il
| this mourning of the church. He eug.
| ligized Pope Leo and his work during
his long pontifcate and ended with ex
/ pressing the hope that God would sug.
! gest to the sacred college a worthy
| successor to Leo XIII
| After this the members of the diplo
| matte body kissed the hands of all the
! cardinals and especially congratulated
| Cardinal Oreglia on the sentiments h
| had expressed and which produced tht
| best Of impressions.
| When the time came to take th'
! fsherman's ring from Pope Leo's fiji
! ger it has just developed another wa
! found in its place. This did not sur
! prise any one, as, generally, the pom
| tiff does not wear It. the ring bein,
less of an ornament than an unused
seal. At the first meeting of the con
gregation of Cardinals after the pope
death, when the famous ring should
have been broken, this ceremony wa
| omitted and it was put on record rha
the ring, for the moment, could not b.