The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-04
GREAT CRUSH AT THE DOORS
NEARLY ONE THOUSAND AMERICANS
IN THE TRIBUNES.
His Holiness Vigorous Enough to Wit
ness the illumination OF the Eter-
nal City at Night.

and amid display of enthusiasm and emo
ton the part of the vast assemblage
gathered within the walls of st. Peters
such as We'd with the greatest previous
demonstrations of reverence and affection
for the aged Pontiff.
Tonight all the sacred edfices in Rome
monasteries, converts, seminaries-and also
many private houses were illuminated In
commemoraton of the event. The Traste-
we're quarter and the Leonine city especially
presented blaze of light, while the general
effect was heightened by the burning of
bengal fires throughout the city. Pope
Leo, who supported admirably the fatigue
and excitement of to-day's ceremony, after
having retired rose again from his couch,
and going to the window of his bedroom
gazed for a while upon this scene of illumi-
nation. The view from the Vatican. en-
bracing a stretch of seven miles brilliant
with light, was a marvellous one, and his
Holiness exclaimed as he withdrew from
the window: This will indeed be a pleas
ant thing to dream off,
The ceremony in st. Peters Cathedral
lasted two hours and a quarter. and al
though it was noticeable that Pope Leo
felt the effects of his recent cold, all were
surprised to see how we'll he seemed. His
voice was strong, his gestures vigorous,
and the frantic cheering which greeted his
arrival and departure gave him visible
pleasure and brought a faint tinge of color
to his face. After the firing ceremony of
the morning Dr. Lapponi carefully exam
ined the condition of the Pope. and al
though he found him none the worse for
the fatigue he had undergone. yet he or
dered him to rest during the whole after
noon. But tonight after the doctors last
visit his Holiness insisted upon getting up
to view the Nominations.
MANY AMERICANS PRESENT.
1t was calculated that there were about
seventy-five thousand people in st. Peters
to-day There were about one thousand
Americans in the tribunes and the body of
the church. The transatlantic visitors
present included Monsignor Kennedy, rec
tor of the American College at Rome, with
eighty-five American students; Monsignor
Seton, of st. Joseph's Church, Jersey City;
Monsignor OConnell. the new rector of
the Catholic University at Washington;
Monsignor Farrelly, of Nashville. Tenn;
the Very Rev. John A. Zahm, provincial Of
the Congregation of the Holy Cross, of Fort
Wayne Ind; the Very Rev. Rudolph May
or, of the Carmelite Order; the Rev. Will
liam Kieran rector of st. Patrick's Church.
Philadelphia; Mr.. McLant and family, Of
Lancaster, Pa. Miss Troth, Mrs. McLaugh-
lin and Miss Holmes, of Philadelphia; Gen
eral and Mrs. Clous, Colonel and Mrs. Till
man, Of West Point; Charles Bristed Aston,
of New York. and Professor Toy, of Har-
ward
From sunrise to-day all Rome was on the
alert and showing most unusual animation
and interest in the celebration. This move
ment was especially noticeable at the large
hotels, which were Illuminated as though
for ball. An idea of the number of people
congregating at the Vatican could be
formed by the fact that it was utterly i'm
possible to get a carriage if the vehicle had
not been ordered yesterday, especially as
it was raining, and by the prices charged
at ST. Peters was magnificent There were
assembled many hundreds of Italian troops
in various modern uniforms. making a
tunes Of the Swiss Papal Guard on duty at
the bronze doors of the cathedral.
The crowds which gathered before the
first Gordon of troops were Impatient as
they stood dripping under the persistent
rain. There was a great clashing of UNI
brellas and a general feeling of discom-
fort among the waiting sightseers who
included very many In most varied attire,
comprising foreigners of all nationalities
and Italians from all parts of the country,
the uniformity of the crowd being pleas
antly broken by groups of sisters in the
different gowns of their orders. Catholic
students and picturesquely- attired friars.
SCRAMBLE FOR POSITION.
When, finally, the doors Of st. Peters
were opened an almost indescribable strug-
gle occurred. in which almost all present
forgot the rules of holiness and strove with
crush of elbows and feet to reach the in
terror of the sacred edfice. while on all
sides were heard cries of fear and impreca-
lions not suited to the spot where a no.
table religious ceremony was about to be-
GIN Once inside the cathedral the women
who wore lace gowns found them TO be in
much mutilated condition. and some OF
the women were carried away in a fainting
condition. The tribunes were soon crowd.
ed to OVERLOOKING and all the best standing
places were taken.
period of comparative calm succeeded
this great rush, and the attention OF the
people was attracted to the gilded throne
near the altar and to the immense pillars
of the basilica, hung with red silken dra-
peries Some of the tribunes on each side
of the altar were filled with men and wom-
en- blazing with decorations. In a grouu
of royal .personages were the Crown
the Countess Mathilde If Tran. of the
Bourbon-Naples family. the Grand Ouch
ess Of Saxe-Weimar. Duke Robert Of Par
ma, the GTdHu DucnesS Oh Meckien Durg
the Prince of Liechtenstein and Princess
Macmillan of Saxony.
In a special tribune was the P0pe's fam.
| lily, the diplomatic corps and the members
| of the Order of Malta in uniform. Special
| interest was shown in the innovations In
| the uniforms OF the different detachments
of the Papal Guards. The Swiss Guard
stockings, black shoes with red rosettes
FURNISHED steel cuirasses inlaid with GOLD
| and steel collars, in addition to large white
| linen collars, starched stiff, falling over
| their shoulders. The silver-mounted arms
| of the Swiss Guard were also inlaid with
| gold and they wore steel helmets with rec
ostrich plumes. similar to the helmets of the
| their new uniforms of bright red.
After an hour of waiting majestic pro-
cession began to appear 1t was composed
| of the great dignitaries OF the church, the
| forty-five cardinals present. gorgeous In
| sounded the announcement that the Pontin
| their red robes, alone making most i'm
| posing, characteristic and picturesque
| group.
THE PONTIFF APPEARS.
| At II o'clock precisely the great bell of st
/ Peters rang out a signal. which was fol
lowed by the changing of the bells Of abou
| FIVE hundred churches in Rome as the,
| was on his way to the Basilica. The life O.
the ancient city seemed TO pause for a mo
ment. hats raised and the sign Of the eros,
| was made. Soon afterwards inside st
| Peters silver trumpets blared out thei
| messages and the PontiK appeared. Tn,
people held their breath Tor = mement an,