The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-24
PUBLIC ADMITTED.
Countless Thousands Viewed the
Body of the Pope.

countess thousands viewed the
Body Of the Pope.
Rome. July 23.-Today the form of
Loo NH. lay in state IN the Lasilica
/ of St. letcr $ waile thousands of per-
sons from the OriiEarY walks OF life
fled past 10 pay their last tributes of
love and generation. The impressive
ceremonies of yesterday we're viewed
by only 4 favored few Of the nObil-
ity, arts, Gratis and the highest clergy,
but today the doors We're Opene to
the entire public. Many remained on
the piazza throughout the hot night
in order to gain place ut the head
of the line. BY O'Clock chis morning
there was crowd OF several hundred,
which had increased by 6 o'clock to
several thousands.
Elaborate prepare tons had been
made To guard against accidents. All
COnVerging streets were cleared of veni-
Giles, leaving them free for foot pas
sengers, While six ambulance stations
had been created, including one at the
entrance to the piazza and another be-
side the door of St. Peters.
Rush Began Early.
Exactly a. 6 o'clock the bells Of the
great cathedral began tolling mourn
fully-a small bell beginning in the
high notes and the chimes running
down through the scale until a deep
bass stroke had completed the minor
chord.
At the sound of the first bell two
regiments of Italian GrenadicTs
marched smartly across the piazza to
The stone steps and soon the east pOr-
ticO swarmed for the first time in years
with italian trOOps-3C0 on the portico
and 1900 surrounding the cOionnades-
The GrenadieTs wore long blue service
coats and peaked caps They stood in
double column at parade rest. the lines
extending from the threshold Of the
church through narrow gateway OF
a temporary wooden structure which
was holding back the crowd.
Marrow Entrance damned.
At five minutes after the gate was
opened and the human tide began to
flow I'm. The Jam at the narrow en-
trance soon became terrific threaten
ing serious results to the struggling
mass OF half-fainting women and chill
dren. Although the crowd was not
extraordinarily large the steady move
ment into the funnel-like enclosure
made the pressure terrific. Many
women had their dresses or wells torn
off and some were lifted. exhausted,
/ over the wooden enclosure and out Of
the crush. Fortunately there were no
serious accidents an dthe ambulances
were not summoned.
Within the church temporary ratings
! had been erected to keep the people in
a straight line leading to the bier.
I This was the center to which all eyes
| turned. The body lay on a catafalqun
/ ten feet high. so that all could see it.
| The body was slightly inclined. with
| the head raised and facing the passing
/ t9rOng. The visage had q Chalky white
/ ness and appeared to be unnaturally
+ shriveled.
| 1t was ROBBED in the full vestments as
[ the Roman public knew the pontiff in
/ life. Around The bier burned thirteen
| high candles. while on each side stood
/ the noble guards. rnotionless. Further
| back were kneeling priests and AGO.
/ lytes, softly informing invOcations.
Crowd Disappointed.
/ The crowd pushed against the iron
/ tTellis which separates the chapel from
/ the main portion Of the church. but
! those who expected to kiss the slip
+ pered foot were disappointed as the Of
! fcials had adopted precautionary meas
ures so that the lower extremities Of
} the body were half a yard back of the
! iron grating.
/ All ranks and stations Of life were
/ represented in the throng. Many were
/ working people: there were also groups
! of convent girls. under the care Of
nuns. and of school boys. headed by
! priests. Crowds continued to pass be-
/ fore the bier throughout the morning
| At $50 a. M. a solemn pontifcial re-
/ QUEEN mass was celebrated in St Pc
/ ter's for the Tepose of the soul of Leo
/ XIII The crowd WAS kept constantly
moving within the wooden barbados.
but other entrances were provided for
/ those desiring to assist at the mass on
/ the other side Of the church. Several
J thousand people were present. although
! in so vast a church, capable of cor
/ tanning 10000 persons. they appeared TO
! be a mere handful. especially as all
/ were standing.
During the hot hours Of the day the
crowd az st. Peters decreased and lit
/ the difficulty was experienced in view
ing the body.
Significant Incident.
An extraordinary significant element
was introduced later IN the morning by
Italian soldiers entering the church, for
+he maintenance of order. in full uni
form. wearing their caps and side arms.