The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-24
EVENTS OF THE DAY.
Terrific Jam in the Early Morning k Hours.

| dOuTS.
 Rome. July 23-Today the form of Leo XIII lay in state in the basilica of St. l Peter's. while thousands of persons from l the ordinary walks of life filed past to pay their last tributes of love and vener- ation. The impressive ceremonies of yes- | terday were viewed by only a favord few | of the nobility, aristocrats and the high clergy, but today the doors were opened to the entire public, Man remained on the piazzi throughout the hot night, in order to gain a place at the head of the line. By o'clock this morning there was l a crowd of several hundred, which had increased by o'clock to several thou sands.
 Elaborate preparations had been made to guard against accidents in the crush. All converging streets were cleared of vehicles. leaving them free for foot pas sengers. while six ambulance stations had | been erected. including one at the en- trance to the piazza and another beside the door of St. Peters.
 Exactly at 6 o'clock the bells of the great cathedral began tolling mournfully "a small bell beginning in the high notes and the chimes running down the scale until deep bass stroke had completed 1 the minor chord.
 At the sound of the first bell two regi- ments of Italian grenadiers marched 1 smartly across the piazza to the stone steps, and soon the east portico swarmed for the first time in years with Italian | troops. 300 on the portico and 1,e00 sur | rounding the colonnades The grenadiers wore long blue service coats and peaked caps They stood fin double column at | parade rest, the lines extending from the | threshold of the church through a mar row gateway of a temporary wooden structure which was holding back the | crowd
 At five minutes past the gate was opened and the human tide began to flow | in. The jam at the narrow entrance soon l became terrific. threatening serious re- suits to the struggling mass of half faint | ing women and children. Although the | crowd was not extraordinarily large, the | steady movement in the funeral enclos- ure made the pressure terrific. Many wo- men 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 and the ambulances were not | summoned, ..
 Within the church temporary railings l had been erected to keep the people in a straight line leading directly to the bier. This was the center to which all | eyes turned. The body lay on a cata- | falque ten feet high, so that all could | see. The body was slightly inclined, with the head raised and facing the passing l throng. The visage had a chalky white l l shriveled. It was robed in the full vest ments as the Roman public knew the Pontiff in life. Around the bier burned thirteen white candles, while on each side stood noble guards. motionless. Far ther back were kneeling priests and aco- lytes, softly intoning invocatiops.
 The crowd pushed against the iron trel- | lis which separates the chapel from the main portion of the church. but those l who expected to kiss the slippered feet were disappointed. the officials had | adopted precautionary measures so that the lower extremities of the body were half yard back of the iron grating. | All ranks and stations of life were rep resented in the throng. Many were work | ing people. There also were groups of l convent girls under the care of nuns and of school boys headed by priests. Crowds continued to pass before the bier through l out the morning.
 | At 9:3O a. m. a solemn pontifical re- | quiem was celebrated in St. Peters for the repose of the soul of Leo. XIII The crowd was kept constantly moving with | in the wooden barriers, but other ent- rances were provided those desiring to as- sist at the mass on the other side of the church. Several thousand people were present, although, in so vast church, capable of containing 10000 persons, they appeared to be a mere handful, especially as they were all standing.
 l Cardinal Oreglia, dean of the sacred col | lege, feels worn out. owing to his unac- l customed exertions. His life as a cardinal was one of uninterrupted serenity and he now practically bears the entire burden | of the church and also the minute details of the preparations for the obsequies and the conclave. Notwithstanding this he l opened this mornings meeting of the con gregation of cardinals.
 The number of those present today was augmented by the presence of two new ar rivals, Cardinal Domenico Sympa, Arch
 bishop of Bologna, and Cardinal Giulio Boschi Archbishop of Ferrara. The for mer was especially warmly welcomed by his colleagues as being one of the most prominent members of the sacred college and because he Is mentioned among those most likely to succeed Pope Leo.
 It is being remarked that Cardinal Ore glia's responsibilities have softened his austerity, and that he is directing affairs l with firmness but without harshness
 showing the cardinals every consideration and giving constant proof of equanimity.
 During the hot hours of the day. the
 crowd at St. Peters decreased and little difficulty was experienced in viewing the
 body.
 An extraordinary significant element
 was added late in the morning by Italian
 soldiers entering the church for the main tenance of order. in full uniform, wear
 ing their caps and sidearms. They lined
 the aisles of the Basilica and stood two
 deep In front of the body itself until the | whole church assumed an aspect almost
 more military than religious.
 The event which was unprecedented,
 created widespread comment The pres
 ence of the soldiers was generally inter
 preted to mean another step towards reapproachment between the church and
 state, as heretofore the Vatican always | hoe hnd
 force of soldiers to insure order within it's
 own territory and the inference Is drawn
 that the Vatican and the Government
 have come to such an agreement that
 Italian troops may during the lifetime Of
 the next Pope be employed in and about
 St. Peters to preserve order during great
 ceremonies.
 At this mornings meeting of the con-
 gregation of cardinals, a committee, con
 sisting of Cardinals Sasah. Machi and
 Della Volpe. were appointed to supervise
 all the arrangements in connection with he conclave.
 Two doctors, Lapponi and Pelagallo, a
 surgeon, trofessOr Cagiau. and a drug
 gst was appointed to attend the cardinals
 while they are shut up.
 Finally the cardinals appointed a com
 mittee to receive the case containing the
 papal treasure from the congregation on briefs, whose work is suspended until q papa, seals from the apostolic chancel- l