The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-07-10
Leo XIII. Calmly Passing From
Life Unto Death-Extreme
Unction Administered.
FULL TRUST IN the DIVINE MERCY
touching Prayer. Onercd for Dying
Pontin-Impressi,e Group Sur
rounds the Central Figure In
Death Chamber-speaks OF Life
and Death with same serenity.

Rome, July 7, 1855 a. m.-Another
morning has broken on the pathetic
scene within the simple chamber OF
the vatican where Pope Leo lies dy'
ing. As the soft light Of dawn pene'
trated into the room the pontih
whispered 10 his devoted physician
that he desired the shutters of the
windows 10 be opened. saying:
81 wish 10 see M more. perhap,
for the last time, the rays Of tho
sun"
IL was Just a short while after the
pope came back to consciousness
from n sleep which DR.. l1pponi had
induced by n strong dose of choral
His sleep was 10 dcathlikc that arti'
fetal respiration was continued. and
DR.. Lapponi every few minutes leaned
anNiously over the couch Ia observe
the illustrious patient and listen b.
his hardly pcrccptible breathing
Pope Leo awokc without preparation
feeble 10 extreme and his voice hardly
audible. The fits 81 coughing had
brought pains in his chest aud shout
dcrs. aud thinking his end wns o
near. he said to DR.. Ihpponi:
"Tcll me when the time really
comes"
The doctor assured his holiness that
he believed the danger Of his immedi'
ate passing was a,ertcd for the night
and for the day.
Those seemingly last moments OF
Pope Leo are full of solcmnity. Per
haps his last hours would he less mel.
nncholy and sad II the august suf'
fcrcr were less conscious of the cir
cumstanccs and his mind less clcaf
ns to the duration Of time remaining
10 him before he enters eternity. Al
though his physical powers are at the
lowest cbb and his breathing becomes
more lnborcd. the pope's mind Is
clear. ns Il manifest ia all around him
by his bright. expressive eyes. the
few words he now aud then succeeds
In tutoring. The scene II ~ touch
Ing hat those present can scarce re-
strain their tears.
Count Camille pccci. the pope,
nephew. whom the dying man kept by
his side yesterday. was 81 exhausted
late last night by his co%ntcnding emo
tions that he had Ia be taken from
his unclc's room, completely worn
out. 4 few moments before. as he
stood bowed beside the bed. Pope Leo
laid his hand ON his head with pa
ternnl affection, saying;
Take courage"
shortly after ten o'clock NJ night
the pontiT received extreme JUNCTION.
At nine o'clock his condition seemed
10 hopeless that only u short time ap.
paren,ly remained before he would
glide into his last sleep. AZ DIR. lap
poni's initiative u hnsiy consultation
Of the pope's relatives. Cardinal Ram
| polla and other ecclcsinstics was held
and II was decided that extreme me
tion should he given. The pontin re.
cciycd the announcement with his
usual calmncss, and though scarcely
able to speak nudibly he said he knew
his tine had come and he was ready
Ia appear before the sublime tribunal
with fun trust In the divine mercy.
Monsignor PiTrri, Pope Lco's ron.
fcssOr, administered the extreme unc,
ton, and when the ceremony wal
oyer his holiness sank back on the pill.
low with apparent great relief that
NIL was done and that he was enter
ing into rest after his long pilgrim
ngc.