River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-07-09


Gives His Benediction.
Then the priest apostolic approached,
bearing the viaticum, to give the last
communion, and another the extreme
junction, assisted by the grand peni-
tertiary Pope Leo feebly recited the
confession of faith, as formulated by
the council of Trent, and finally the
words of dissolution and the formula of
Indulgence in articulo mortis were SOL
EMMY pronounced by the grand peni-
tenuary. The heads of the great re-
nglous orders who were present grant
ed the pope the special indulgences
which they have the privilege of con-
terring. Then, came the touching
prayers for a passing soul and part of
the Gospel, the Lords passion. AS
the last words died away, all fell on
their knees. The pontiff. raising his
almost transparent fingers with a
feeble effort, pronounced in Scarcely
audible words his benediction on the
sacred college and on all present and
then sank back on the pillows. There
was scarcely fearless eye in the
whole assemblage; the sobs of the
pope's relatives were plainly heard.
Deep silence fell. only broken now
and again by a murmured prayer or a
pious ejaculation.
In the portion of the loggia OF
Raphael, adjoining the papal apart
ments, were the families of Count Ri
cardo Pecci and Count Moroni, the
popes nephews.
COIIapses and Fnfnts.
Cardinal Rampolia, the papel secrc-
tary of state, Saturday evening sum
moned Cardinal Oreglia di Santo Ste
fano, doyen of the sacred college and
the only survivor of the conclave which
elected Pope Leo. Cardinal Oreglia Wis
tied the pope and had secret audience
with him at eight o'clock. After the
audience his holiness collapsed and had
another fainting fit His medical at
tendants, who rushed to his assistance,
found the action of the heart extremely
feeble and decided to sustain it by in
jections of caffeine.
The visit of Cardinal Oreglia has a
sinister significance. In his official ca
pacity of dean of the sacred college it
will be his duty, in the event of the
pope's death, to perform an important
ceremony. Assuming violet robes of
mourning, he will proceed to the death
room, where all are kneeling; he will
unveil the face of the departed and
strike the forehead of the dead pontiff
with silver hammer, calling the de-
ceased by name, and will then solemnly
announce that the pope is really dead.
Cardinals I'm Rome Notified.
All the cardinals in Rome have been
privately informed as to the pope's real
condition. 1t is a secret we'll guarded,
and only DR.. Lapponi, Cardinal Rampol-
la and Cardinal Oreglia know the truth.
A telegram was sent to Count Ludo-
vico Pecci, the eldest nephew of the
pope, who lives at Carpinetto, the birth
place of his holiness, informing him of
the pontiff's illness.
Those close to his holiness still in
sist there is no cause for alarm, and
that great precautions are being taken
to save him from every possible annoy
ance and to render him as comfortable
as the conditions will permit.
The pope's health has been the subject
of a great many rumors and of endless
alarms in the last few months. On sew
eral occasions it has been reported that
the pope was dead, which caused the
pontiff much distress, and he asked,
"Why does everyone want me to- die?"
1t was with difficulty that he was
brought to understand that the flood of
inquiries that poured into the vatican
were indications only of the deep con-
Germ felt by all the world in his welfare.
Italy Prepares for His Death.
The gravity with which the Italian
government views the pope's condition is
clearly indicated by the orders that have
been issued by King Victor Emmanuel.
He has directed troops in the nearby
posts to be ready at a moments notice
to hurry to Rome and guard the papal
domain in order that affairs may be con-
Quoted in the vatican without trouble
or disturbance, and that the cardinals
may meet there if they so decide.
excitement IN hOnes
In these days when the life of the
venerable pontiff, Pope Leo, hangs by
a thread the excitement and perturba-
ton which prevails within the vatican
is intense. While the illustrious pa
tient lies in quiet chamber assiduous-
ly and affectionately watched and at
tended by his favorite physician, DR..
L,apponi, and his trusted valet, Piocen-
ira. the rest of the vast palace is in a
state of continual unrest kilograms
are following each other in quick sue
cession from foreign powers, high
church dignitaries or individuals and
are being read and answered by busy
staff of secretaries. Carriages are driv-
ing up necessarily to the court OF st.
Damaso, in which the apartments or
the pope open. Ecclesiastical digni-
taries of various ranks are standing in
anxious crowds about the doors Of the
palace in the hope of obtaining the lat
est news. Monsignors are hurrying to
and from the palace, all making anx-
ious inquiries All sorts and condi-
tons of men are waiting about the
doors or in the vast piazza in front of
St. Peters, seeking scraps Of intelli-
gence.
SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS,
Darwin asserted that there is fnsari-