Evening journal., 1903-07-06

Rome, July 6-TGod's win be done.
Who would have believed it, when only
10 days ago / was presiding over a
public consistory," murmured feebly
Pope Leo as he felt himself late last
evening sinking into a sleep which
lasted about three hours, until excru-
ciating pain brought the dying Pontif
back to consciousness. He groaned
and complained OF pains on both sides
OF the thorax Tenderly DR.. Lapponi.
assisted by Pope LeO's valet. Pho Cen
ira. and the physicians second assist
ant De Castro, lifted the fTail form,
and changing the position, succeeded
in giving the patient some relief. A
cold. which started catarrhal affection,
has developed in dynamic pneumonia.
Though lowering on the brink of
death the life of the pontiif is still
prolonged by means of strong stimu-
lants and concentrated nourishment
and while he IS still alive his wonder
ful vitality may again resist and con
quer the attack of this illness. Late
last evening. after the excitement of
the ceremony OF the last sacraments
was over, the Pope seemed less rest
less. partly soothed by the religious
service and partly by a dose Of chloral.
which was given to him in consider
able quantity.
The Pontiff is lying on a small bed,
drawn up to a window overlooking the
piazza of ST. Peters. The only picture
I'm the room is an antique Madonna
and the sole ornament a great ivory
crucifx.
The condition of his holiness at this
time, still grave, is not so serious as
late yesterday. DR.. Lapponi admins
tered camphor caffeine through the
mouth, as an experiment of injection
did not prove successful Pope Leo
saying that he could not bear it, The
amelioration resulting from the cam
phor caffeine was so marked that the
Pontiff called first his nephews and
then his private secretary and adjust
ed some personal affairs which are
pending.
DR.. Mazzoni and DIR. Lapponi hope
that unless there is heart failure they
will be able to keep their august pa
tient alive for a few days longer, espe-
cially If he will willingly consent to
observe the physicians prescriptions.
This, however, is the more difficult,
as his holiness preserves his full con-
sciousness and argues and discusses
his doctors prescriptions. The latter,
fearing to excite him by contradiction,
are sometimes at a loss how to pro-
ceed.
During yesterday afternoon the
strength OF the Pontiff began to fail
him so rapidly and his condition be-
came so critical that il appeared that
only q few hours of his life remained
to him. Il was. therefore, deemed
wise to advise him of his grave con-
dition, and this was done with tender
precaution. Pope Leo was thus pre-
pared for his last communion, which
was administered with the participa-
> tion of all the cardinals now in Rome
and the whole of the pontifical court.
The solemn, yet gorgeous, ceremony
of administering the last sacrament
took place at the bedside of Pope Leo.
The central figure was the dying Pom
tiff, whose long life's journey is nearly
over, calmly preparing to enter the
dark valley. The pale and emaciated
face, almost as white as the pillows
on which it rested. showed little sign
Of life. except the keen, glittering
eyes, always his most striking fea-
lures.
Around the bed we're grouped the
noble guards. in their glittering uni
form, the Knights of the Cloak and
Sword, in their picturesque, medieval
costume of black, with white ruffs; 25
cardinals, all the members of the Sa-
cred College who are present in Rome,
stately and venerable figures. in their
sweeping crimson robes. Nearest to
the bed stood the imposing tall figure
of tho cardinal grand penitentiary
Serafino Vannutelli. with the Pope'1
confessor. to hear the last confession
Of the departing Pontiff. Then the
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