Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-16
END DRAWS NEAR
Death Striving Hard to Con-
 quer That Wasted Form
POPE LEO RECALLS pRoPHEsY

POPE LEO RECALLS PROPHESY This is the Day He Believed He Was Destined to Die-Has Mass Cele- brated and Receives Communion Lapses into Short and Restless Sleep Talk of Another Operation to Re neve the Distress.
 Rome. July 16.-The Hateful day of the Carmelite Madonna, on which Pope Leo had premonition he would die, has arrived. Early this morning his holiness awoke and immediately be- gan repeating prayers to the Madonna, speaking with such fervor that his valet, Centra, hurried from the adjoin- ing room. Pope Leo, hearing Centra's voice said: "Oh, Pic; your task is nearly done. To-day is the fete of the Carmelite Madonna" Still later with the same idea in his mind, the pope asked for one of his private secre- taries Monsignor Marzolini, to have him say mass in the chapel, next to his bedroom, with the door between the two apartments open. In the middle of the mass Pope Leo received the communion like one who really saw visions of coming bliss.
 Rome, July 16-Special prayers on behalf of his holiness were offered 1n all the churches after the celebration of mass to-day in con1memoration of the festival of the Carmelite Madonna. The pontiff's own prediction that his death if it were to result from hls present illness, would occur to-day was vecalled with emotion.
 When pr Mazzoni visited the pontin This morning the latter said the past night had been one of the worst the none had experienced. He spoke or the oppression on his chest, the ditfl- culty in breathing and the uncontrol- fable restlessness, giving hfm in fact no peace in any position.
 pr Lapponi said the pope had called for him very often during the night faking freuuent restoratives, especially meat broth orangeade and tamarind water He felt better. however, after the celebration of mass, as though the communion had calmed him. In fact the doctors proceeded with a thorough h examination of his thorax without fa- tiguing him too much. They found the liquid in the pleura augmented, but not gathering in such quantity as to endanger the patients life by pro ducing pressure on the heart or through asphyxia, which might occur if there were pressure on the lower part of the bronchial tubes.
 On account of the extreme weakness of the pontiff, mo new operation for ex- tracting the liquid will be performed until it is absolutely indispensable. But the operation might be made to- night or tomorrow. Independent of the fact that the liquid in its present quan- tity does not imminentfy threaten the pope's life. The doctors hesitate to again perform tlroracoeentesis (drain- age of the pleural. fearing that the eff feet of the operation itself, involving the possibility of pressure on the lungs. and consequently of the whole apparatus of circulation, might be fa- tai
 The secretion of urine has. slightly augmented in the last 24 hours, having reached 40 cubic centimetres It is, however, still greatly insufficient.
 The doctors have received many con- gratulations from medical authorities. with most of whom they are not ac- quainted, on their treatment of the pon- tiff. Among these is a letter to pr Lapponi from Professor Henri Hu- chard, a member of the Academy of Medicine, at Paris.
 Rome, July 16, 12:50 D. m.-Dr Lap poni has not vet left the vatican to- day, partly because the condition of Pope Leo Is worse and partly because his daughter, who has been suffering from fever, is better and has left Rome for the country
 Tn the Logglo Raphael where sheets of paper are placed for the callers to sign their names one was found this morning with the following curious in, scription:
 "A young atheist wishes a serene death to the old pontiff,'
 This caused considerable scandal among the pious vatican attendants The sheet was immediately with. drawn.
 6:10 p. m.-The doctors at this hour have just entered the sick chamber. Their decision regarding the proposed operation is anxiously awaited
 7:1O-Dr Mazzoni has just left the sick room saying that he would return later, bringing perhaps Dr Rossoni and then conference will be held to de eide upon an operation.
 7:25.-The following bulletin has jus been issued: ''His holiness condition continues the same as this morning During the day he had some hours oi sleep. His pulse is S8, respiration 3e end temperature 36-6.''
 Washington, D. C., July 16.-Mgr Falconi, the apostolic delegate to-day