The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-07-10
PASSING OF POPE LEO
The Venerable POntifcate il
Nearing Deaths Door.
Head of Roman Catholic Cbur.t,
mas Arranged His Earthly AT.
fairs and Awaits the End.

Rome, July 6.-"God's will be done
VINO would have believed it, when ONLY
ten days ago | was presiding over a
puolc consistory2" mu.mured feeblv
POPE Leo as he felt himself late last
evening sinking into sleep which lasted
ABOUT three hours, until excruciatinp
pam brought the dying pontiff back t0
consciousness.
lie groaned and complained of pains
on both sides OF the thorax. Tenderlv
Or; Lapponi, assisted by Pope Leo's
valet, PIo entra, and the physician \
second assistant, De Castro, lifted the
trall form and, changing the position
succeeded in giving the patient some re.
liet. Though lowering on the brink of
death, the life of the pOntiff is still pro.
longed by means of strong stimulant5
and nOurishmeut, and while he il still
alive his wonderful vitality may again
resist and conquer the attack of this
illness.
Late last evening, after the excitement
Oh the ceremony OF the last sacramento
was over, the pope seemed less reAtIesa
partly soOthed by the religious service
and partly by dose of choral which
was gwen to him in considerable uuan-
tity.
The pontiff is lying on a small bed
drawn up to window overlooking the
piazza OF st Peters. The only picture
III the room ls an antique madonna aud
Che sole ornament a great ivory crucifiX.
Passing of Leo Seems Very Near.
The interior of the vatican during the
early hours OF this morning testifes to
the conviction that the passing of Pope
Leo is very near. The court yard of St.
Damaso is filled with the carriages of the
cardinals. Cardinal Satoll drove to
Rome from Frascati tonight, the beauti
ful carriage horses covered with dust
and perspiration.
In the cOrtile are drawn up the car
rlages OF the cardinals and many no
tables. Servants and messengers hurry
across the court with bundles of huge
wax tapers, and with the robes of the
ecclesiastical dignitaries, who are wait
ing within the palace. The antecham-
bers OF the palace were all through the
night thronged with princes of the
church, high nObiemen and members of
the diplomatic corps.
Leo Still Lingers.
Rome, July 7, 1855 a. m.-Anothpr
morning has broken on the pathetic
scene within the simple chamber OF the
vatican where Pope Leo lies dying. As
the soft light OF dawn penetrated into
the room the pOntiff whispered to his
devoted physician that he desired the
shutters OF the windows to be opened.
saying:
Il wish to see once more, perhaps for
the last time, the rays of the sun"
This was just short while after the
pope came back to consciousness from a
sleep which had been induced by n strong
dose OF chlOral. His sleep was 80 death
like that artificial respiration was con-
tinued, and DR.. Lopponi every few min
utes leaned anxiOusly over the couch to
observe the illustriOus patient and listen
TO his hardly perceptible breathing. POpe
Leo awoke wet with perspiratiOn, feeble
to the extreme and his voice hardly aud
ible. The fits of coughing had brought
pains in his chest ard shoulders. and.
thinking his end was now near, he said
to DR.. Lapponi:
''Iell me when the time really comes"
Received Extreme Unction.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock at night the
pOntiff received the extreme unctiOn. At
3 O'Clock his condition seemed SO hope
less that only short time apparently
remained before he would glide into his
last sleep. At DR.. LappOni's initiative,
a hasty consultation of the pope's reIa-
tives, Cardinal RampOlIa and other &C.
clesiastics was held, and it was decided
that extreme JUNCTION should be given.
The pOntlff received the announcement
with his usual calmness and, though
scarcely able to speak audibly, he said
he knew his time had come and he was
ready to appear before the sublime tri-
bunal with full trust iD the divine mercy.
MonsignOr Pifferi, Pope Leo's COMES
sOr, administered the extreme JUNCTION.
and when the ceremony was over his
holiness sank back on the pillow with
apparent great relief that all was done,
and that he was entering into rest after
his long pilgrimage.
Pope Leo Has One Chance.
Rome, July 8.-Hope is held out that
the pope may survive, although his con-
dition is very critical. An operation,
performed yesterday, gave relief tenn
porarily. His mental activity is as
tOnishing. 1t is hoped that the pope's
strength will be maintained, as he has
taken somewhat more nOurishment,
seeming to prefer the yOlk of an egg with
small sips of a stimulant, especially
brandy.