The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-21

Sohi uslon immediately following Pope | Leo's death.
 | The death of the Pontiff occurred at a time when all was singularly calm about the vatican, as people had been so long | expecting the final summons that their | sensibilities were we'll nigh numbed. Out | side St. Peters the empty trolley cars swung slowly around the loop and across the square into the cool shade of the great collonade. which for over two cen | turies has been the pride of Roman ar- chitecture.
 Little Noise Heard.
 The clang of the car bells was the only l noise which dispeled the traditional peacefulness of an Italian afternoon. Now | and again one of those little open car riages, in which all Rome rides, rattled across the baked Vesuvian stones with which the square of St. Peters is paved l and took It's place on the cab rack, which | columns.
 | A few half naked urchins dawdled in the spray which a light breeze blew from the fountains that play unceasingly be- side the huge obelisk brought to Rome from Egypt by some conquering Emperor. A few yards away. beside the bronze l doors which lead to the Vatican, some twenty or thirty men and boys and a handful of gendarmes lazily awaited the news.
 Inside, the Swiss Guards lolled on a bench and complained of the heat. Scarce ly soul passed up the marble staircase and the court yard of San Damaso was | deserted except for the heavy black car | riages of the cardinals and their coach men. who were awaiting their masters. It was the hour Of the siesta Nothing | could have been more peaceful. Occasion l ally one of the more energetic among the watchers ventured into the sun to take another glance at the Popes room, which, kept closely shuttered, was in perfect harmony with the quiet scene 1t over | looked.
 | At 4:20 a man dashed madly across St | Peters Square. then empty. A second | later another followed on a bicycle. With in a few seconds, as If by magic, news paper men. gendarmes and messengers running, driving and gesticulating dashed to and from the portals of the Vatican Like an ethereal message, there flashed around the world He is dead" | Vatican Doors Besieged.
 Rubbing the afternoon sleep from their eyes, bareheaded mon and women. many carrying babies. emerged from the dark ened houses and cafes and besieged the door of the Vatican. The transformation was complete. The quick movement and tense feeling of the rapidly gathering crowds now permeated, where few min utes before there had been no sign of life. The French Ambassadors carriage drove furiously from the Vatican and drew up al a nearby telegraph office | Without waiting for the horses to stop, the Ambassador jumped out and advised | his Government of the Pope's death, There soon followed the cardinals, wno with set faces. drove slowly homewards.
 Behind the shutters of Pope Leo's room, which still remained closed, all was over. | The heavy bronze doors were swung to and entrance to the Vatican was obtain able only by knocking at a little wicket which was closely kept within by the papel guard and without by the italian police The police had been slightly re- | inforced but had no difficulty in coE- trolling the crowd which was allowed to remain in the square just as it was ac- customed to do before the death. but not ] to enter the Vatican itself.
 1 Carriages kept rattling up, their occu- 1 pants mostly holding in their hands extra | editions announcing the Popes death
 On the steps of St. Peters sat a group | Cf young Italian princes discussing the situation. Nearby was gathered almost every type Cf peasant and working wo- | men. who make Rome 30 picturesque 4 few catered the basilica itself and there offered up prayers for Pope Leo's soul Among the supplicants were many monks who, with hands uplifted, prayed aloud