The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-22
The POPE IS DEAD.
He Passed away Late Monday
afternoon.
sEMl-cONClOUs TO The LAST.
DR.. LapponI's Description of the
Death Serene---Events Fol-
lowing. Announcement of
Death.

Rome, July 2O.-The Pope died
shortly after o'clock this afternoon.
His last moments were comparatively
peaceful and painless, and were pre-
ceded by a period Of insensibility.
Around the bedside at the final mo-
ment were the Cardinals, the rela-
tives and the members of the Papal
Court. Before lapsing into uncon-
sciousness the dying Pontif feebly
moved his lips, his last articulate
words being those used in bestowing
a benediction.
Gradually the shadow of death
spread over the Pontiff, his extremi-
ties became cold, his features assumed
the fixed rigidity of death, and DR..
Lapponi noted his last futtering heart
beats, which gradually became
slower and slower until they finally
stopped. :,
The news of the Pope's death spread
rapidly throughout Rome and caused
most profound sensation. The whole
city is in mourning.
n The whole day was one of continual
emotion, one distressing scene follow
ing after another. When it became
known, shortly before p. NJ, that
the Pope's journey through the valley
of death was almost finished, Cardinal
Vannutelli hurried again to his bed
side, and was followed shortly after
wards by what is called in Vatican
phraseology the "Papal secret family, !"
and the 'snoble family" besides the
4spersonal family including the late
Pope's nephews, Comte Ludoylco,
Riccardo, and Camilli, and also all the
Cardinals at the Vatican, who after
| wards retired to the adjoining library,
after they had been allowed to. kiss
| the Pontiff's hand and pass along,
| presenting another Of those pictures
which Will live in the memory OF all
those participating in it. The aged
Pontiff was lying prone and uncon-
scious, propped up to assist him IN
breathing, one hand laid on the red
silk coverlet, the heavy Pontifcal ring
being in danger of falling from. the
shrunken finger, while the other hand
clutched his rosary and cruclfix.
Though he was entirely unconscious,
| CLEANS of intelligence seemed to
flicker across the worn face, and the
shadow of a smile fell over the pallid
lips when the nephews passed and re-
verently knelt and kissed the Popee's
hand. No word was spoken. The only
sound which broke the silence OF the
death chamber was the rattle OF the
arms of the Noble Guard, who were
stationed at every door Of the Pom
tiff's private apartments, it being their
privilege and right under the clrcum'
stances to take possession of the apart
ments and guard the body. Of the Pope.
Tomorrow the Sacred College o.
Cardinals will assemble for the i'm,
pressive ceremony OF officially pro
| nouncing Pope Leo dead. After this
function has been performed the BODY
/ will be taken to the small throne room
adjoining the death chamber, where il
will be embalmed. The funeral cere.
monies will extend over nine days, the
remains being removed to the Cathe'
dral of St. Peters, where they will Lie
in state. Tie ultimate resting place
of the dead Pontif will be in the
MAGNIFICENT Basilica of St. John, the
Lateran.
The Pope's final moments were
marked by that same serenity and oe
votion as when he was conscious tna1
calm intelligence which is associated
with his twenty-five years Pontihcate
His was no easy death. An hour before
he died, turning to Dr.. Lapponi ane
his devoted 7alet, Pho Centra, he mur
INJURED: "Ttle pain I suffer is mos
terrible Yet his parting words were
not of the physical anguish that h'
suffered, but were whispered benedlc
tions upon the Cardinals and hi:
nephews, who knelt at the bedside
! and the last look of his almost sight
less eyes was towards the great ivor!
crucifx hanging in the death chamber
Practically all the Cardinals in Rome
kneeling at the bedside, watched th'
passage of Ills soul. Earlier in the da.
Cardinal Serafno Vannutelli had I'M
pressively pronounced the absolutlo1
in articulo mortis.
The condition of his Holiness variee
from agony to coma. Wishing to relieve
him, Dr.. Mazzoni suggested tina
morphine should be administered, bu
Dr.. Lapponi did not agree, fearing tina
the end might be quickened.
OF this supreme moment DIR. La p
poni gives an impressive description
He said:
"Death occurred through exhaustion
although in the last. two hours Pope
Leo made q. supreme effort to gathe:
together all his energies. He sue
ceeded in recognizing all those abou1
kim by the sound of their voices, a:
his sight was almost entirely lost
Still be made marvellous display o'
his energy and even his death was real
" grand. It was resigned, calm ane
serene. Very few examples can be
given of man of such advanced age,
after so exhaustive an illness, show,
ing such supreme courage in dying.
TIE Pontif's last breath was taken
exactly at four minutes past 4. l ap-
preached lighted candle to his mouth
three times, according to the tradi-
tional ceremonial, and afterward de-
clared the Pope 70 be no more. l then
went to inform Cardinal Oreglia, the
dean of the Sacred College, who i'm
! mediasely assumed full power and
gave ORDERS that the Vatican be cleared
| of all curious persons having no right