The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-21
THE BATTLE ENDED
Las, Flicker Of Life Expired a, Four
Minutes Past Four.
INV Assyclated Press.

Minutes Past Four
(By Associated Press)
ROME. July 2o.-Pope Leo XIII. is dead.
The last flicker of life expired at four
minutes past 4 o'clock this afternoon. and
The Pontin now lies at rest.
rho period OF over two weeks that Pope
Leo passed in the shadow Of death was
no less wonderful than his lie. His splen.
did battle against disease was watched
the world over with sympa thetic admira-
ton. and ended only'after series OF ire
nlendous efforts TO conquer the weakness
OF his aged frame by the marvellous WIZ
mower Of his mind The pleuro-pneumo-
MIA with which His Holiness had been
suffering was scarcely responsible Tor
his death as that inevitable decay Of us
aue which ensues upon ninety-three years
OF life. The tested steel which had been
80 often before human Ills was bound to
break at last.
Tonight the emaciated frame which
held SO brave a spirit lies on the bed In
the Vatican beside which almost all the
world has prayed. The red damask COW
er!et rests lightly over the body, the car
dinals scarlet cape Is about the shout
ders while on his head has been placed
The papal hood OF velvet bordered with
ermine. white silk handkerchief is
bound about his chin. and In the hands
Ghich have blessed so many thousands
has been placed crucifix. So Pope Leo
will remain until tomorrow. watched by
uniformed OIlcerS OF tle HDDIe SuaIu anu
rcugh-clad Franciscan potentiates, who
will keep ceascless vigil until the burial
occurs.
Tomorrow the sacred college OF cardi-.
nals will assemble TO the impressive GER
emory, officially pronouncins Pope Leo
dead. After this function has been per-
formed the body will be taken TO the
small throne room adjoining the death
chamber, where It will be embalmed The
funeral ceremonies Will extend over nine
80, t1,n
Cathedral OF Saint Peters. where they
vii! lie In State. The ultimate resting
place of the dead Pontiff will be in the
magnificent Basllicia OF st. John. the
Laterna.
HIS LAST MOMENTS SERENE.
Pope Leos final moments were marked
by that same serenity and devotion. and
when he was conscious that calm intelli-
renee which Is associated with his twenty
five years pontifica te. His was no easy
death. An hour before he died, turning
TO DR.. Lapponi and his devoted valet. Pho
Contra, he murmured:
THE pain suffer Is most terrible"
Yet his parting words were not of the
physical anguish that he suffered, but
were whispered benedictions upon the
cardinals and his nephews, who knet
ut the bedside, and the last look OF his
almost sightless eyes was towards the
great ivory cruciflx hanging In the death
chamber. Practically all the cardinals
In Rome. kneeling AT the bedside, watched
the passage OF his soul. Earlier In the
day Cardinal seraflno VannuttellI had
Impressively pronounced the absolution
in articulo morris.
Tho condition of His Holiness varied
from agony to coma. Wishing to relieve
him. DR.. Mazzoni suggested that NOR
phine should be administered, butt DR..
I.apponi did not agree, fearing that the
end might be quickened.
Nc c.tpr mn
gives an impressive description. He said:
Death occurred through exhaustion,
although in the last two hours Pope Leo
made Il supreme effort to gather all his
energies. He succeeded In recognizing
those about him by the sound of their
voices, as his sight was almost entirely
lost. Still he made marvellous display
or his energy and even his death was
really grand. 1t was resigned calm
and serene. Very few examples can be
given Of a man of such advanced age,
after SO exhaustive an illness, showing
supreme courage In dying. The Pont1tfs
last breath was taken exactly at four
minutes past A. approached lighted
candle to his mouth three times, accord
Ing to the traditional ceremonial, and az
terward declared the Pope to be no more,
I then went to inform Cardinal Oreslia,
the dean of the Sacred College who i'm
medlately assumed full power and gave
orders that the Vatican be cleared OF all
surious persons having no rghtto be
therein, Contemporaneously, the cards
nal instructed Monsignor Arighi, master
II ceremonies to send the Swiss guards
from the Clemtine Hall, to close all the
entrance ito the Vatican and dismiss all
persons from the chamber, the body be-
ne entrusted to the Franciscan peni-
sentiares.''
meantime events of momentous i'm
portance to Catholic Christendom We're
occurring. The death OF Pope Leo meant
The passing of the supreme power into
the hands of the Sacred College of Car
dnals as its temporary custodian during
he interregnum"
CARDINAL OREGLIA IN CHARGE,
The perfect administrative machinery
~ the church provided against the Slight
est interruption of the governing author
lily. AS the senior member of the Sacred
College. Cardinal Oreglla. to whom the
Pope to-day solemnly confdedI the in
.erests of the church, has now become
he exponent of the cardinals until Pope
f.eo's successor has been elected. This
has brought forth Cardinal Oregla as the
striking personality of the hour.
The cardinal Is the exact antlthesis of
Pope Leo, having none of the late Pom
THIS sympathetic and benevolent charao-
teristics. He comes from noble pied
montez stock, and his nobility Is shown
by his naughty and austere bearing, He
is not popular among his colleagues or
the Romans and his bruque manner has
earned him the title of "the Piedmont
Bear" He is tall and robust and his
,k.y.F .,tr