The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-07-30

ROME, July 29.-The body of Pope
Leo was inferred in st. Peters Cathe-
dral last night. The strokes of the
hammer, which resounded through
the immense dome of the Cathedral,
announced to the earnest gathering
in the nave that Leo XIII had been
laid to rest.
At shutdown the most important
and most solemn of all the obsequies
took place. The front doors of the
Basilica were closed and the vast
church, except for a row of lights at
theshrineofSt.P Peter, the candles about
the bier and those persons who had
quietly and with the utmost reverence
gathered there, appeared deserted.
About 1000 persons had received
invitations to attend the ceremonies.
The cardinals, who met earlier in the
Vatican, entered the chapel choir,
waiting there for the arrival of the
procession. Cardinal Oreglia, the
comerilengo, holding the keys of com
mand.
Cardinal Rampolla, as archpriest of
the basilica, was waiting outside the
the gates, in violet robes. surrounded
by the Chapter of the Cathedral,
which was led by Mgr. Ceppettelli,
who conducted the service. Drs. Lap
poni and Mazzoni directed the work
of the.removal of the bier, which was
executed by eight sediari, or Pope's
carriers attired in brilliant red bro
cade costumes. They at first tried to
raise the bier, but, finding it too
heavy, they slowly slid it upon a low
car with noiseless wheels.
Then, to the strains of the" Miserere,"
which walled through the lofty church
and proceeded by glittering cross
held aloft, the procession, carrying
candles and torches, slowly left the
chapel and went up the church, pass
ing the bronze statue and beyond the
shrine of st. Peter. Ali present fell
to their knees.
st. Peters is peculiarly fitted to be
the background of such a scene The
cold whiteness of her vast pillars
brought out the bright uniforms of
the guards, the violet robes of the
clergy and the red of the bier, while
the Pickering light of the candles
made the funeral procession the only
visible object and rendered the OBJ
security beyond and behind it more
noticeable.
After slow progress around the
church the sad cortege arrived at the
chapel choir, the bier being so carried
that the dead Pope entered head first,
according to the ceremonial, the chap
ell from mi-obscurity flashing into
the brilliancy of the suddenly turned
on electric light.
Here all those who had received in
vitaitons were stopped, remaining in
the main part of the basilica behind
a double line of the Swiss Guards in
their peculiar yellow, red and black
uniforms and armed with halberds
and serpentine swords. Within the
chapel was Count Camille Pecci,
a nephew of the late Pope, wearing
the red uniform of general of the
Noble Guard.
In the chapel the music changed to
notes of joy and triumph and "In Pa
radisum" rang out. Froll the outside
the five bells of st. Peters rang their
accustomed salute to the coming night
mingled tremendously with the music
of the choir.
The scene in the CHAPEL was remark
ably effective. Tie hier bearing the
body wasreceived by Cardinal Oregla.
1t was placed in the center, backed
by an altar with beautiful image of
the Madonna, before which were
burning four immense candles in sill
yer stats. Around the two sides of
the chapel, in the choir seats, were 36
cardinals, all wearing violet robes, ex-
cept Cardinals Gotti and Pierotti,
who wore the white mantles of their
orders; Cardinal Martinelli, in black,
as an Augustinian, and Cardinal
RVivesy Tuto, in Franciscan brown.
In the middle of the right side of
the chapel, among the cardinals, sat
Prince Mercantonio Colonna, assist
ant to the Pontifical throne. with an
empty seat next shim, owing to the
fact that Prince Orsini, who held the
same position, had resigned.
The body was sprinkled with holy
water, absolution was given and the
foot of Leo XIII was kissed for the
last time by Majordomo Cagisno, mas
ter of the chamber; Bisleti and Count
Camille Pecci. The Majordomo then