Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-21

Rome, July 20.-Surrouned by the
cardinals, diplomats and officials of the
papal court and his nearest relatives,
Pope Leo XIII died at the vatican at
4:04 O'Clock this afternoon after re-
naming unconscious almost continu-
ously for the past twenty-four hours.
AT times his mind seemed clear for
few minutes and he would speak to
those surrounding him.
Addresses oresia.
In one of these moments of conscious
ness shortly before 3 o'clock the pope
addressed Cardinal Oregalia:
ITO your eminence, you will soon
sieze the reins of supreme power, con-
fide the church in these difficult
times"
BE this my last reading. he added
to Mgr. Bisleti after pronouncing the
benediction upon the court, and with
these words lapsed again into uncon-
sciousness.
Medical Bulletin Issued.
Rome, July 20.-(9:35 a. n.y. "A
medical bulletin just issued says:
During the night the Holy Father
rested only at short intervals, his gen.
eral condition remains grave. Pulse "a;
respiration 80; temperature S6.2 cent?
grades"
Prayers Begun.
Rome, July 20.-G:05 p. n.y. AT
11:40 a. M, there was great alarm at
the vatican as the pope was suffering
from grave increase of the cardiac af-
fection. DR.. Lapponi really thought
that the end had arrived and Cardinal
Vannutelli, grand penitentiary, began
prayers for the dying and gave the pom
tiff absolution in articulo mortis.
Court is Summoned.
His death was considered so immi.
nent that all the cardinals were pres
ent and the members of the diplomat
ic corps We're admitted to the> sick
room as according to tradition the
pope must die surrounded by the sac
red college, the pontificial court and
The diplomats accredited to the vati-
can. The government has decided that
when the pope's death is imminent or
actually occurred it would hold up all
dispatches until the facts were official
ly verified, when the first official an
nouncement would be made.
Slight Rally at 80.
At 1870 the pope although rallying
from the heart attack, still continues
In an extremely grave condition.
Death Agony.
Rome, July 20.-The pope entered
into what the doctore believe to be the
last agony of death and the rattle is
audible to those waiting outside the
sick room.
The pope continues, now and then,
to mutter phrases, although uncon--
scious His mind evidently returns to
events, which impressed him most be-
fore his illness began.
Mind Clear When Conscious.
The wonderful thing about the pope
is that every time his mind becomes
clear he seems to grasp the fact that
1t may be his last. and he makes the
highest use of it,
Speaks to Oregia.
When, during the alarming crisis,
about noon,h he was lying on the bed and
about him knelt the cardinals and 9th
er members of the papal court, pray
ing and not knowing whether the pope
was already dead, without any prelim-
mary restlessness the pontiff opened
bis eyes, which fell on Cardinal Ore
glia, who was at his side. and he said
solemnly:
ITO your eminence, who will soon
seize reins of supreme power, con
fide the church in these difficult
times
Then Mgr. Bisleti, master Of cham
Der, asked for the pope's benediction
OF the court, which the pontiff granted
adding, BE this my last reading" then
the pontiff gave his hand to kiss to the
cardinals, who were present. The
pontiff again sank back as suddenly as
he had revived.
Predicts Speedy Death.
Rome-3:S0 p. m.-Doctor Mazzoni