Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-23
Is ROBBED in White Vestments-
Noble Guards Keep Watch.
CHANTS ONLY BREAK SILENCE
franciscan Penitentiaries Continue In.
cessant suppIication for Deceased
in Dimly Lighted Throne Room
Cardinals Utter Renedictlons.

Rome, July 22-The first of the great
ceremonies of Pope Leo's funeral COM
menced today when the body lay
in state in the throne room OF the
vatican, Roman princes, dukes, ba-
rons and other representatives of the
ancient families remaining faithful to
papacy, all the high dignltaries of the
church, archbishops, bishops, patri-
archs and heads of religious orders,
passed in solemn procession before
The bier of the late pontiff.
Throne Removed.
The papal throne has been removed
Ind in its place, under the famous red
Silken canopy on a small bed, lay the
body of Leo XIII.
Dress of the Dead.
Over the bed was thrown a red da-
mask covering on which the body re-
posed, robed in white vestments with
/ red rocket and camauro hood and on
the feet slippers embroidered with
gold. His thin hands were clasped
Dver chest and held tightly small
Ivory crucifix Around tnis was en-
swined rosary of mother pearl set
In gold. On third finger of right hand
The huge emerald pontifical ring
Sparkleds
The White Face.
In striking contrast with the ashen-
hued face was the purple hood drawn
down over the head almost to the eye
brows and over the ears the sunken
rheeks and jaws brought the nose and
rhin nearly together on the mouth
which was reduced almost to nothing
though no signs of agony We're visible
It was the corpse of a man who might
have been dead fifty years.
The Noble Guards.
On the other side near the shoulders
stood the members of the noble guart
erect and motionless and only faint
culver of the drawn swords giving any
indication that they We're not mere
statues The ordeal of the soldiers il
the heated chamber was SO intense
that they have to be constantly reliev
ed.
The Candles.
At the four corners of the bed stood
lighted candles ten feet high. On thu
right of the body close to the bed wal
a small table covered with whit,
linen cloth on which two candles
threw glimmer of light on the cruel
fix between them.
Benedictions Said.
At the foot of the cross was cry
stal bowl filed with holy water from
which each cardinal whenever he pass
ed the body sprinkled it and uttered
~ 10 ic Hf
votional books used by Pope Leo in hi
life time.
Silence Broken by Chants.
The silence was only broken by tn
solemn chanting of six franciscan
penitentiaries, who, kneeling or stand
Ing at the bench at the foot of the bier
continued an incessant supplication.
Large candelabra.
To the left and right on the wall
two great gold and marble bracket
supported the many branches of a cal
delabra, but they were not lighted no
were the lamps on the marble column
at each corner of the throne room.
A Touch of Splendor.
The only light thrown on this so
emn scene came from the candles BIZ
side the body, and from the faint ray
of the sun light which fitted throug
The windows curtained with white sill
and rich green hangings and the re
damass tapestries with which tn
room was hung gave touch of royi
splendor to the surroundings.
Simplicity of Scene.
Otherwise it was most simpl
scene for the death rites of a pope, n
carpet was on the marble floor and nc
flower was to be seen.
View the Dead.
According to the strict ritual of tn
last honors Of the church to the ponti
as each of the lay or clerical dign
taries entered the throne room, he a.
vanced to the side of the dead and too
last look at the body, then withdre
and some knelt in momentary prayt
and crossed themselves.
Vatican in Brilliant Attire.
Outside of the throne room the Ion
corridors of the vatican presented
brilliant spectacle. At the entrance
the court of st. Damascus the pontific
gendarmes were drawn up and re
dered military honors as each carrias
drove in. The diplomats wore full III
form and the princes and others wei
dressed in deep black From st. d
maseus court they passed up the marb
staircase into Cleremetino hall. whei