Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1903-07-24
SEEN BY THOUSANDS.
Constant Procession Passes Before
Body of Pope Leo.
NUMBERS OF TROOPS
IL Has Been Many Xears Since 40
Great an Array of Military Has
Been Gathered within the
Capital Of Italy.

Rome. July 23.-Thursday the form OF
Leo XIII. lay Ia state In the basilica
OF 81. Peters. while thousands OF per-
sons from the ordinary walks OF life
filed pasr-to pay the last tributes OF
love and veneration. The impressive
ceremonies Of Wednesday were Viewed
BY only a favored few OF the nobility.
aristocrats and high clergy. but Thurs
day II was viewed by the entire pub
lie. Many remained on the piazza
throughout the hot night in order 10
gain place al the head OF the line
BY o'clock Thursday morning there
was a crowd Of several hundred, which
Increased by o'clock 20 several thou
sand. Elaborate preparations had been
made TO guard against accidents In
the crush. An convcrglng streets were
cleared q vehicles. leaving them free
for foot passengers. while six ambu-
lance stations had been erected. includ-
ing one al the entrance 10 the piazza
and another beside the door Of ST.
Peters. Exactly az 6 o'clock the bells
3f the great cathedral began tolling
mournfuliy. a small note beginning IN
high notes and chimes running down
the scale until the deep bass stroke
completed the minor chord. At the
sound of the first bell two regiments
Of italian grenadiers marched smartly
across the piazza 10 the stone steps
and soon the east portico swarmed. for
the first time in years. with italian
troops-500 on the portico and 1900 the
surrounding colonades. The grenadiers
wore long blue service coats and peak
ed caps Ths stood In double column
at parade rest the lines extending from
the Threshold ~ the church through
n narrow gateway. 20 the temporary
wooden structure which holds back the
crowd. Al Cos the gate opened and
the human tide began % flow In. The
jam az the narrow entrance soon be-
came terrific. threatening serious re-
suits 20 the struggling mass % half
faiuting women and children. Although
the crowd was not extraordinarily
large the steady movement In the fun
nei-iike enclosure made the pressure
terrific. Many women had their dress
or Veil torn on and some were lifted
exhausted over the wooden enclosure
and out % the crush. Fortunately.
there were no serious accidents and
the ambulanccs were not summoned.
Within the church temporary rniiurs
had been erected % keep the people in
straight line leading directly to the
bier This was the center. 90 which an
eyes were turned The body lay on
catanlque ten feet high 30 that au
could see ~. The body was slightly
Inclined. with the head raised and
facing the passing throng The visage
had n chalky whitcness and appeared
20 b. unnnturallv shrive'led 70 was
rohod in FUN vestmcuts ls the Roman
public knew the pontiT ln ne Around
the bier burned thirteen high candles.
while on each stood Noble Guards
motIouless Further back kneelIng
priests and acolytcs were softly Igton-
ing invorafions. The crowd pushed
against the iron trcllace which sep
arated the chapel from the main por-
tlon of the church bu; those who ex-
pected to kiss the slIppered feet were
disappointed as officials adopted pre-
cautionary measures 80 that the lower
extrcmities ~ the body were half a
yard back % the iron grating All
ranks and stations ~ llfe were rep
resented In the throng Many work.
ing people were there. also groups of
convent girls under the care ~ nuns
and schoolbovs headed nv priests. The
crowds continued 20 pass before the
bier throughout the morning