The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-24

Now Reigns at the Vatican.
Rome. July 2O.-Pope Leo XIII IS
dead. The last flicker # lie eHplreu
at four minutes past four O'Clock TINS
afternoon and the pontiff now lies at
rest.
III period Of over two weeks that
pone Leo Dassed in the hadOw OF death
was no less wonderful than his life.
His splendid battle against disease
was watched the world over with sym
pathetlc admiration and ended only al
ter a series of tremendous EFFORTS 10
conquer the weakness Of his aSed
frame by the marvellous will power OF
his mind. The pleuro-pneumonIa with
which his holiness had been suffering
was scarcely as much responsible for
his death as that inevitable decay OIL
tissue which ensues upOn ninety three
years of life.
Tonight the +maciated and lifeless
frame which held so brave a spirit lies
on the bed in the vatican beside when
almost all the world has prayed Inc
red damask c~overlet rests lightly over
the body. the cardinals scarlet cape IS
about the shoulders. while on his heau
has been placed the papal hood OF Vel
vet. bordered with ermine. A white SILK
handkerchief is bound about his chlh
and in the hands which have blessed so
many thousands has been placed q
crucifx. So Pope Leo Will remain I'M
til tomorrow watched by uniformed or
fcers of the noble guard and rough
clad Franciscan pOtentiaries VINO VIII
keep a ceaseless vigil until the ourlaI
occurs.
Tomorrow, the sacred college of car
dinals Will assemble for the impressive
ceremony officially ~prOnOuncing Pope
Leo dead. After this function mas peeh
performed the body will be taken 10
the small throne room adjoining the
death chamber where it will be EN-
balmed. The funeral ceremonies VIII
extend over mn days, the remains be
ing removed to the cathedral OF 81
Peter where they will lie in state. Inc
ultimate resting place of the dead pom
tiff will be in the magnificent paSlilcd
of St. john. The Laterna.
Pope LeO's final moments We're MARX
ed by that same serenity and Devotion
as. when ne was conscious thdl call
intelligence which IS associated VIII
his twenty-five years pOntihcate: HlS
was no easy death. An hour before
he died turning TO DIR. LapnOnl and ms
devoted valet Pho Central. he murmur
ed. the pain | suffer Is most terrible
Yet. his parting words were not OF tl'
physical anguish that he suffered, Du
We're whispered benedictIOn upon tn
cardinals and his nephew who knel
at the bedside. and the last look OF M
almost sightIess eyes was towards tn
great ivory CrUciffX hanging IN IN
death chamber. Practically all the car
dinals i'm Rome kneeling at the bed
side watched the passage Of this soul
Earlier in the day Cardinal Sera1n'
VannutelIi had impressively p~ronOunc
ed the dissolution in artIcuio marJS
the condition of his holiness varied
from gOu to coma Wishing TO re1leN'
him. DR.. MaZzOui suggested that mOr
phine should he administered but Dr.
LappOni did not agree. fearing that IN
end might be ~QuiCkened-
OF his supreme moment. DR. Lap
pOni gives an impressive description
He said:
Death occurred through exhaustion
although in the last hours Pope Lee
made a supreme effort to gather N
his energies He succeeded in recogrlz
ing those about him by the sound o
their voices rs his sight was almOS
entirely lost. Still he made a marvel
lous display of his energy and even nj
death was really grand. 1t was re
signed. calm and serene. Very Few eN
ampIes can be given Of a man OF sue.
advance age after so a
Illness showing supreme courage l
diving The pOntiff'S last breath va
taken exactly at four minutes pas
four o'clock. I approached Il IShIe
candle 10 his mouth three INES &C
cUrding to the traditional ceremoili"
and afterward declared the pope 10 D
no more. I then went to inform car
dinaI OregIia tie dean OF the sacrt
college who Immediately assumed ~
power and gave orders that the Natl
can BE- cleared of all curious person
having no right to be therein. Con
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tho 90 ~lln1I IDSTrltI
ed Mgr. Right. master OF Cerernonle
TO send the Swiss guards from IN
Clementine hall to close all the en
frances to the vatican and dismiss a
persons from the death chamber. tn
body being entrusted TO the Francis
can plenInotentiaries-"
Meantime. events ur mOueDtouS IN
portanca 10 Catholic ChriStendOn wer
were occurring. The death OF POP
Leo meant the passing of the supren
power into the hands Of n Sa9re
college of Cardinals as its tempOraT
custodian during the interreSnum.
The perfect administrative machine
~ Of the church provided against II
slightest interruption Of n govern
ing authority. As the senior memb'
Of the sacred college Cardinal Oregi
to whom the pope today Solemnly co
fded the interests of the church ne
now become the exponent OF the ca
dinals until Pope LeO's successor NJ
been elected. This has brought fort
Cardinal Oreglia as the striking pc
sOnality Of the hour
'Th cardinal is the exact Antilles
OF POpe Leo having none OF the Ia
pontif's sympathetic and benevolel
characteristics. The committee fro
n noble PiedmonteSe stock and his n,
blIftv IS shown by his naughty al
austere bearing. He is not populi
among his colleagues or the Roman
and his brusque has earnt
him the title of the Piedmont Bear
He is tall and robust and his a yea
are shown by the whiteness of his ha.
His face has the tawny hue of o
parchment and is deeply lined. D
spite his austerity. the cardinals lear