Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-23
ing Viewed by Thousands

form of Leo XIII lay in state in the basilica of St Peters, while thousands of persons from the ordinary walks ,f life filed past to pay their last tribute of love and veneration. The impress sive ceremonies of yesterday were viewed by only favored few of the mobility, aristocracy and the highest clergy, but to-day the doors were opened to the entire public. Many re- mained on the piazza throughout the hot night in order to gain a place at the head of the line. By o'clock this morning there was crowd of several hundred, which had increased by 6 o'clock to several thousands. Elaborate preparations had been made to guard against accidents in the crush. All converging streets were cleared of ve- hicles, leaving them free for foot pas sengers, while six ambulance stations had been erected, including one at the entrance to the piazza and another be side the door of St Peters.
 Exactly at 6 o'clock the bells of the great cathedral began tolling mourn fully, the chimes running down through the scale until deep bass stroke had 5tOQQplSISu LQG IuluOE CuOIu.
 At the sound of the first bell two regiments of Italian grenadters marched smartly across the piazza to the stone steps and soon the vast porti- co swarmed for the first time in years with Italian troops. 300 on~the portieo and 1.200 surrounding the colonnades. The grenadiers wore long. blue service coats and peaked caps. They stood in h. | Ylo H ~ncf fI1el extending from the threshold of the church through a narrow gateway of a temporary wooden structure which was holding back the crowd. At five min utes after 6 the gate was opened and the human tide began to flow in. The jam at the narrow entrance soon be- came terrific, threatening serious re- sults to the struggling mass of half fainting women and children. All though the crowd wasnot extraordinari ly large, the steady movement into the funnel -like enclosure made the pressure terrific Many women had their dress es or veils torn off and some were lifted, exhausted, over the wooden en- closure and out of the crush. For tunately, there were no serious acci- dents and the ambulances were not summoned.
 Within the church temporary rai.- tngs had been erected to keep the peo. pie in straight line leading directly to the bier. This was the center to which all eyes turned. The silent form lay on a catafalque ten feet high, so that all could see it. The body was slightly inclined, with the head raised and facing the passing throng. The visage had chalky whiteness and ap- peared to be unnaturally shriveled. 1t was robed in the full vestments as the Roman public knew the pontif in life. Around the bier burned thirteen high candles. while on each side stood tho noble guards, motionless. Further back were kneeling priests, and acolyte: softly intoning in venerations.
 The crowd pushed against the iron rellis which separates the chapel from the main portion of the church, but those who expected to kiss the slippered feet were disappointed, as the officials had adopted precautionary measures so that the lower extremities of the body were half a yard back of the iron grating.
 All ranks and stations of life were represented in the faces which were pressed against the trellis. Many were working people; there also were groups of convent girls under the care of nuns, and of school boys headed by priests. Crowds continued to pass De fore the bier throughout the morning.
 At 9:30 a. m. solemn pOntifcal re- uuiem mass was celebrated in St Peters for the repose of the soul of Leo XIII. The crowd was kept con- stantIy moving within the wooden bar nd present although in so vast a church, capable of containing 7O,OO0 people. they appeared to be mere handful, especially as they were all standing.
 Cardinal Oreglia feels worn out, ow- ,ng to his unaccustomed exertions. His life as cardinal was one of uninter- rupted serenity and he now bears practically the entire burden of the church, and also the minute details of the preparations for the obsequies and the conclave. Notwithstanding this he opened this mornings meeting of the congregation of cardinals.
 The number of those present to-day was augmented by the presence of two new arrivals. Cardinal Domenico Svampa, archbishop of Bologna. and Cardinal Giulio Boschhi, archbishop of Ferrera The former was especially warmly welcomed by his colleagues, as being one of the most prominent mem bers of the sacred college and because he is mentioned as among those most likely to succeed Pope Leo. It is being remarked that Cardinal Oreglia's re- sponsibilities have softened his auster- ity and that he is directing affairs with f1rmness, but without harshness, showing the cardinals every considera- ion and giving constant proof equani- unity.
 At this mornings meeting of the congregation of cardinals committee, consisting of Cardinals Casali, Macchi, and Della Volpe, was appointed to su- pervise all the arrangements in connec- Non with the conclave.
 Two doctors. Lapponi and Pe1agalIo,