The Washington times., 1903-07-23
Typical Roman Crowd Gath
erS About the Public En-
trance at an Early Hour
tOLOOk Its Last UpOnLeO.
CATAFALQUE GUARDED
BY ITALIAN TROOPS
All AntagOnism Between
Church and State Tempo
rarily Forgotten in the
Mutual Honor to the Dead.

ROME. July 23.-At 6:Oe o'clock this
morning the doors of St. Peters were
thrown open. and from that time until
3 o'clock this afternoon the public
passed through TO take last look at
the remains OF the late Pontin, Leo III.
At o'clock the doors were again closed.
only the especially invited being admit
ted from to 5 this afternoon. This
program will be carried out tomorrow
and Saturday as we'll.
While an immense crowd viewed the
body today. no one remained in st Peters
Square overnight for the opening of the
doors. as it was realized that within
the three days the body would lie in
state all could be accommodated.
Fifteen Hundred in Line.
At daybreak. however. the people be-
gan TO gather and at 5:45 O'Clock the
square presented an animated appear
ance. Barriers had been placed at The
foot Of. the steps. with one public and
one private entrance. and one general
exit. Fifteen hundred eager people
crowded against the public entrance.
On the stroke Of O'Clock three COM
panies OF Italian grenadiers arrived from
the Vatican portico. where hey had
been waiting.
One company entered the portico
again. while the other two formed lines
4 from the barrier gates to the Cathedral
doors. Inside st. Peters were massive
wooden barriers, three feet high, which
marked out a wide lane to the front OF
the chapel of the Sacrament The lane
then detoured back to the doors In
side the Cathedral fifty carabinieri. OF
the crack corps organized by the Italian
patriot Garibaldi, aided by gendarmes,
kept the crowd moving
Typical Roman Crowd.
By SOS 1000 had gathered outside the
gate. Many OF these were workingmen
and shop girls, forming a typical Roman
crowd. Many wore black. while some
devout women were in complete mourn
ing.
/ At sos the gates were opened The
first person through was an old Italian
woman with rings in her ears. Then
came a crowd OF men and boys. who
raced up the steps at top speed. All.
/ UONtNtls nAOA lICl ACdLISG lut HCA taA
removed their hats and entered rever-
entity
The catafalque was so placed that the
Pontid's feet were more than yard be-
hind the chapeTs iron railing. so that
it was impossible to kiss the sacred
shoes or even 10 kneel. Only a glance
was allowed.
One old woman. when she saw the ar
rangement cried out: "Oh. his feet" and
went away sobbing bitterly in her 6isSp
pointment
Pontiff Fully Robed.
The Pontiff was fully robed. His head
was mitred and his hands crossed. hold
ing a rosary His face had been treated
with some transparent tissue, slightly
changing the expression, and making it
one Of singular repose and peace.
The Noble Guardsmen stood at each
corner Of the catafalcue. with the Pa
latine Line Guard On each side and the
Swiss Guard in the rear, all within the
chapel and only a railing dividing them
from the blue-eoated Italian troo
antagonism between church IN,
was temporarily forgotten in Il
tual honor to the dead.
This Afternoon the crowd at
trance still numbered thousands
those in froat passed in, there We
slant accessions in the rear. 2;
carriages began to arrive at RI
snl five more companies of Jro
) peared on the scene, as well as
; hulance corps. The latter
needed, ard took their stand vu tne
shady side c. the square.
The pre-conclave campaign is proceed
ing Cardinal Serahno Vanutelli Is %
day attracting the most attention.
Eis friends declare they have effected
a coalition against Cardinal Rampolla
in favor of Vanuteli. which includes the
moderetes among the Roman and Italian
Cardinals and several foreigners. tn ~
also expect that Cardinal Gibbons. Who
will arrive Saturday viii support their
candidate