Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-10
ISs NEAR THE END.
Pope Leo Making a Desperate But
Hopeless Struggle Against Death.
Extreme UnctfOn Administered to
theAged POntin of the Catholic
9 Church-His Mind Is Still
@ Clear and Active.

! Rome, July 7.-Another morning
has broken on the pathetic scene with
in the simple chamber of the vatican
. where Pope Leo lies dying. AS the
soft light of dawn penetrated into the
room, the pcntiff whispered to his
devoted physician that he desired the
shutters of the windows opened, say
q ing: Il wish to see once more, per-
haps for the last time, the rays of
the sun" 1t was just a short while
after the pope came back to conscious
hess from sleep which DR.. Lapponi
bad induced by strong dose of chlor-
al. His sleep was so deathlike that
= artlnc1al respiration was continued
and DR.. Lapponi every few minutes
leaned anxiously over the couch to
observe the illustrious patient and
listen to his hardly perceptible
breathing. Pope Leo awoke wet with
perspiratiOn, feeble to the extreme
and his voice hardly audible. The
fits Of coughing had brought pains in
his chest and shoulders, and thinking
his end was now near he said to DR..
Lapponi: "Tell me when the time
really comes" The doctor assured his
holiness that he believed the danger
ofDhis immediate passing was avert
ed for the night and for to-day.
These seemingly last moments of
PopeeLeo are full of solemnity. Per-
haps his last hours. would be less
melancholy and sad if the august suf-
ferer were less conscious of the cir
cumstances and his mind less clear as
70 the duration of time remaining to
him before he enters eternity Al
= nj
lowest ebb and his breathing becomes
more labored, the pope's mind is clear,
as is manifest to all around him by
his bright. expressive eyes and the
few words he now and then succeeds
in uttering. The scene is so touch
ing that those present can scarce re-
strain their tears.
Shortly after ten O'Clock last night
the pontiff received the extreme unc-
ton. At nine o'clock his condition
seemed so hopeless that only short
time apparently remained before he
would glide into his last sleep. At
DR.. Lapponi's initiative a hasty con-
sultation Of the pope's relatives, Car
dinal Rampo1la and other ecclesias- !
tics was held and it was decided thai !
extreme JUNCTION should be given. The |
,POnClH received the announcement
with his usual calmness and, though |
scarcely able to speak audibly, he |
said he knew his time had come and :
he was ready to appear before the F,
sublime tribunal with full trust in the !
divine mercy.
Monsignor Pifferi. Pope Leo's con- :
fessor, administered the extreme unc- i
tion and when the ceremony was over |
his holiness sank back on the pillow |
with apparent great relief that all
was done and that he was entering in
to rest after his long pilgrimage.
After the administration Of the
viaticnm. kilograms hoping for his
recovery we've shown to the pope and
he appeared to be much gratified.
One of the strangest features in his
condition is the interest the pope
takes in kilograms inquiring about his
health.
The pope has taken nourishment |
four times during the night His pulse |
shows asslight Improvement. At $50 |
o'clock this morning he left his bed fol |
an armchair