The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-30
LAID in THE TOMB
FUNERAL OF POPE LEO. HELD AT
ST. PETERS.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES Witnessed by
About q Thousand Persons. At
tendance In the Chapel Limited
by Invitation-i-Eul Buried
with Him.

Rome, July 26.-The body of Pope
Leo XII was inferred in St. Peters
last night. The strokes OF the hammer
which resounded through the immense
dome of the cathedral announced to the
earnest gathering in the nave that Leo
Nil had been laid TO rest. At Sun
down the most Important and most
solemn of all the obsequeis took place.
The front doors O. the basiita were
closed and the vast church, except for
a row of lights at the SHRINE Of It. Pc
ter the candies about he bier and those
persons who had quietly and with the
utmost reverence gathered there, APP
peared deserted.
About 900 persons had received in
vitati0ns to attend the ceremonies.
The cardinals, who met earlier in the
Vatican, entered the chapel choir,
waiting there for the arrival of the pro-
cession, Cardinal Oreglia, the Gamer
lengo, holding the keys of command.
Through special permission represen-
tative of the Associated Press was al
lowed to enter the chapel of the sacra-
ment before the remains Of the dead
pontif were removed
Removal of Bier.
Cardinal Rampola, an arch priest of
the basilica, was waiting outside the
gates III violet robes, surrounded by the
chapter of the cathedral, which was led
by Monsignor Cepetelli who conducted
the services. Doctors Lapponi and Ma
i Al
of the bier, which was executed by
eight sediari, or popes carriers, attired
in their brilliant robe costumes. At
first they tried TO raise the bier, but
finding it too heavy, they slowly slid
it on to low car with noiseless wheels
Then to the strains of the "Miser-
erie. (which walled through the lofty
church, and preceded by glittering
cross held alof, the procession, carrying
candles and torches, slowly left the
chapel and went up to the church, pass
ing the bronze statue and beyond the
shrine of st. Peter. Those gathered
fell to their knees.
st. Peters is peculiarly fitted to be
the background of such. scene. The
cold Wilderness of the vast pillars show
ed up the bright uniforms of the guards,
the violet robes of the clergy and the
bier, while the Pickering light of the
candles made the funeral procession
the only visible object and rendered
the obscurity behind il more noticeable
After slow progress around the church,
the cad cortege arrived at the chapel
choir, the bier being so carried that
the dead pope entered head first, &C
cording TO the ceremonial, the chapel
from semi-obscnrity flashing into the
nrilliancy of the suddenly turned or
electric lights.
Scene in Chapel.
Here all those who had received in
vivtations were stopped, remaining in
The main part of the basilica beyond a
double line of Swiss guards in their pc
culiar red, yellow aud black uniforms,
and armed with the balberds and GER
pentine swords. Within the chapel
was Count Camille Pecci, nephew of
the late pope, wearing the led uniform
of a castle guard.
In the chapel the music changed TO
notes of joy. and "In Paradisinm" rang
out with telling effect. From the out
aide the five bells of ct. Peter rang
their accustomed salute to the coming
night, mingled harmoniously with the
music of the choir.
The scene in the chapel was most
remarkably effective. The bier bearing
he body was received by Cardinal
Oreglia. 1t was placed in the center,
backed by an altar with a beautiful fm-
age of the madonna, before which We're
urning four immense candles in silver
-taffs. Around the two sides of the
cha pei in the choir seats, were thirty
six cardinals, all wearing violet robes
except Cardinals Gotti and Perotti, who
wore the white mantles of their orders,
Cardinals Martin<lii as an Augustinan
and Cardinal Wives Y Tuto in Francis
can brown.
Sprinkied With Holy Water.
The body was sprinkled with holy
water, absolution was given, and the
foot of Leo XIII was kissed for the last
time by Major Domo Cagiano, master
of the chamber, Bisletti and Count Ca
milo Pecci.
The major domo then covered the
venerable features and hands with a
white silk veil bordered with gold.
Over this the project of ceremonies
spread large silk veil, which covered
the whole person.
Fire was lighted in brazier and
blown by bellows, the sparks rising
almost to the ceiling. while MonsigDor
Bartoloni read for twenty minutes the
CRATIC brevis, eulogizing the dead pom