The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-22
FUNERAL BEGINS.
LeO's Dead Body Lies in State
in the Throne Room.
High Officials Pass In Process
sion Before the Bier.
GIBBONS ARRIVAL
Is Not Now Expected Until
Next Saturday.
The Doctors File a Report Of
the Autopsy.
GIBBONS ARRIVAL

NNAChAOAlAtS Ol rope Leo > IuiltldA tOhi~
menced today, when the body lay in
state in the throne room of the vatican
from $50 a. m. until l p. m. All the
diplomats accredited to the vatican, the
Roman princes, dukes, barons, ana
other representatives of ancient fami-
lies remaining faithful to the papacy.
all the high dignitaries of the church.
the archbishops, bishops and heads OF
the religious orders, passed in solemn
procession before the bier.
The papal throne had been removed
and in its place, under the famous red
silken canopy, on a small bed lay the
body Of Leo. over the bed was thrown
red damask covering, on which the
body reposed in white vestrnents,
with the red rochet and camaure hood
and on the feet slippers embroidered
with gold. The thin hands. clasped
over the chest. held tightly a sman
ivory crucific. Around this was en-
twined a rosary of mother of pearl set
in gold. On the third finger of the
right hand the huge emerald pontif1caI
ring sparkled. In striking contrast
with the chastity face was the purple
hood. drawn down over the head. al
most to the eyebrows and over the ears.
The sunken cheeks and Jaws brought
the mouth, which was reduced almost
TO nothing, though no signs of agony
We're visible. 1t was the corpse of a
man who might have been dead so
years.
On either side near the shoulders
stood member of the noble guard
erect and motionless, only a faint
culver Of the drawn swords giving any
indication that they were not mere sta
tues The ordeal of the soldiers in the
heated chamber is so intense that they
have to be hourly relieved
CANDLES 10 FEET HIGH.
At the four corners of the bed stood
lighted candles, ten feet high On the
right of the body, close to the bed, was
"a small table covered with a white linen
cloth, on which were two candles
throwing glimmer of light on the
crucittx between them. AT the foot
of the cross was a crystal bowl filed
with holy water, from which each car
dinal, whenever he passed the body,
sprinkled it and uttered benediction.
Beside this were the devotional books
used by the pope.
The silence was only broken by the
solemn chanting of six Franciscan peni-
tentiaries who, kneeling or standing at
a bench at the foot of the bier contin-
ued their incessant supplicatiOn.
To the left and the right, on the walls
two great marble brackets supported
many branches of candelabra but they
were not lighted nor were the lamps on
the throne room. The only light thrown
on this solemn scene came from the
candles beside the body and from the
faint rays of sunlight which filtered
through the two windows
The red damask tapestries with which
the room was hung gave a touch of
royal splendor to the surroundings
Otherwise it was an almost simple
scene for the death rites of a pope
There was no carpet on the marble floor
and not flower was to be seen, accord
ing to the strict ritual of the last honorS
of the church to a ponitff.
As each lay or clerical dignitary en-
tered the throne room he advanced slow
ly to the side of the bed, took one last
look at the body and then withdrew
Some persons knelt in mOmentary pray
er and crossed themselves. 1t was the
last tribute of devotion and affection
rather than of mere outward homage
to the head Of the great church
Outside the throne room the long cor
ridors of the vatican presented a bril-
liant spectacle. At the entrance of the
court Of st. Damaso pontifical gem
darmes were drawn up and rendered
military honOrs as each carriage drove
in. The diplomats wore full uniform
and the princes and others were dressed
in black.
GUARD KEEPS WATCH.
From the St. Damaso court they
passed up the marble staircase into the
Clementino hall. where the Swiss guard
was ranged in double columns on either
EAHr+ ANtNt biCg entered the nan OF
Palafremieri. where twenty-five grooms
in red livery led the way to the hall Of
the Swiss where a company of gen.
darmes stood on guard at the threshold
of the ante-chamber. containing a pla-
toon or the Palatine guard. Further
along they passed through the hall of
tapestry and the pei of the pope
The noble guard il fun scarlet uni
forms, glittering brass helmets and sill
yer sashes. the latter covered with
crepe, kept the last watch at the door
of the apartment of their dead master
Outside the vatican an Interested
crowd, including number of Italian
soldiers, watched the coming and going
of the privileged mourners.
In the meanwhile the congregation of
cardinals met in the hail of the con-
sistory, under the presidency of Cardi-
nal Oreglia. 1t was determined to ar
range for the accommodation of the
cardinals during their enforced secu-
sion at the conclave in exactly the same
manner as when Pope Leo was elected.
Mgr Merry Del Val took up the du-
Ties of secretary of the cOnsistorial
congregation.
Cardinal Oreglia today received the
following telegram:
House Of Commons Westminster
July 2l--At todays meeting of the Irish
parliamentary party on motion of John
Redmond, president. supported by John
Dillon, as representatives of a people
VINO by so many centuries of suffering
mas attested its fidelity to the holy see
we hasten to associate ourselves with
the people of Ireland in their sorrow for
the event which has agitated the Catho-
hc cnufch throwing the entire civilized
people in mourning. If anything can
alleviate the pain which every Catholic
roof supports in the loss of our glorious
pontif, it is the consoling remembrance
of the noble, sanity life of the holy
father, his serenity in the midst of con-
tinual anxiety. his indomitable devotion
to duty. and his marvellous life which
has rendered the influence of religion