The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-06
POPE LEO NEAR TO DEATH
MAKES READY FOR THE END
last Sacrament of the Church Is Administered to
the Aged Pontif.
Much Speculation to His SucCessOPrepaatons Under Way
For Ceremonies That Will Follow Popes Death

read and answered by a busy staff of
secretaries. Carriages are driving up
necessarily to the court of St. Damaso,
in which the apartments of the pope
open. Ecclesiastical dignitaries of
various ranks are standing in an anx-
ious crowd about the doors Of the pal
ace in the hope of obtaining the lates-
news. Monsignors are hurrying to and
from the palace, all making anxious
inquiries. All sorts and conditions of
men are waiting about the doors. or
in the vast piazza in front of St.
Peters, seeking scraps of intelligence.
Swiss Guards Active.
The Swiss guards. in their brilliant
black, red and yellow uniforms, keep
pacing up and down before portals, re-
ceiving the inquiries with their Gus
tOmary imDerturbable calmness.
Cardinal Oreglia di Santo Stefano
first sent his secretary this morning TO
inquire and look for the apartment
which his eminence. in his capacity as
camerlango. viii occupy after the de-
mise of the pope. when he will take
the reins of the pOntifical power during
the tnterreEnum. Later the cardinal
himself went to the vatican and had a
Ions conversation with Cardinal Ram
polla. It seems that Cardinal Oreglia
VIII choose as his apartment the rooms
next 20 the hall IN which the pope
usually receives the congratulations of
the cardinals. and which is called the
loggia Of Raphael. from the name of
the FAINTER.
If the condition of Pope Leo becomes
much worse Cardinal Oreglia viii sleep
al the vatican tonight. Many member
OF the diplomatic corps called today on
Cardinal Rampolla. including the
French ambassador. all anXiously ask
inE for the latest news. Baron Won
Rothenham. the Prussian minister.
showed Cardinal RampolIa a telegram
from the German emperor. expressing
mis- H1ajesty's deepest regret on learn
ing of the pontifs illness. and the hope
OF speedy recovery. and asking To
be kept continually informed by tele-
graph about the condition Of his hOli-
ness.
Preparing For the End.
Cardinals Gotti, project of the propa-
ganda, and Di Pietro, the prodatary,
both had long interviews with Cardi-
hal RampOlla. A fact significant of the
anxiety pervading the officials at the
vatican. as well as the sacred college,
is that Marquis Sacchetti, the nigh
steward Of the place. with his son as
cOadjutOr. and COmendat tor Mannuc-
NAH WIZ I'll WIS AAAt AtAllfuA al dlAdlIS u
the vatican. are continually in at
tendance. the last named having the
responsibility of the preparations re-
garding the summOning of a cOnclave
IN the event OF the pOpe's death Mon
signOr Pieferri. the Augustinian monk
VINO holds the office of cOnfessor to the
pontiff and Cardinal Serafino Vannu-
tell. the grand penitentiary, have
been requested to keep themselves in
readiness to be called should Pope
Leo's illness take a stiI more serious
turn. Cardinal SerafinO Vannutelli's
Office consists of administering the last
communion to the dying pontiff.
The condition of his holiness at II
O'clock tonight, though still grave. is
not so serious as late this afternoon.
DIR. Lapponi administered camphor-
caffeine through the mouth, as one eX-
pertinent of injection did not prove
successful. Pope Leo saying he could
not bear it. The ameliOratiOn result
ing from the camDhor- caffeine was so
marked that the pOntiff called first his
nephews and then his private secretary
and adjusted some personal affairs
which are pending.
May Live Several Days.
Dr. Mazzoni and DR.. Lapponi now
think that the danger of a catastrophe
occurring during the night has been
averted. Indeed. they hope that unless
there is heart failure they will be able
70 keep their august patient alive for a
few days longer. especially if he will
willingly consent to observe the ply
sicianS prescriptions. This, however,
is the more difficult. as his holiness
preserves his fun consciousness AMI
argues and discusses his doctors pre-
scriptions. The latter. fearing to eX-
cite him by contradiction. are some
times at a loss how to proceed.
The Associated Press correspondent
saw DR.. Mazzoni this afternoon on his
return from consultation at Pope Leo
bedside. The doctor said:
The situation this time is certainly
really grave. in view of the great age of
the patient and his state of extreme
weakness. However. the case is not
yet desperate. especially with a man
having such unexpected reserves of
energy and vitality, which, at the age
Of 80. is indeed astonishing. The exact
definition of the pope's illness is senile
adynamic pneumonia, but his holiness
has not the least idea that he is at
tackled by any organic disease. In fact,
he was not in bed when I went to the
vatican. but was seated in his usual
armchair. where 1 am accustomed to
see him every time I visit the palace.
He believes the oppression on his chest
anu itlt dtColLl leiliyl lB ulllltuiLE OF
breathing are merely the results of eX-
treme weakness AS soon as he saw
me his holiness repeatedly requested
me to turn my attention 20 the best
means Of restoring his strength. which.
he said was all he required EXPECT a
little fresh air. Now and then the pope
has recourse to his inveterate habit Of
SNUFF taking. saying that he finds it
very refreshing.
THE weakness Of the patients pulse
and his short and irregular breath
ing, gradually approaching 20 gasping.
are the only external symptoms of any
serious nature: but. as I said before
the pope this morning was full Of spirit
and would not take a grave view Of
his own case When 1 left him his holt
ness said.
Come again soon. I will try to
give you better reception
Strength Failed During Afternoon.
During the afternoon the strength Of
the pontin began TO fail him so rap
idly and his condition became so crit
ical that il appeared that only a few
hours OF his life remained to him. It