Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-05
Crowds Surge About st. Peters in
Drizzling Rain.
LEO WELCOMED BY A MIGHTY SHOUT
4Pontiff Conducts the Ceremonies
Amid Gala scenes-Estimated That
$4,000 People Were in Attendance
Including 1000 Americans.

Rome. March 3.-From sunrise to-
day all Rome was on the alert, show
ing the most unusual animation and
interest in the celebration of the TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary of the coronation
of the pope. An immense crowd, in
Guiding hundreds of Italian troops in
various modern uniforms, foreigners of
all nationalities, including many wo-
men in varied attire, and Italians from
all parts of the country, assembled
about the vatican and st. Peters long
before the ceremonies began. There
was general discomfort among the
sight seers, owing to the drizzling
rain.
Crowds Throng St. Peters.
When the doors of ST. Peters were
opened an almost indescribable strug-
gle occurred, in which all present for
got the rules of holiness, striving hard
with elbows and feet to reach the inte-
rior of the sacred edifice. The gowns
of many of the women were mutilated,
and some of the were carried
away in a fainting condition. The tri-
Dunes were soon crowded to overflow
ing and all of the standing space was
occupied.
Procession Appears.
After an hour of very fatiguing wait.
ing the majestic procession, composed
of the great dignitaries of the church,
began to appear. At IL o'clock pre-
cisely the great bell of st. Peters rang
out the signal, which was followed
by the Ginning of the bells of the five
hundred churches in Rome, sounding
the announcement that the pontiff was
on his way to the basilica.
Tremendous Welcome.
AS the pope appeared inside st. Pc
ter's the people sent forth a tremen-
dous roar of welcome.
Seemed to Be a Spirit.
From his elevation on the new Sc
dia Gestatoria, carried by twelve men
in costumes of red brocade and flank
ed by the famous flabelli spreading
feather fans and surmounted by a
white and gold canopy. the pope APP
peared to be more than a human be-
ing. He seemed to be a white spirit,
this impression being added to by the
pontiff's white robes and white mitre
and delicate features. His face was
as white as alabaster and his thin
hand, moving slowly in benediction, as
the well trained voices of the sistine
choir sang sTu Els Petrus."
"Long Live Leo"
Thousands of voices shouted Long
live Leo" handkerchiefs fiuttered in
the air, banners of the various socie.
ties represented were waved and many
of those present were overcome with
emotion and sobbed loudly, while 9th.
ers tainted from excess of feeling OF
fatigue.
Conducts Ceremonies.
When the pope arrived at the throne
the ceremony proceeded rapidly. Leav.
ing the Sedia Gestatoria the pontiff
knelt and prayed, then rose without
assistance and donned the falda and
new triple crown and the celebration
of mass began.
Heavenly Music.
At the moment of the elevation Of
the host profound silence fell on the
assemblage, the guards presented
arms, the people knelt, where it was
possible for them to do so, and from
the cupola came the clear, thin sounds
of the silver trumpets, giving an ides
of heavenly music.
Pope Retires
The pope thep administered the pa
pal benediction and retired to thu
~eom for restoratives, prepared on pur
pose every time he goes totSt. Peters
There addressing DR.. Lapponi, his pri
vate physician, the pontiff said, "Yo,
see that after all your warnings TIL
ceremony did me good. What touch
ing loyalty"
1t was calculated that there wer'
about $4,000 people present, including
1000 Americans.