Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-25
POPE LEO rs DEAD.
Head of Roman Church Passed
Away Monday Afternoon.
Marvellous VIII Power ut Last succumbed
to the Inevitable Decay OF Tissues
Which Ensues Upon Ninety
Three Years of Life.

Rome. July 21.-Pope Leo XIII. is
dead. The last flicker of life expired
ut four minutes past four o'clock yes
terday afternoon and the pontiff now
lies at rest. The period of over two
weeks that Pope Leo passed in the
shadow of death was no less wonder
full than his life. His splendid battle
against disease was watched the world
over with sympathetic admiration and
ended only after series of tremendous
efforts to conquer the weakness OF his
uged frame by the marvellous will
power of his mind. The pleuro-pneu-
monia with which his holiness had
been suffering was scarcely SO respon-
sible for his death as that inevitable
decay Of tissue which ensues upon SO
years of life. The tested steel which
had bent so often before human ills
was bound to break at last.
Last night the emaciated and life
less frame which held so brave a
spirit laid on the bed in the vatican
prayed. The red damask coverlet
rests lightly over the body, the cardi-
nails scarlet cape is about the Shout
ders, while on his head has been placed
the papal hood Of velvet, bordered
with ermine. A white silk handker-
chief is bound about his chin and In
the hands which have blessed so many
thousands has been placed a crucifix.
So Pope Leo remained until to-day
watched by uniformed officers Of the
noble guard and rough-clad Francis
can penitentiaries, who will keep a
ceaseless vigil until the burial cere-
monies. -
To-day the sacred college of cardi-
nails will assemble for the impressive
ceremony of officially pronouncing
Pope Leo dead. After this sad func-
ton has been performed the body will
be taken to the small throne room adj
joining the death chamber, where 1t
will be embalmed. The funeral cere-
monies will extend over nine days, the
remains being removed to the cathe-
dral of st. Peters. where they will lie
in state. The ultimate resting place
OF the dead pontiff will be in the mag
nificent basilica of st. John Lateran.
Pope Leo's final moments were
marked by that same serenity and de-
votion and when he was conscious that
calm intelligence which is associated
with his rs years pontificate. His
was no easy death. An hour before
he died, turning to DR.. Lapponi and
his devoted valet, Pho Contra, he muir
mured THE pain suffer Is most ter
rible." Yet his parting words were
not Of his physical anguish that he
suffered, but were whispered benedic-
tons upon the cardinals and his
nephews, who knelt at the bedside
and the last look of his almost sight
less eyes was towards the great ivory
crucifix hanging in the death chamber.
Practically all the cardinals now in
Rome, kneeling at the bedside,
watched the passage of his soul.
Earlier in the day Cardinal Serafino
vannutelli had impressively pro-
nounced the dissolution in articulo
mortis.
The condition of his holiness varied
from agony to coma Wishing to re-
lieve him, DR.. Mazzoni suggested that
morphine should be administered, but
DR.. Lapponi did not agree. fearing that
the end might be quickened.