The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-06
While Pope Lies Dying in Quiet Chamber Tuf-
 noiI Reigns.
DIGNITARIES OF CHURCH
 WAIT IN AWFUL SUSPENSE
Carriages Roll Constantly to Court of St. Damaso, Telegrams Follow in Quick Succession, and Thous-
 ands Seeks Latest News.

Rome, July 5-In these days when the life of the venerable pontiff Pope Leo hangs by thread the excitement and perturbation which prevails within the vat ican Is Intense. While the illustrlous pa- tient lies in quiet chamber assiduously and affectionately watched and attended by his favorite physician. pr. Lapponi and his trusted valet, Piocentra, the rest ot the vast palace is in state of continual unrest. Telegrams are following each other in quick succession from foreign powers, high church dgnitaries or individ- uals and are being read and answered by busy staff and secretaries. Carriages are driving up necessarily to the court of St Damaso in which the apartments of the pope open
 Ecclesiastical dlgnitaries of various ranks are standing in anxious crowds about the doors of the palace in the hope of obtaining the latest news. Monsignors are hurrying to and from the palace, all making anxious inquiries All sorts and conditions of men are waiting at the doors or in the vast piazza space in front of St. Peters seeking scraps of intelligence The Swiss guards in their brilliant black red and yellow uniforms are pacing up and down before the portals, receiving the eager inquiries with their customary fm- pertubable calmness
 Preparing for the Interregnum.
 Cardinal Oregia Di Santo Stefano first sent his secretary thls morning to inquire and look for the apartment which his eminence in his capacity as camerlinso will occupy after the demise of the pope when he will take the reins of the pom tifical power during the interregnum Later the cardinal himself went to the vatican and had long conversation with Cardinal Rampola. It seems that Car dinal Oreglia will choose as his apart ment the rooms next to the hall in which the pope usually receives the congratula- tions of the cardinals, and which is called the loggia of Raphael, from the name of the painter
 If the condition of Pope Leo becomes much worse, Cardinal Oreglia will sleep at the vatican tonight.
 Many members of the diplomatic corps called today on Cardinal Rampola, in cluding the French ambassador, all anx- ious to learn the latest news. Baron von Rothenham, the Prussian minister, show ed Cardinal Rampola a telegram from the German emperor expressing his ma- jestys deepest regret on learning of the pontiff's illness, and the hope of speedy | recovery, and asking to be kept constant ly informed by telegraph about the con- dtion of his holiness.
 Conferences With RampoIla.
 Cardinal GottL prefect of the propa- ganda. and Di Pietro, the hereditary bishop, had long interviews with Cardi- nal Rampolla A fact significant of the anxiety pervading the officials at the vatican, as we'll as the sacred college, Is that Marquis Sachetti. the high steward of the palace, with his son as coadjutor and Commentator Mannucci, who directs the temporal affairs of the vatican, are continually In attendance, the last named having the responsibility of the prepara- tions regarding the summoning of a con- clave In the event of the pope's death Monsignor Pifferi the Augustinian monk who holds the office of confessor to the pontiff, and Cardinal Vannuttelli the grand pententiary. have been requested to keep themselves in readiness to be call ed should Pope Leo's illness take a still more serious turn. Cardinal Vannuttelli's s office consists of administering the last | communion to the dying pontlff
 The Associated Press correspondent saw MT. Mazzoni this afternoon on his return from the consultation at Leo's 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, tho case is not yet desperate, especially with man having such unexpected reserves of energy and vitality which at the age of 93lis indeed astonishing. The exact definition of the popes Illness is senile adynamic pneu- monia. but his holiness has not the least idea that he is attacked by any organic disease. In fact he was not in bed when l went to the vatican, but was seated in his usual arm chair, where l am accus- toned to see him every time I visit the palace. He believes that the oppression on his chest and the accompanying diff ficulty of breathing are merely the re- suits of extreme weakness. As soon as he saw me. his holiness repeatedly re- quested me to turn my atteYtlon to the best means of restoring his strength, which he said was all he required ex- pope has recourse to his inveterate habit of snuff taking. saying that he finds 1t very refreshing
 External Symptoms.
 'The weakness of the patients pulse and his short and irregular breathing gradually approaching to 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 I left him his holiness said, Come again soon. will try to give you bet | ter reception.
 During the afternoon the strength of the pontiff began to fail him so rapidly and his case became so critical that 1t appeared that only few hours of his life remained to him It was therefore deemed wise to advise him of his grave condi- ton, and this was done with tender pre- Continued on Second Pase)