The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-04-17
POPE CONVINCED
THE END IS NEAR
CALLS PERSONAL ATTENDANTS
ABOUT HIM AND BLESSES.
NUMBER ADMITTED is LIMITED
Prelates Who viii Administer Last
Sacramento Are Ordered to Hold
Themselves in Readiness For
Immediate Summons.

Rome. April 16.-Pope Plus X, con-
WINGED despite his cheerful optimism,
that his ultimate dissolution from his
present illness is inevitable, this af-
ternoon insisted on taking leave of
Jail his personal attendants, most of
whom served him when he was in
Venice and before his election as
Pope. Realizing that his end could
not be far off, the papal physicians
consented to limit the number of SER
wants to be admitted singly to the
sick chamber and the length of each
visit Soldiers, cooks, grooms, gar.
deners and other attaches of the vati-
can entered the Pope's room. The
Pope spoke to all of them and gave
them his blessing. Every servant
cried as if his heart would break and
before the audience had gone the
Pope was crying too.
| Dr. Amici hastily summoned from
London this afternoon, said that the
Pope was suffering from highly in
creased fever. His condition was re.
garded as very critical.
| The Pope is dying and the end is
but question of but few hours, &C
cording to the belief of the aged pom
tiff's brothers, sisters, and the doc
tors now at the bedside. This infor
nation was given the United Press
this evening by a vatican attache in
a position to know the facts. DR..
Marchafavan gave inquirers no hope
when asked if he believed the holy
| father had any chance of rallying.
DR.. Amici only shook his head and
declined to make any comment.
Throughout the city hope has been
abandoned and preparations are going
on everywhere in fashion to con-
firm the general belief that His Holt
mess will not survive the night. At
six o'clock tonight (Rome time) all
members of the pontiff's family were
requested to hold themselves in
readiness for the first signal to the
bedside. They were told by the doc
tors that the Pope could not possibly
survive the night. "a
Temperature Rises Rapidly.
In an official bulletin issued from
the Vatican it was learned that his
temperature had risen nearly three
| degrees within two hours and that
the bronchial pneumonia conditions
affecting his left lung had suddenly
become intense.
The adverse change came with
alarming suddenness after the pope
! had made a remarkable rally lasting
! for nearly twenty-four hours. + Bull
letins, had announced that the pope's
temperature was normal and his pulse
almost so.
Temperature Rises Rapidly.
While his general condition was re-
ported as being far better than the
papel physicians had hoped for, a
bulletin was suddenly issued by
Cardinal Merry del Val and signed by
/ Professor Marchiafava and Doctor
Amiei in which 1t was said that the
pope's temperature had risen. alarm.
ingly until II had reached 1904 de-
grees and that his chest was seri'
ously affected. .--.
Later it was announced from the
Vatican that the prelates whose duty
It will be to administer the last sac
raments to the holy father in the
event Of impending death. had been
ordered to hold themselves in readi'
ness for summons at any moment.
Professor Marchiafava and Doctor
Amici have been in constant attend
ance in the papal bedchamber since
appearance Of the alarming symp'
toms.
Admit Pneumonia Exists.
II was officially admitted by the
! papal physicians for the first time
that the left lung of the pope has be-
come affected with bronchial pneu.
monia. This was rumored two days
ago, but the suggestion that his holt
ness was suffering from any form OF
pneumonia was promptly denied by
Professor Marchiafava,
When It was learned that the pope
had experienced a material rise In
temperature and that the bronchial
pneumonia symptoms had been great.
ly augmented, great apprehension
was expressed.
SO optimistic had been the feeling
over the pope's condition that his sis
tiers, Anna and Maria Sarto. had re-
turned to their apartments for a
much needed rest otter the long vigil
spent at their brothers bedside
Shortly before the bulletin announcing
the change was made public the sis
tiers we're hurried from their home TO
the Vatican in closed carriage.
Angelo Sarto, the pope's brother,
who was hastily summoned, has ar
rived from Grazia..
Death Guard Appointed.
The attitude taken by the Vatican
toward the holy fathers condition is
we'll indicated by the appointment of
new noble guard, following q Gus
tom centuries old, for the purpose of
guarding the pope's body after death.
II was remarked that this action has
never been taken unless the decease