The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-16

ROME, April Is. Midnight.-The
condition Of the pope is undoubtedly
very grave. There have been several
incidents which show that the opti-
mistic officials Of the Vatican can mo
longer resist the conviction that the
end Is near. II is not thought that
the pope will die tonight, but DR.. Ami
Ct. after leaving the bedside for a few
moments to speak to friend, said
graveiy;
I fear his holiness will not see the
dawn of Thursday"
It Is learned that the original even
ing bulletin. issued by the doctors.
contained the phrase 'expectoratton
diminished" when delivered to Car
dinal Merry del Val the papal sec
rotary of state. This was cut in the
bulletin, as printed I'm the Ohserya-
tore Romano, the official organ Of the
Vatican
The popes cough is dry and ner-
sistent, and emetics may be admins
tered during the night In the nope OF
provoking expectoratfon to relieve the
congestion of the bronchial tubes.
which aggravates the sufferings of the
pontif and increases the danger of
a collapse during one of the suffocat-
ing paroxysms.
His Weakness Increasing.
The weakness Of the pontiff is in
creasing. The fever has increased.
and at @ o'clock was 1O2 Fahren-
heit. Doctors Amici and Cagiati are
administering lnhalations and hypo-
dermic injections. Oxygen tubes are
kept in a room adjoining the pope's
bedroom, hut up to the present they
have not been used.
The doctors admit that n bacteria
logical examination Of the sputum ex-
cretions confirms the report that the
influenza is Of an infectious character.
and has provoked Inflammation which
is now spreading TO the lungs
Mgr. CacCia Dominini. the pope's
private chamberlain. drove in Car
dinal Merry del Walls automobile TO
the residence Of Cardinal Yiucenzo
Vannuttelh, the pope's confessor. to
warn him IF the possibility of his be-
ing summoned TO the Vatican later in
the night II the pope's condition be-
came worse.
The cham berlain afterwards visited
Cardinal Oreglja, the dean of the
Sacred College, who is hedridden. and
also Cardinal Serafino Fannutteln the
subdean, and informed them that the
condition of the pontiff was alarm
ing, but that his death was not i'm
minent.
Matter OF Courtesy
Cardinal oreeha was informed of
this merely as a matter of courtesy
as ne is unable to assume the gov
eminent of the church during the
vacancy of the Holy See and is not
likely TO attend the couclave for the
election of new pope. Cardinal
OregHa formally notified Cardinal
Merry del Val that the subdean must
take his place
NJ gyY- - ha
urged Cardinal Merry Del Val to has
ten the administration of the las;
sacraments, but the doctors pointed
out that the pope could not retain the
viaticum in his present condition. He
could not retain ii even If he were
able to swallow the wafer. More
over. in bis present state the admin
lstration Of the sacrament would be
bound 20 cause deep emotion and
would be apt to hasten his Ssa tn. On
the other hand in case Of a sudden
emergency. the saCraments could he
administered by any of the prelates
in attendance on the pontiff
The ropes private secretary. Mgr
Bressau. went to the railway station
70 meet the poutiff's aged brother.
Angelo. the postmaster, Of Corazio,
who arrived at midnight.
Relatives at Bedside.
The brother Of the ponti6, and his
nephew. Mgr Parolin. passed the
night in the sick room. The pope's
sisters. Maria and Anna, and his
neice, left reluctantly at late hour,
after they had been assured by the
doctors that their brother would not
die tonight, although DIR. Amici told
them there was slight hope for his
recovery. Cardinal Merry Del Val.
in answer to their request to be per-
mitted to stay for the night by say
ing that it was contrary to custom
for women to be allowed TO spend
the night in the pcpe's apartments.
The only exception TO this rule Is
when the pope is actually dying.
which he said was not now the case.
1t is known that Cardinal Merry
Del Val does not wish the pope's
sisters to he present at the end, an
their emotion would be SO great thar
it would mar the. solemnity of this