The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-20

lowed this news to give small comfort
to the sorrowful watchers. When 1t
became known that the patient had
suffered another relapse and that oxy-
gen was being administered hope died
in the breasts Of all.
Hope For Improvement.
Inside the Vatican, during the last
hours, there were evidences of confu-
sion, which had been occasioned by
the suddenness with which the pope
sank. Few believed that his holiness
was at deaths door until the final hour
was nearly at hand, and throughout
the early part of the night hope was
unfavorably expressed that the vitality
which had sustained the patient on SO
many previous occasions, would be
able to withstand the present attack.
For hours before the pontiff died the
Vatican had been flooded with tele-
grams and cablegrams of inquiry, oc-
casioned by report which had been
circulated throughout the world in the
afternoon that his holiness had passed
away. It was found impossible to
open half of them. Those who were in
the death chamber say that the end
came quietly, and peacefully. 1t SEEM
ed as though the pontiff drifted off in
to sleep. And such conclusion was
considered most fitting for spirit so
simple and tranquil in life.
When the pontiff ceased to breathe,
the ancient ceremonial of holding a
lighted taper to the silent lips was OBJ
served. Not breath disturbed the
slender flame All was over. DR.. Mar
chiafava felt the pulse. No spark was
there.
~ ylT
st. Peters Tolls knelI.
The silence in the chamber of death
was broken only by sobs and by pray
ers. A messenger stole forth, and i'm
! mediately the great bell in the dome
opposite St. Peters tolled it's solemn
message.
King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, was
notified of the death of the pope at
! once. He communicated this intelli-
gence to Queen Helen and the queen
mother. The Vatican was then mott
| fled that the free use of the govern
ment telegraph had been turned over
for it's USE
| Following death the doctors made an
examination of the body preparatory to
signing the death certificate.
In the meantime solemn scenes were
being enacted in the churches. 1t was
significant that upon this occasion, few
pilgrims from foreign lands mingled
with the congregations. The war had
driven most of the foreigners from
Europe and the cosmopolitan aspect
of the churches, which has been 'fea-
ture upon former occasions of a papal
demise was absent.
| People Love Pope.
| The grief of the people was genuine
! for like Pope Leo XIII, who died on
July 20, 1903, Pope Plus X had endear-
ed himself to the people by his sim
plicity and his democratic character.
The peaceful nature of the deceased
pontiff was emphasized by his anguish
over the present war in Europe. His
grief was expressed in these words,
uttered not long ebfore his DEATH
"Now | am forced to see the specta-
Gle of my own children, even those
who yesterday worked here with me,
leave for the war, abandon the cassock
and coat for the soldiers uniform. Yes
terday, although they were of differ
ent nationality, they were here study
ing sympathetic companionship; now
in different fields they are armed
against each other, ready to take each
others lives"
| During the past fortnight the p,pe
sat silent and sad for hours at a time,
while his mind dWelt upon the horrH rs
of the war calamity.