The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-21
CALM TOWARD END
Benedict Surprised Physicians
by Tenacity to Life.
Was in Alternate Phases OF
Consciousness and Coma.
DUTY CALLS HIS LAST WORDS
Sleep and Food Failed to Give
Strength for Rally.
Mind Clear This Morning
Able To Hear Mass.
lBr the Assoclated Press

hOuuOn No.0o p lil'( "a HiiAs--
Bourne, archbishop of Westminster,
stated this evening he had been Off
ciaIly notified by telegraph from
Rome that Pope Benedict was dead.
Cardinal Bourne's announcement OF
the death Of the Pope is apparently
in conformity with the custom by
which the cardinals comprising the
sacred college are first informed of
the death of a pope. before the infor-
nation is made known to the general
public.
By the Associated Press)
Paris, Jan. 21-A Berlin dispatch
to the Havas agency quotes the Wolff
bureau as saying Pope Benedict died
at s:S5 o'clock this afternoon, Rome
time.
Alive at 5:15?
CBy the Associated Press.)
Rome, Jan. 21.-5:35 p. NAT Sis
o'clock this afternoon. Cardinal Gas
parri. papal secretary of state. said;
The catastrophe is imminent" indi-
eating the pope's end was near.
Chung to Life.
Rome. Jan. 21.-The four attending
ternoon over the tenacity with which
he had been able to cling to life, in
view of the inflamed conditions of his
lungs and the weakness of his heart.
The prelates of the vatican, however,
believed that an Intervention of di-
Vinity was responsible. When the pom
tiff rallied slightly this morning and
the doctors said that some benefit
might be expected from nourishment
and sleep, the ecclesiastics attributed
it to a miracle of the virgin of
Pompeii.
At l O'Clock when it was announced
that the pontiffs sleep had given way
to coma and that it was admitted that
the catastrophe was at hand" a sigh
of sorrow went up. Men and women
wcpt in the street. Sobs broke out
thru the enchanted services in the
churches.
Bore Pain StoicaIIy
Altho the pontiff's life had been
ebbing for twenty-four hours and his
demise was expected. news of the death
threw this city into deepest gloom.
The Catholic churches quickly filled
up and special prayers were said for
the repose of the pontiff's soul.
The pain which the Holy Father
bore so stoically but could not hide
entirely. added to the strain on those
who stood beside the bedside in
prayerful death watch.
The last sacrament had been ad-
ministered and prayers for the death
Extreme JUNCTION had been said twice
once Friday and again early this
morning.
End Came Peacefully.
During the last twelve hours of life.
the pope had passed from alternate
fits of consciousness into semi-consci-
BUSINESS and at times was delirious.
uf6a n
was wandering, he kept muttering
peace, peace" At another time he
murmured that duty called"
The pope passed peacefully and his
features were resigned and calm de-
spite the agonizing suffering thru
which he had passed.
Became Weaker at Noon.
Pope Benedict became appreciablv
weaker about midday today and the
hopes which had arisen after his
period of slumber in the morning dis
appeared. His general condition HAD
become worse and he seemed to be
slowly expiring.
In his slight delirium during the
noon hour the pontiff resisted the ef-
forts of the physicians to listen to his
heart action and expressed a desire TO
rise and perform his usual duties. Be
lief that the pontiffs life might be
prolonged until the late afternoon was
expressed by the attending doctors.
The pope, to the qualification of his
physicians, passed into a sleeping con-
ditioh during the forenoon today, and
the doctors indicated they would not
abandon all hope if the sleep con-
tinued three or four hours
Pope Benedict evidently was sink
Ing into death this morning. Bulletins
from the sick room of the pontiff were
eagerly scanned by throngs waiting
outside the vatican, but none gave
ground for hope that the prelate would
rally from the sinking spells which
mark the progress of pneumonia
End MomentariIy Expected.
Members of the sacred college re-
mained in the ante-chamber of the
sick room during the night. while
physicians and members of the pope's
f9mily were in attendance. 1t was