The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-22
NEWS
EXC|TES ALL EUROPE
London and Other Capitals Ap-
parentIy Still Confused
Over Pontiff's Fate.
BY international News Service.

BY International News Service.
LONDON, Jan. 81 One of the most
amazing conflicts in the annals Of
Journalism kept the whole world in
doubt tonight as to the fate Of Pope
Fenedict XIV. VINO, according to the
latest word. lay dying in the Vatican
at Rome.
Through four different sources the
information was received here that the
sovereign pontiff Of the Church OF
Rome had died late today.
Reports of the Pope's death came
this afternoon from these four sources:
l. Reuter- News Agency.
z. The London Daily Express.
3. The Central News Agency.
q. Cardinal Bourne. Archbishop of
Westminster.
All these were accepted as true.
The bells Of the Roman Catholic
churches and cathedrals tolled a
requiem. Great and reverent crowds
filled the cathedrals and churches, Of
lerlng up PRAYERS for the repose of
The Pope's soul.
The early editions of the London
Sunday papers carried dispatches
from Rome announcing definitely that
the Pope was dead.
Capitals Accept Report.
Not alone London, but all the CAPT.
tails of continental Europe accepted
DIS true the news that the pontiff had
succumbed. In Rome the newspaper
Epoca announced the Pope's death. In
Paris L1ntransigeant printed a Rome
dispatch saying that Pope Benedict
had died late in the afternoon. In
Berlin President Loeb, of the Reich
rtag. addressed a plenary session of
that legislative body and expressed
Germany's admiration for the portiff.
In addition to the press dispatches
the committee from Island attending
The Irish world convention in Paris.
received word privately that the Pope
was dead. AS the delegates are virtu-
any all communicates of the Roman
Catholic Church, and some have close
connection with Rome, this informa.
ton was given credence.
Regarded As Miracle.
Advices received in London late IN
tne AFTERNOON seemed to confirm all
previous reports Of the Pope's death,
tor tney said that the Italian royal
family had been notified of the Ponies
death by Vatican officials.
Belief was held in London tonight
that II the Pope really was alive. II
could be regarded as nothing less than
a miracle.
About o'clock this evening Card.
inal Bourne announced that he had
received official word direct from the
Vatican that Pope Benedict had died.
The bell Of Westminster Cathedral
was tolled and the information was
given out that the cardinal would
leave for Rome Sunday to attend the
funeral.
Denial Is Issued.
Four hours later a denial was is.
sued through Monsignor Jackmann, of
the Cardinals encourage. He gave out
a statement "regretting that a dis
tressing mistake" had been made
which cast gloom over every one and
caused the tolling Of cathedral bells.
At o'clock p. m. the Exchange Tel
egraph circulated a despatch saving
that the morning report Of the Pope 8
death had arisen from the fact that
he was sleeping.
At o'clock a. m. the Pope was rest
ing TRANQUILITY and the rumor of his
death was officially denied, said the
Exchange Telegraph.
At IL o'clock tonight the Exchange
Telegraph circulated despatch from
Paris saying that 1.-The Pope was un-
dead" The telegram was sent out at
6 p. m, New York time.
Doubts Arise.
The Reuter- agency, at SOS p. M,
sent out a flash" from Rome saying
that the Pope was dead. 1t was 1920
p. m. before the same agency circu-
lated a telegram saying that the Pope
was alive at 10 o'clock Uondon time),
or 6 p. M, New York time.
The Milan Corriere della Sera, at
TAO o'clock tonight italian time), re-
ceived word that the Pope was alive.
At 7:20 o'clock paris time), word had
been received in Paris from Rome that
the Pontiff died at p. m. paris time).
Almost simultaneously a despatch was
received in London from Paris saying
that the information had been received
there that the Pope died at 4:45 d. m.
Rome time).
While all mail editions OF London
Sunday newspapers carried stories Of
the death of the Pope, with long
obituary display, the Sunday Elk.
press, in a later edition headed its
story: Mystery Of Pope's Death-a
Vatican Puzzle"
This was carried in display type at
the top of the page and the story led