The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-23

For many hours today to the room where the pontiff had made his fight for life came continuous stream of officials, the representatives of for eign nations. high prelates and others. Then, late in the afternoon, in gorgeous procession, composed of palatine guards. gendarmes, the Swiss guard, secret chamberlains and honorary chamberlains, the body was solemnly transported down the royal staircase, through Clementine hall into the throne room, where it was placed on a raised catafalQue before which the whole diplomatic corps paid devoute reverence.
 The sacristan zampini gave abso- lution, and the cardinals sprinkled holy water, while the penitentiaries unceasingly chanted prayers, an swered by the kneeling onlooSers. Immediately afterward the doors were opened to the multitudes desir- ous of looking for the last time on the departed pontiff.
 Sacred Congregation E The sacred congregation convened ' this morning when the cardinals were informed of the pope's death. With the exception of Cardinal Cas- parri, the papal secretary of state, they gathered in Benedict's private apartments Gasparri. in due and solemn form. escorted by the ;; guard in full dress and accompanied by the prelates and acolytes of the reverend apostolic chamber, entered the apartments a few minutes later. He will administer the holy see dur iEg the interregum. With him also was Monsignor Sincere. secretary of the sacred college.
 Cardinal Gasparri surrounded by the cardinals, then proceeded to verify the death of Benedict. extend- ing over the lifeless form a silver wand and crying out: "Giacomo! Gi- acomol Giacomow He opened the certificate of death and declared: "Dominus Pater noster mortuus est" thus announcing officially the pope's death.
 On leaving the pontifical chamber, Cardinal Gasparri, still escorted by the Swiss guard, descended to the first floor. where the sacred congre- gation convened, commencing it's de- Alterations at 10 o'clock.
 Died at O'Clock
 The official and semi official vati- can organs gave o'clock as the time of the pope's death and the Rome newspapers do likewise. Car dinal Pizzardo, In describing the last moments, said to the Associated Press correspondent, who was the only American newspaper representative admitted to the ante-chamber: When the end was near, I was called from my chambers, and hurried quickly to the pentiffa bedroom, That was q few minutes before s o'clock. saw the Holy Father breathe his last and as other prelates knelt beside the silent and lifeless form I asked that I might tell the news to the press. l there upon hurried to the ante-chamber. where several newspaper men were awaiting events. and informed them that the pope had just died"
 The cardinal was asked at what hour death had occurred, and he re- piled:
 Exactly at this minute"
 At this identical moment the bells of St. Peters struck the first stroke of o'clock.
 Economic Informed
 The first person, outside of the frn- mediate pontifical circle. to beA in formed of the pope's death this morn ing was Premier Bonomi, who, In turn, communicated the news to the King and other high dignitaries of state, as well as to the governors of the colonies. For the first time in the history of relations between the Italian government and the Vatican, the government instructed that the flags be half-masted on all govern ment offices in observance Of the Fdeath of tho pontiff.
 Already everyone is recalling the ceremonies of stately pomp, of which the dead pontiff will now be the center during the next few days, be- ginning with the gathering Of the cardinals in the death chamber. There they will call the silent figure three times by his Christian name before
 lCnntinued on Page TwOO