The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-01-21

INTENSE IN
LAST HOURS
Archbishop of Piza May be
POntiff'S Successor
BY EDWARD STRUT

| - ~.
| ROME. Jan. 21.-IN,pe Benedict XIV
died today.
| Death was due to pneumonia am
heart weakness complicated 18th
bronchial catarrah and Influenza.
The pontif had been I'll only Ii
| days. The final attack dated back to
last Tuesday when he contracted
cold.
During the morning in a period of
consciousness the pope whispered to
those at the bedside. Il feel better"
A fresh crisis followed shortly after
ward
The pontir had been sinking rapidly
for "a hours and only the natural vi
tality Of his wonderful constitution
sustained him.
During the morning a slight amount
Of liquid nourishment had been ad-
ministered The pontin lapsed into
semi consciousness This gave way
to Inconsistencies. 1t was announc-
ed at noon that the patient was In a
state of coma but later it was said
that he had been sleeping and had
fallen into deep slumber"
Between noon and / O'Clock the doc
tors admitted that the pope had not
shown any Improvement either from
nOuri shment or sleep
The Osservatore Romano official or
gan OF the Vatican. announced that DR..
Battistini, papal physician had inform
cd the pope's official family that even
If death were not imminent it was in
eeitable
Belief was expressed In Vatican cir
oies that the popes successor VIII be
Cardinal Pietro Maffi, archbishop Of
Piza
Benedict XIV. lapsed into deiirium
aarly today. He was in agony and
allied TO recognize anyone at the bed
side.
Lying with closed eyes. he murmur-
Cd Peace, peace" evidently alluding
sue-consciously to the mission of the
pontificate in war time
other undistinguished messages fell
from his lips from time to time. but
IS vitality had sunk so low that he
2oke in the weakest Of whispers
Day dawned upon a tragic scene at
he Vatican The papal court joined
he cardinals in prayer. The pail OF
pproaching death hung over ALL Out
les that the popes successor VIII be
rowd of reverent men and women ut
tered their supplications for the re-
covery of the pope
The four attending physicians did
all in their power to rclieve his sur
! rings. but they could hold out no
iGpe for ultimate recovery The strain
IS as telling on all. In the ante-room
the sick chamber, high prelates OF
the church. faces drawn with the
a.gany Of their sorrow prayed without
cessation.
Although the pontiff's life had been
ebRing for twenty-four hours and his
Il N1i
threw this city into deepest gloom
The Catholic churches quickly filled
up and special prayers were said for
the repose Of the pontiffs soul
The piazza OF St. Peters was crowd
ed with reverent and praying men and
women the great bell in the cathe-
dgraI be gan to toll out the sad tidings
During the past twelve hours OF life
the pope had passed from alternate
fits Of consciousness into semi con
sciousness and at times was delirious.
During one period when his mind
was wandering he kept muttering:
Peace peace" At another time he
murmered that duty called"
The pope passed peacefully and his
features We're resigned and calm de-
spite the agonizing suffering through
which he had passed.
The pain which the pope bore so
stocally but could not hide entirely
added to the strain on those who stood
beside the bedside in prayerfuI death
watch.
The last sacrament had been admin
istercd and prayers for the dead had
been said before the hnal hour. EN-
treme JUNCTION had been said twice
once Friday and again early this morn
ing
The four attending physicians ex-
pressed surprise this afternoon over the
tenacity with which ne had been able
to cling to life. in view of the insa1ned
condition of his lungs and the weakness
Of his heart
The prelates Of the Vatican. how
ever. believed that an intervention of
divinity was responsible. When the
pontir had rallied slightly this morn
ing and the doctors said that some
benefit might be expected from nour-
ishment and sleep. the ecclesiastics at
rributed it 70 a miracle Of the Virgin
Of Pompei
Pope Benedict XIV was in his 6sth
year and had reigned as pontir Of
the church of Rome seven years and
about four months.
The brief bulletins from the Vatican
were read with eager and breathless
interest by the crowds that surged be-
fore the newspaper bulltin boards.