Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-23

the end. Breathing became an agon-
izing task as the pontiff. who had re-
sisted the severe lung and throat con-
gestion. now was too weak to over
come the overwhelming attack.
His eyes were half closed as he
lapsed into unconsciousness, while
terrible mastery which pneumonia had
won over the pontiff's logged resist
ance now began its rapid extinction of
rapidly weakened and at a. m. it
was certain that the end was close.
Accordingly Cardinals Gasparri, Sam
per and Pizzardo, and all the pontifi-
cal household were notified that the
end was approaching. Cardinal Gas
parri entered the bed chamber at
$50, walking with short. rapid steps
to the bedside of the dying pontiff.
He had been there only nine minutes
when the pope breathed his last.
Tried to Rise and Dress
Cardinal Giorgi, grand penitentiary
attended the pope throughout the night,
saying first mass for his holiness
shortly after midnight. He was assist
ed by Monsignor Respighe, project of
ceremonies, and by Monsignors les
toni, Piermoti and Magnamenti.
Only half an hour before he died, his
holiness tried to lift himself up and
wished to dress himself, but he was so
weak he sank back. His hands and feet
were numb. 1t was at this moment that
it was decided TO call all of the ponti-
fical family to his bedside The royal
guards were sent out to notify the
papal secretary of state of the pope's
condition.
Saturday evening virtually all of the
cardinals resident in Rome were i'll
attendance at the vatican.
Crowd Hangs Around
After midnight, the crowd which
had waited many hours around the
court yard, diminished only to a few
monsignors and attaches to the ponti-
fical court. The vatican now was en-
veloped in deep silence. with the
ponderous dome of St Peters dom
mating the peryading gloom. No one
was allowed to enter. and the spacious
hail became almost deserted, with
only an occasional guard quietly pac-
ing the corridors and stairwaFs.
Guards were stationed at the outer
door to the pontifical apartment on
the top floor and on the side OF the
same door there were two gendarmes.
Then at the entrance of the ante
chamber, at the other end of short
corridor. was a corporal of the Swiss
guard, who permitted no one to pass
unless they furnished proper ere
dentiaIs.
From midnight TO o'clock there
was practically no movements through
the corridors save an occasional visit
by Dr. Battistini.
Death Sceae of Deep Emotion
It was not until the pope actually
passed away that stir to call the
pontifical family together was made
The formal announcement of the
pope's passing was the occasion for
scene~of deep emotion. All those pres
emit in the ante chamber wept and the
forwards Cardinal Gasparri proceeded
with the formal taking over of the tenn
porary charge of the affairs of the
church. He will be the nominal head
of the church until new pope is
elected.
Throughout the night small groups
clustered in st. Peters square. Every
one leaving the Vatican was anxiously
questioned. Toward $50 it was an
bounced that the end was near and at
n few minutes of 6 the Swiss guards
inside the Vatican could be seen kneel
ing 4 few minutes later the door was
shut and thus the pope's death was an
nounced.
Premier First Outsider Informed
The royal guards then cleared a
space Before the gate of the Vatican.
allowing only those connected with the
panal household to pass. Although il
was still dark. the crowd began to in |
crease. Toward Z o'clock the bells |
of st. Peters slowly tolled the signal
that the pontiff had passed. Masses
were celebrated at various affairs in |
the Vatican.
The first person outside of the i'm |
mediate pontifical circle to be informed
of the pope's death was Premier Bono
nj. who notified the king and other high
of state. as well as the gov
ernors of the colonies. For the first |
time in the history of relations between
Rome and the Vatican. the government
instructed that the flags be half stated |
on all government offices in observance
Of the pope's death
Many Ancient Rites Ahead
Already everyone is recalling the !
of stately pomp of which |!
the dead pontiff now will be the CEN
ter during the next few days. begin
ming with the gathering of the cardi- |
nails in the death chamber. They then |
will call the silent figure by his Chris
tan name before pronouncing him Of |
ficially dead This will be followed by !
the historic ceremony of removing the
fishermans ring, which will be drawn |
off the pope's finger by Cardinal Gas
oarri. who will destroy it and have it |
recast for Benedct's successor. Then !
will come the elaborate preparations |
for the embalming of the body and for |
he three days ceremony during which |
It will lie in state in st. Peters chapel |
before burinl.