Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-22

"'e"' anu III q n. VI. Il fatal irEuo was
pronounced immlnont
There had been moments during
saturday when 1t was feared the end
hnu come. but stimulants revived the
i'ontiT. and his natural 20 worS Of ro-
s'Stnnco carried him through tho
turning point temporarily. Tho Holy
Father seemed TO cling TO llfo. ms d.d
i'opo Plus y. In 1914, when the nual
outcome was In doubt. for muny
hours.
Dr. Battistini. the chief attending
physician. visited the patient several
times saturday evening and through
out tho night. Each time he said
mat any minute might see the con
ctusion OF tho long hours OF suffering
through which Benedict Nv. had
PASSED in his fight for life.
b Death Inevitabic.
lac last announcement OF the even
Ing 10 the diplomatic representa-
ttvcs waiting in the antcchambcr was
made by Cardinal Gasparri. the pupal
secretary OF state, who said:
catastrophe is imminent. The
Holy Father is getting worse and
worse we must be prepared for the
inevitable"
The cardinals face was downcast
ana shd He spoke In quiet tones.
win de"p emotion, making gestures
win his hands, showing that His
Holiness was sinking lower and
lower.
After the publication OF the latest
bulletin. Cardinal Glorgi. Monsivnor
MiSonc. Father Basil and DR.. Bat,
'stini remained by tho bedside.
After a time the doctor told Ills Holt
ness that they were praying for tn,
peace OF the world, to which the
Pope replied:
would willing ofrer my life for
the peace of the world"
lie then turned on his side and
lay watching those near him
Pass Day OF Uncertainty.
1t was day OF grent uncertainty
IN Hoine and deep anxiety among
those who watched and prayed a,
me vatican. for virtually all hope of
the Pope's recovery was abandoned
even Ill the early hours OF the morn
ing.
AS the hours passed, the wonder
grew At the rccuperative powers of
the Holy Father. which enabled him
TO pass from one sinking spell and
another 10 periods of comparative
rcstfulness and Itrength. 1t was
this changing condition that inspired
nope at one moment and gave rise
To rumors OF death at another
1t was thought that IL the Pope
raised safely through the night he
would have II chance OF life after
GAVIN. and so 1t proved. In the early
part OF the day sleep came and
seemed to add To his powers OF re-
s!stancc.
Crowds Gather About Vnticun.
Throughout tho day great crowds
gathered around the Vatican. and a
double row OF royal guards took up
positions in the outskirts OF ST. Pc
ters, forming passageway for dip
lomatic representatives. prclntes and
other notable pcrsonaBcs constantly
| arriving.
Cardinal Gasparr!. papal secretary,
OF state. received II srea; number OF
kilograms from all parts Of the world
including those from King George of
England. King Alfonso OF Spain. the
King OF the Be!gians and the Pres!-
dent OF Brazil. The cardinal spent
| considerable time In the sick room.
but entered the ante chamber shortly
| after o'clock IN the evening, where
he was surroupded by those who had
waited hours for definite news.
He said to them.
II came out To announce to the
diplomatic corps that there Is no
further hope. The Pope may be con-
sidered as having virtually ceased to
exist" This caused CONSERVATION
| among those assembled In the ponti-
iical apartment. and Gasparri was
| weeping IA he came from the room
In which the pontifi was dying.
Then More Hopeful Words Come.
And. yet, later in the evening more
| hopeful word was received from the
lore'S bedside. and on each ncca-
sion the spirits OF those In the Vat
lean were relatively raised, notwith-
| standing D". Rattistinis continuous
admoniiion that the nontln's condi-
| ton was most grave"
| An all-nieht vigil which The As
s"S!htcG Press correspondent kept in
the ante chamber of the Popc's pri-
| waite apartment brought evidence that