Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-23
BENEDICT SUFFERED INTENSE
AGONY BEFORE HIS DEMISE

ROME. Italy, Jan. 22.-(By The AS
sociated Press) - Pope BenedNct
breathed his last at s o'clock today.
The news was announced by Mon
signor Pizzardo, deputy papal secre-
tary of state. just as the ponderous
bells Of Saint Peters began to ring
S o'clock. Then one by one the pells
in Rome's 400 churches Joined In the
Sorologic symphony that marked the
passing of the pope.
The end came after an entire night
OF tense agony and suffering, the
pontiff now and then lapsing into de-
lirium. Shortly before midnight he
took a little nourishment which mo-
mentarily revived his spirits but with
in an hour he began to sink rapidly, :,
At Els o'clock DR.. Battistini told
The Associated Press the end was ap-
preaching, that already his hands and
nose felt cold. From that period the
pope neared the end. Brea thing became
an agonizing task to tho pontiff
His eyes were half closed as he
lapsed into unconsciousness. while the
terrible mastery which pneumonia had
won over the pontiffs dogged resist
ance. now began its rapid extinction OF
his slender hold on life. His heart
rapidly weakened, and at O'Clock In
the morning 1t was certain that the
end was close. Accordingly Cardinals
Gasparri. Sampc and Pizzardo and all
-punttffcai' household. were notf-
fed that the end was approaching.
Cardinal Gasparri entered tho bed
chamber at $50 o'clock walking with
short. rapid steps to tho bedside of
the dying pontiff. He had been there
only nine minutes when tho pope
breathcd his last
Cardinal Giorgi. attended the pope
thruout the. night saying first mass
for His Holiness shortly after mid
night He was assisted by Monsisnor
Rcspigne project OF ceremonies and by
MonsiEnors Testonl, Picrmotti and
Magnamenu.
Only half an hour before he died His
Holiness tried to lift himself up and
wished TO dress himself hut he was
so weak he sank back. His hands and
feet were nunbed. 1t was at this mo-
mcnt that it was decided to call all the
pontifcal family to his bedside. Tho
tho papal secretary OF state of the
popcs condition.
Yesterday evening virtually all OF
the cardinals resident In Rome were
in attendance at tho vatican.
After midnight tho crowd which had
waited many hours around tho court
yard diminished to only n few mon.
signori and attaches to the pontifical
court. The vatican now was enScioPeu
In deep silence with tho ponderous
dome OF Saint Peters dominating tho
pcrvading gloom. No one was allowed
10 enter the vatican and the spacious
hall became almost deserted with only
an occasional guard quietly pacing INC
corridors and stairways\
Guards were stationed at the outer
door to the pontifical apartment on the
ton floor and on the inside of the same
door there were two gendarmes. Then
at the entrance OF the antechamber at
the other end of n short corridor. was
N corporal of the Swiss guard who per
mittcd no one to pass unless theE
furnished proper credentials. From
midnight to o'clock. there was prHc-
ticnlly no movements thru tho cor
r.dors. save m ,
Or. Batta stini. It was not until the
rope actually passed away that stir
to call the pontifical family together
was made.
The formal announcement OF tho
pope's passing was the occasion for a
scene Of deep emotion. All those pres
,nt in the antechambcr wept and the
prelates knelt in prayer. Shortly after
ward Cardinal Gasparri proceeded
with the formal taking over tho tenn
porary charge OF the affairs of tho
church. He will be the nominal head
of the church until a new pope Is
elected.
Thruout the night small groups
clustered In Saint Peters square
Every one leaving the vatican was
anSiously questioned. Toward $40
o'clock It was announced that tho end
was near and Mt n few minutes before
tho Swiss guards inside tho vatican
could be seen kncrllng. 4 few minutes