PASSING OF POPE PIUS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 94, 16 September 1914, Page 6

PASSING OF POPE PIUS.

DEATHBED SCENES. | ' EOT) HASTENED BY WAR IN EUROPK \ (Per San I'ranaisco Mail.) / Home, August '2O. 'Cuisqjpe Sarto, l'ope Pius X., died 'm .Rome ait 1.2(1 this morning, at the age of eighty ycana He had reigned as Pope lor eleven years. I[: s lust voids imparted a hlessuig bo those who stood at !us liedbide, and turning his Jaiit earthly 'thoughts wag deep so.'row over the present war in Europe. The I'opo had been ill far four dayn of u, Ibron.-hial affection, but up lo yesterday morning no fatal louitcomie of bis malady lha'd been feareu. j,e suffered a serious relapse yesterday, but rallied under .stimulants, and, with his doctors and Ji u sisal's at his aide, remained alive, until the early houiv, of this morning. His d'oath •undoubtedly was induced 'in a large measure 'by his great grief over it he warfare nun' ravaging Europe, and ihis inao.iriy to bring peace to the warring nations. His last words 'were the tj.un.oius motto of Jrfsi reign:— "Togo;her in one; all things in Christ." This afternoon the body of ine late r ontiir was embalbed. The lyiiiij-in-state wil! take place in the throneroom of the Vati'.an, whevj uiaii, thouof persons were admitted 'to his presence when alive. The question of a conclave to elect iis successor is being discussed to-day. It probably will ta.ko •place on Heptemiber 3. All shopfci on the Place of St.Peter {.re closed to-day. Some of :he.ni have ■posted a notice as follows: "We aro oloscd. on account of a world bereavement." A large crowd fitood all through the c.ftornoon before the door.s of the Yati can. The Osscrvatoro llcmano, in a special mourning edition, bays: — "-the sweat and angelic Pius X, Ims closed his eyes, struck with horror ii>y the terrible spectacle of war." Tho end was [peaceful. A few moments before ue had been roused from a state of semi-eon,seiousnessi and attempted to bestow a blessing on nhone gathered in jf ho chamber, but- his strength failed hnn. After a pause, he nmrnsured the scriptural text and did not speak again. Tho death of the pontiff dn the oiglvtieth year of his liife and the. eleventh year of his pontificate, while long anticipated Ijeeauso of ailments incident to advanced age, nevertheless came as a shock even to ihose near him.

CHANGE CAME SUDDENLY. I For several days lie liad been suffering from goaty catarrh, tut on. Tuesday his physicians declared that the trouble was of no groat importance, and yeatoday morning reassuring repcrts concerning ilhe patient were current. The change came suddenly (luring the 'forenoon yesterday, and early in the day those in attendance (innounced that death was imminent. Similar attacks had been iresisted with the aid of the Pope's will power, but depression over the clash of arms in Europe militated against another recovery. THE VICTIM w (WAR. The Pope was the victim of 4hc war. Iu ihll la.it days he dictated a groat number of dispatches, an:l tried to avoid 'the horrors ot a European war. The rupture of peace broke down the hut remnants of his strength. Tlia,t the I'ope was grieving deeply over the state of wa/r-Jn Europe, even to the last, \v;t,s evidenced by I.words during one iof his lucid intervals iu -the afternoon.

"Now I am forced to sec," he whispered, "the speoUcJe of my own children, even those who yes! erdav worked !liere with me, leave fur the war, abandon the cassock and cowl for tlie soldiers' uiviiorm. Yesterday, although they were of different * nationality, they wore here studying in sympathetic companionship, now in different fieklfi ithety Are armed, iagtuiwfc searfi other, ready to taike oach other's live 3. "I shall not cease to implore God," he is 'reported to have said, "ito put a stop to this inhuman butchery." Ait 10 rtclook last night the pontiff experienced an attack of coughing; that groatly distressed Mm. Jie could not more in bed without assistance, and the struggle 110 Made to breathe was painful te v/itneisjs. IA3 the supreme moment approached the coughing ceased and the restlessness ' which 'the doctors had been unable to relieve disappeared. The features of the patient, which had givieiv evidence of his pain, resumed a noraial expression, except far the pallor, which increased.

THE END APPROACHES. Tlio Papal Secretary of State, Cardinal Horry del Val; Cardinals Ferrata, Cagiano and Bilileti, the Pope's two sisters and physicians who were at the 'bedside recognised tlie calm preceding death. ' ])r Marchiafava, his hand 011 the Pontiff's pulse, turned toward the Papal Secretary, who was kneeling, and shook his head. Cardinal Horry del VaJ understood, and covered <hia face with lag founds. Meantime, Cardinal Vannuitelli, the Pope'M niece, Oilda Parolin; his majordir/mo, Mon-signor Bianchi; Monsignor Miscitelli and !his sociretariea, Monsiguors Bressan and' Pesdni, luul joined the group in the chamber. The two Blister!*! and the Pope's secretaries coud not restrain their sobs, and ''their voices a.Minod to lining IJvok tlie Pontiff from itlie state of coma into 'which he had lapsed. His eyes opened and his lips iKwed, anil it -was plain that he was making an effort to impart 'a final bUwsing. For a niomont 11 seemed that dissolution had taken place, and Mien t'lo lips movid again, "Together in one; all things in Christ," te whispered, T)r March fcifava released the wrist, whMi dropped pulseless cn the Pontiff's 'breast. The physician 'tent evir the bed, listening for «, heart that 'Was stilled. "ALL IS OVER."

"It is ndl over," lie raid, and reverently .kissed the PoiiiifT'i band. In turn the others did the same, after wliic'i they intoned prayers fior the dead. Immediately after candle lights flickered in all tlie windows of the Villican and tile whole personnel of the apostolic pal.Wf, with the permission of Ihe Papal Secretary, pastel by the 'body. the band of the pontiff ag they ipiissed. Throughout the night messages liad Wived from ihe iheads of many Stakes the condition of His Holiness. All were immediately notified of his death by CarI'llir.al Meri'v Del Val.

Th« Italian IVcinier, Signor Suhmdra at once ordered that the necessary oueaIs'nres 'be, taken to guarantee the com 'plet.e liberty .<;f the provisional government of the Ohuirii an.l of 'the Sawed College of Cardinals, winch is the temporary cusiodi.vn of the Kirprr<'.n:o p'wev of flu; Church during title interregnum pending tlio election of a TVxjit?. flrhe rising sun which ihe image of St. Joseph on the. wall by the Pontiff's bed, found the Franciscan peni-

tentinries keeping the dead watch <ind murmuring prayers. Outside, St. 'Peter's squivre, which had been filled throughout the night with persons of even' rank until the death of the Pope ' wa.s announced, was deserted. Under the oolonwades at tire bronze door ot 'the Vatican two Italian cwbine&rß ex'changed report with thu Swiss Guards regarding t'he death of His Hc-Hness. Monsignor Z&Trtpini, of the Pipc'« household, agisted toy the (secretary 'eild tlie Pontiffs valet, laid out body, placed the crucilia in itho hand's, changed reports with the Swiss Guard-; 'and stationed lighted candles about the Led.