The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-08-02
THE LAST HOURS OE MAMMALIAN.
Scenes on the way TO and at The Exc
cutiOn.
tFrom the New York World, july -

Inc EXECUTION was postponed until The
morning of the 18Th Of June. The PEG
pie of Queretaro, on that morning Wer
sad. Even the ragamufin army Jude
E5cobedo talked unusually low. It wa:
well that Corora had left. 1t was vel
that the American Legion" bad beer
sent with him to the capital. These meu
are adventures add have befriended ID,
Liberal cause. But they would have beer
dangerous friends in the sight of whar
occurred that day.
Mexicans always rise early. At si1
O'Clock the ground to the east Of the CITY,
where the execution was TO take place
was populous. The prisoners did not
leave their quarters until al hour later
Macmillan had already hidden goodbye
4" hi' friends. The Princess SaIrn. S4lm,
who has labored so hard and so faithfully
in his behalf, had peen forced to quit the
town by Escobedo five days before. The
last Interview between the Archduke and
the Prince bad 20 other witness.
Carriages were proVided-one for each
prisoner-surrounded by strong guards.
The three carriages met 10 the piazza,
and proceeded thence. with the escorts,
directly out of the town. A vest hetero-
geneous multitude followed and hemmed
in The procession. Soldiers. citizens and
VagUer0S on horse-b4 ck; mestiz %, chinos
and Indians ia coarse serapas, broad
brimed sombreros, trowsers of soled
mania, and gaudY jackets of deer skin aud
! plush; women with their heads and faces
shIouded in rebosas to the eyes; and dark
/ skined, half naked, cbattering children,
made up the crowd. Sofleued and purfi-
ed for the time by sorrow and pity, the
faces Of these people Were not entirely re-
Pulsive. The cheeks of many of them
were wet with tears. The women sobbed
and vailed, and bssought their saints
with low and tender cries. The men low
cred their gaze and muttered in whispers.
The soldiers of the guard, generally, as
sumed a careless semi bravo air.
Miramon was the only one Of the pris
oners whose thoughts were not, apparent
ly, far away. His glance moved ffom'side
TO side, seeking among the thrCng. Once
he slightly waved his hand in salute to
some acquaintance near. His face, though
dls6gured by the wound he had received
beneath the right eye in tie previous bat
ties, was almo It good looking. His com
plexion was clear. He wore a moustache
and beard. His dress was neatly ar
ranged. t-
Mejia sat duly bordering. He scarce
IL noticed the crowd. His swarthy face
dropped upon his chest. He showed DO
sign of fear or trembling. He had long
been suffring from a disease that made the
thought of death familiar to him.
! M, Al, lo,ltacf h.
inent of the doomed, had an expression 10
his eyes that will never be forgotten by
those who saw it in the world. Their
| gaze was lifted from the time the car
riage emerged from the plaza just above
the beads of the multitude around toward
the east. What they saw was surely not
! TIE massive, ruinous walls and roofs and
clumps oil uncouth trees upon the hills.
nor the waving fields beyond the suburbs.
They had recalled other landscapes for
this, their last look upon this earth.
They had recalled other faces upon which
to dwell. On the mouth below a poign-
ant smile seemed to be frozen. With
one pale hand the Archduke stroked his
long, fair beard; the other rested upon
the seat at his side.
When the carriages arrived at the
place of executi q, a tremor Of real an
! guish and regret shook the crowd that
pressed in on every side. Troops were
at once disposed on three sides of q
square, leaving that side open towards
which the fatal volley was to be fred.
Escobedo and his officers approached the
carriages. The prisoners were told to
descend Miramon was ready and the
fist to leave his seat. Mejia Quilted his
seat slowly, aud with apparent difficulty.
! Macmillan recovered from his abstract
ion, took in the whole scene with an
awakuing glance. and descended. bearing
himself calmly as usual, without word.
The places where they were TO stand were
now pointed out to the three. They took
their positions. The reasons for the sen
tence and their death warrant were dis
claimed to them. They were then per-
mitted TO speak.
81 discialm." said Macmillan, as the
crowd b came hushed t. hear. ''any inter
ton or wish TO aggrsndze mysel! at the
expense of Mexico. When l was first
waited upon at Miramar by the deputa.ion
! prepared to offer me the crown, refused.
] ne plOpOSlllOu " 90 PiOSSOO v pun inc
replied that if the N ajority of tie Mexican
people decided that it was for the interest
of the country, should not feel at fber
ty to refuse. A testimonial to the last
effect was brought me by another deputa-
ton. The European Governments ad
vised that should accept. Believing
that | was then furnished with the real
wish OF the Mexican people, l came.
/ pursued the course that l believed to
be the best. Whatever DEGREES 1 have
issued. we're as a warning, and under a
mistaken impression of the real sentiments
of a majority of the people, rather than
from despotic or selfish motive. l have
been tried by an incompetent and illegal
cour'. Ny protest has been Of no avail
l have a right to demand, and still de-
mand. more deliberate hearing"
Nothing was said in reply. Maximil-
ian evidently expected nothing. He stood
in firm, yet graceful attitude. until Mi
ramon had flushed speaking.
The guard vas drawn up Msjia gszsC
curiously, Miramou, with a grim smile
and Macmillan with no particular expires
sion, while this movement was in pro.
, gress. Then Maximiiau beckoned to tbr
sergeant, who went forward and stood 70
a moment facing the Emperor The lat