The Shasta courier., 1867-10-19
The Execution of O,Horan,

The Mexican correspondent of the n. Y.
Times gives the following account of the exc.
cution of O'Horan at the city of Mexico, on
the 2lst of August
Reaching the place be stepped lightly
from the carriage, and accompanied by two
priests, walked briskly to the spot designa-
ted to him, there to undergo the dread pen
atty. lie stood a few feet from a high wall,
surrounded on three sides by troops, with
thousands of spectators filling the streets
and covering the roofs of the houses. which
were black with human beings. lie was us
calm and self-possessed as if at review,
| placing his hand upon bis left breast, and
requesting the soldiers to aim at his heart
| Then, gracefully bowling to all, he drew from
his pocket a white handkerchief. folding 1T
across his knee, and taking last look upon
the scene before him, gazing at the cloud
obscured sun as it was just rising over the
snow-crowned peak of Popocatepeti, seem
ingly bidding it and the world adieu, he
raised the handkerchief to his eyes, tying
it over them, and gave the word to fire.
moments delay occurred, when he urged
the men to fire, exclaiming: Viva la In
dependencia ~ Viva Mexico W He ex-
pected to be shot in the breast but after the
| pieces had been leveled upon him, he was
directed to turn, but not obeying an officer
stepped forward and forced him to turn his
back to the executioners The next instant
the report OF the rifles was heard and the
brave Gen. O'Horan, the friend of the for
eigner, the hero at Puebla, was Struggling
in the agonies of death. After b. fell, he
was shot four times in succession. and his
breast literally torn into shreds. The fourth
shot was fred at an interval of not less than
five minutes from the third. 1t was sick
ening, horrifying sight, but one greatly en-
joyed by Mexicans.
During the night of the Goth, O'Horan
was engaged in writing letters to friends
and also one for publication, from which |
translate one or two extracts After refer
ring to the services which he rendered the
country during the Texas revolution, the
American war, and the early part of the in
terventlOn, and explaining how he became
interested in the Imperial cause, he says,
with regard to the severity of military meas
ures:
AS n soldier, and obeying my chief,
made forced acquisitions of supplies, adopt
ing those violent means which are always
employed by those carrying on war in what
ever part of the world, when left without
other resources-means, too, which have
always been employed by the successive Gov
ernments OF our country, in all their difficult
and dangerous hours.
And he who has governed States he who
has taken part in eighty six general battles
he who has shed his blood in eight combats
been General in the army carried upon his
breast twelve decorations, won for service in
foreign wars, now dies, leaving his poor
children in necessity. When they are seen
in this sad and painful situation, then it will
be said that the executed of the Dist of
August was good and honorable man.
The dying father, now upon the
verge of the grave, recommends his children
not to censure the justice or the consequences
of the act which throws them. helpless and
friendlesS, upon the world.
: Fellow. citizens, a victim Of political
turmoils, in few brief hours | will be lying
in the grave. The life which has ever been
respected by the bullets of foreigners is
doomed to be taken by those of Mexicans.-
Would to God that my blood might be the
last spilled on account of political conyul-
sons. Would to God that the Republican
Government wou}d be able to preser& @he
peace lin the future, ~snd become E,sha4 III
generous in the eyes of the world. promnl-
eating, after my death, an amnesty to my
unfortunate companions in-arms. Pardon
for the vanquished Pardon for the falleni
In my Prison, Aug. 81. I. O'HORAN.