Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-12-17
The Last Days Of Macmillan.

The Last Days Of HoriDilion.
Under the title of Queretaro, Leaves
Detached from "a Journal kept in Mexl-
CO." the Prince Salm-Salm n German
adventurer who served in the Union
army during the war of the rebellion,
and afterward devoted himself to Max
imilia in Mexico, has published a min
ute account of the last days OF that luck
less prince. He Ger. flies that during his
imprisonment Macmillan was treated
with per. ect Kindness. and enjoyed as
much liberty as was possible under the
circumstances. AS his captivity was
prolonged, the desire to live w9s grad
ually eXtinguished in his mind; SO that
he u Willingly consented that ate upts
for his escape should lie made. Twice
Il plan had been arranged which must
nave saved him, but for his insisting
that Miramon and Mejia ST, uld also be
included in the flight. Finally it was
determined that he should make the ef-
fort in the night CT June =. Three Mex
lean officers had been gained over; one
of them, a captain of cavalr,2, had even
organized q small escort for him; an
other had provided Salm-Salm with a
republican uniform. There were no
troops O.tside of QueretarO, nor along
the Cerro Go. do road.
Macmillan. however, finally refused
to start. About O'Clock in the after
noon he received a telegram from the
Prussian Ambassador, saying that he
was coming to him with two lawyers.
MiramOn also complained that a horse
which had been provided for him had
been taken away, AT . o'clock the
Archduke told Sam-Salm that he would
Il Il
the Ambassadors, whom l have invited
here, say, ifthey should come and not
find me?" Salm-Salm tried to persuade
him, but in vain. 9 Bah ~ he said, it
will 60 quick any way, and a few days,
more or less, OF no account.
Another attempt, still better organ
lied. was to he put i'll execution on the
| night OF June I4tn. l. he court martial
had met on the 18th, and its decisi1n
was certain. Two Colonies were to
have been gained over for a hundred
thousand dollars e 'ch. They were to
be paid in mites of hand, with the en-
dorsement of the Ambassadors, but the
latter he itated to make themselves re-
sponsible. If they had had ready mon
ey, Macmillan would then lave been
saved. But they had not, and one of
the COlOcels disclosed the scheme to
Gen. Escob edo. Maximillian received
the news with perfect resignation.
The negotiations in this latter attempt
were conducted by the Princes s I'm
Saln, who is said to have done more,
and rislIcd more 1CI MaXimilian than
the diplomacy of Europe and Mexico
combined. From her Lively pictures of
he Mexican leaders we extract the fol-
lowing: "JuareZ is nan of middle
size, with strongly marked Indian
pa, siognOmy. A long scar that rather
oe ONES than disngules his face. His
eyes are coal-black, and very penetrat-
lg; and he conveys the impression of
Il deep thinker, who never acts without
generalization. He wears Il cravat and
a very high collar, and dresses in black"
Juarez treated the Princess with per-
feet courtesy, but declined to permit her
to enter QueretarO until the capture Of
Maximilial was announced. From that
moment she spared no effort to help the
latter, but was i'll seconded by the 0iplo-
matte corps. These gentlemen arrived
in Queretaro OH June 5th, and imagin-
ed that their presence would have sufii-
Client weight with the Republicans to
preclude the necessity of further inter-
.erence OH behalf of Macmillan. They
eem also to have overlooked the fact
that they had been originally accredit-
ed to the Imperial govern lent, and not
t. the Republican government, with
whom their influence was insignificant.
Juarez knew tina when he Was backed
by the United 3 ates he need fear MOTH
ing from the menaces of the Powers
which these Ambassadors represented.
Their parsimOny Was, however, more
disastrous to Maximilian than their
want of diplomatic address. Money
might have saved him; but fr I'm those
who could easily have raised it, not a
dollar was forthcoming. How can l
nelp losing my patience" says the
l'rincess, "when | reflect that this
wretched stinginess killed the Empe-
ror!' The Ambassadors were fearful
of being involved in trouble; while the
two COlOnels, as one OF them afterwards
confessed to the Princess, were doubtful
ii the notes of hand would be paid at
Vielna. On the mo ming of June IL,
the Austrian Ami asadOr sent the notes
with his signature attached, for his col
leagues to inspect. But a few hours la
ter he returned to the prison, and rush
ed into MaXimilian's cell, tearing his
hair, and enchanting, We cannot
do it F; ave should all be hung! He
even took pair of sci sOrs an cut out
from the nOies his signature. The next
day Prince Salnl-Salm was placed in
confinement, and his wife ordered to
leave CueretalO.
She repaired in all haste to San Louis
Potosi, gained an audience of Juarex,
and tn. owing herself at his feet, plead
ed Tor the LIE of her husband and that
o. the Emperor. JuareZ was affected to
tears. He pardoned the Prince, but res
olutely refused to interfere in behalf Of