Sharp County record., 1878-10-03

end or mOntn, anu L lnen lnIOrHeu
them that if at the end of six months
they could bring me the proof that had
been elected fairly by the Mexican peO-
pie their Emperor, | would accept the
position. At the appointed time they
came again with the proof of my cleo
ton as Emperor, and even then | would
not have accepted, except to please the
Empress, and now learn to-day that l
have lost her, perhaps forever"
For a moment tears stood in his eyes;
he took turn on the pOrtico where he
had received me; and, recovering HIM
self, said:
General, I will take your advice,
but wish you to be guided by my di-
rections. Capt. Graves, the second
Captain of the Austrian frigate, is now
here. He will act under your orders at
Vera Crua Leave here tomorrow
morning at 4 o'clock and have cars
ready for myself and escort the next
day. Thus will be on board by the
day after tomorrow. In the meantime
proceed by the French mail steamer to
Havana and await my arrival there. l
shall be with youin 10 days"
l was delighted with my success.
Capt. Graves and myself arrived at Vera
Cruz the following evening at 6 O'Clock.
1 sent immediately for the superintend-
ent of the road, Gen. Stephens, late OF
the Confederate Army, and by O'Clock
all was arranged for Maximilian and his
] 70 10 Il ha nyt a
! u o'clock that very night guerrilla
party burned a bridge on the railroad,
by mere accident, and as it required sew
eral days to repair it, l learned that the
Emperor could not come at the time
appointed, but would be down in a few
days. In the meantime | sailed in the
French steamer for Havana, according
to the Emperor's directions. Arrived
at Havana, day after day passed with
out news. At length l boarded steam
er just from Vera Cruz and learned from
the British ambassador, Mr.. Scarlett,
who was on board, that after | left the
! whole plan had been changed. That
,, Maximilian's friends in Mexico tele-
graphed him at Orizaba and begged him
not to leave the country until they
could send committee to receive from
, him the resignation of his authority.
This was preteXt to detain him. He
remained, and when the committee ar
rived they appealed to him as man Of
honor not to leave them, but to fight for
terms for them if he could not save the
empire. He assened, and thus the
burning of small bridge caused him
this delay and his life. regretted that
no one was with him to represent to him
; that he could not benefit but must tinjure
!, his friends by remaining, as the empire
was already lost, and as by continuing
!, the struggle he would excite still more
the bitter feelings of his opponents
= against his friends. depressed my con-
U viction to the British ambassador That
: he would either be sent out Of the coun-
J try ienomipiare, >, prisoner, or be
, executed; pro2if'Syfhe latter. The die
l was cast! 1 had done all in my power to
save him. If had been so inclined [
i could not have joined him in time to
save him or share his fate. You know
u the rest. He returned to the City of
J. Mexico Meeting on the road Marshal
- Bazaine, the latter requested confer
> ence. The carriage stopping minute,
!, Macmillan said to the Marshal:
. "No conference is necessary. Your
4 master has left me the alternative of
:, death or diShonor. OF the two | prefer
the former. Drive on"
THE END
! Placing himself at the head of his
small army, and leaving Marquee to de-
= fend the city, he marched straight for
. the enemy. At Queretaro they met.
9 Fighting against hope, Maximilian per-
{ formed prodigies of valor, and at length
u u fell victim to the treachery of one of
!. his Mexican officers, whose fortune he
u had made. In the dead of night, after
hard days fight, while he was seek
= ing short repose from the cares that
. oppressed him, the gates were opened
~ by this Arnold of the empire the enemy
was placed in possession of all the
: strongholds, and Macmillan awoke to
;, find himself a prisoner, without chance
= of resistance or hope of escape. After
= y the mockery of trial he was led to ex-
ecution, supported by his faithful Cen
. eral, the calm old military chieftain and
= sacerdotal cazique of the Indians, Mehia,
. and the young, handsome and heroic
, Miramon. After having distributed
gold Gin token of forgiveness) among
; the soldiers who were to be his execu-
= TONERS, he resumed his place with the
~ calm dignity which remained with him
: to the last, placed his hand upon his
. heart and gave the word" Fire" He
: fell, pierced with many bullets. His
~ death was not instantaneous; he fell, in
a reclining posture, upon the cross
> which some pious priests had put near
!. L - L ]. -