Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-12-09
mhxIMlLIAN's LAST MOMENTS


Hour- or the Emperor
Cor Boston HershI
10 was in Cueretaro tEat MaNimilian
made his final stand after the with
drawal Of the French troops at a word
of warning from Mr.. Seward. It is a
lovely old city, with a splendid alueduct
in the oman manner, many ancient
and picturesque churches, and soft
and genial climate. Then, as now, it
was stronghold of the church party.
the very citadel OF catholicism in
Mexico. Macmillan was here beSieged
and oyerthrown, and imprisoned in the
convent of the Capuchinos, and thence,
after the famous court martial led out
10 the Hill of the Bells TO be shot. te-
cent disclosures regarding the last hours
of the emperor will destroy many
legends of the fatal day, and will here
relate the contents of document which
the priest SOria lately dictated shortly
prior to his own death. sOria was the
emperor's cOufesSOr, and was with
him during his last few days. and what
he here says must pass into history rs
the true account of MaXimilan'S last
moments, an account not yet printed
in English. Ii was Of ~oria thar Maxi
miliarsaid; 1T is | who must console
this good priest, and not let him become
utterly over ONE
The night before his death, saws
the confeSSor sOriH, ''the emperor wrote
two letters, one TO the pope and the
other 10 his mother lie cOntded both
10 me, together with a handkerchief for
his mother.
'On the following morning accom-
panied him TO the place. of execution.
The cortege was composed of three
wretched coaches. | GOT into the iiIst
with the emperor, while Miramon and
Meiia occupied, with their coufeSsors.
the other two
Hardly had We left the convent Of
the Capuchinos when | was surprised TO
see MaXimilian strike his breast, say.
ing:
"'I have put eight han Ikcrchicfs
here to keep the blood from staining
my uniform.
"All the rest pr the way the emperor
busted himself with PRAYING and
recommending his soul 10 nol But
on seeing tn Hill OF the Bells he eN-
claimed
"!htre is where had thought 10
hoist the standard Of victory and there
is where am gong to die, Life Is
play
And aEtsr some moments Of silence
he added ~ hat n Leautful view,
And what u beautiful day 10 die
wi hen we had arrived at the place Of
execution it was found difficult TO open
the door of the coach
Then MaAimilian, being impatient
leaped out Of the window, knocking of
his hat
lie handed me the crucitix, embrac.
ing me. lie also embraced Miramon
and Me ia, distributed some gold coins
among the soldiers who were TO shoot
him and then, IN u strong voice PRO
nOunce1 in spanish these words 4
forgive everybody and / ask that all
may forgive me, AMI desire that my
bloOi, which is going to be- shed, may
be for the good Of Mexico iOng live
Mexico. long live her independence"
Immediately he placed his hand on
his breast, indicating the spot for the
soldiers to take aim at, Then the
drums sounded, AMI in the presence of
the 1, ,0O0 soldiers assembled il was pro.
claimed that whoe er should raise his
voice in behalf Of the condemned man
would be made to suffer the same pen-
atty. Not murmur was heard among
the immense crowd standing behind the
troops.
At a given signal the three platoons
fired, Miramon and Ne ia fell dead at
once, but MaNimilian did not die at the
first discharge and uttered three groaus.
Then they gave him the coup de grace.
The priest ~Oria denied that Maxi
milan, as the legend goes, gave the post
of honor at tie exc ution TO MTamon,
saying "A brave mlu merits the ~.
spcct Of his sovereign take the place OF
honor The placing Of the coaiemueI
was Y accident Illus a picturesque
legend is dissipated