The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-03-14
Correspondence baltimore County Union.
EMPEROR MAMMALIAN

Messrs. Editors I'm travelling from Ell Paso
Del Norte to the City of Mexico we pass place
of interest--Queretaro. 1t is in peculiar sense
worthy of an extended inspection. Not on &C
count of being bathed perpetually in an atmos-
phere almost tropical in mid-winter and plenti-
fully supplied with all the products of perpetual
summer, neither the railroad nor anything new
seems to have the effect of modifying the charac-
ter for which it has always been famous. The
streets narrow, dense and with few windows,
that they came near seeming to be long streets of
blank walls.
Referring again to Queretaro, we wish to give
a little more of this reputed conservative town Of
Mexico, and the tower of defence of the Church
party. The place has lasting memento of this
peculiar reputation in the little barren hill in the
suburbs, where Macmillan, Miramon and Mejia
captured and shot together. 1t is as lonely
a spot as les anywhere under the sun slope
which is marked by three little wooden crosses,
the end of a brilliant scheme to strangle
established government and plant European
empire on transatlantic soil. We are now pre-
pared to give more fully the details of the dongs
of that time in reference to the execution of Max
imilian and his last days in Mexico.
A writer gives an account of pilgrimage he
has recently made to Queretaro, where on the re-
call of the French troops, the Emperor, with his
little army, sustained siege of seventy days
against the forces under command of Escobedo,
and where, after having been betrayed by his own
intimate friend, Lopey, he and his two faithful
generals were shot. Mr.. Lecercq, on his visit to
the Cerro de las Campanas, hill hundred and
fifty feet high, half mile from the town where
the execution took place, says that he walked to
the top without being able to discover the spot
About half way up the hill is a small pyramid of
stones foot or so high, where the three crosses
formerly were but have now disappeared, and so
has the brick wall in front of which the prisoners
were placed when shot. According to accounts it
was Miramon who, by the Emperor's desire, stood
in the middle. Maximilan's words to him were:
"a brave man is entitled to the respect even of
his sovereign. Take the place of honor 1t is
said that all three died herocally. Escobedo re-
membered it and offered to save Mejia, but the
stoical Indian replied that if the Emperor
shot he would die with him. The author of the
information says that there is not Mexican who
does not regard Macmillan the accomplished
type of chivarous bravery, however hostile to his
political views. His memory is universally re-
spected.
Macmillan, after being for three days ct the
Convent of Cruz, was transferred with Miramon
and Meiia to the Convent of the Capuchins, where
he remained until conveyed to the place of execu-
ton. The convent is large stone building now
transformed into barracks. staircase leads to
a gallery, at the end of which is large hall in
which the prisoners took exercise and into which
their cells opened. These cells no longer exist,
having been removed when alterations were made
ceived light from the hail. itself badly lighted, 80
that the cells were dark dismal dung cons in which
the prisoners could never the The SOL
der who showed Mr.. Leclercq over the place had
formed part of the company ordered out for the
execution. What seemed to have made the deep
est impression on him the ounce of gold (about
fifteen dollars) which he and each of his comrades
received from the Emperor. He said that strict
orders had been given to aim at his chest and not
at his face. If any ball hit Msxmlian's face the
culprit would be shot; and as he would necessa-
rily be unknown the whole company would forfeit
their lives This was by Maxmilian's express
wish, for he feared that if disfgured his mother
might not be able to recognize his body.
The theatre where the trial took place has been
restored to its original use. The members of the
court martial sat in the stalls at performance
ard the prisoners were provided with low wooden
stools on the stage. These stools, as well the
table, all stained with ink, which the court
signed the sentence, preserved in room in the
Government palace, together with the coffin, a few
planks cumsily nailed together, in which Maxi
miians body was placed after the execution, and
in which it was when Juarez came to identify it.
A short time ago there had been an industrial
exhibition at Queretaro and his coffin had figured
in it. Wishing to obtain all the information, the
canon stated that on the eve of his death the En-
peror wrote two letters, one to the Pope aud the
other to his mother. These he entrusted to him,
with pocket handkerchief for his mother, to be
forwarded to Rome and Vienna. The cortege
consisted of three shabby public conveyances.-
The informant says that he entered one with the
Emperor. In the others Miramon and Mejia
and their confessors. On leaving the convent he
was surprised to see Macmillan strike his breast,
saying: "To prevent my blood staining my uni
form 1 have put several handkerchiefs here"
1t is said that all along the road he was praying
and commencing his soul to God. He had in his
hand cruciix which the canon lent him. and
still has. On approaching the cerro Macmillan
said: "Here 1 wanted to hoist the flag of victory
and here come to die. Life is but comedy"
He gazed on the landscape around and exclaimed:
"What beautiful view, and what beautiful day
to die on" On arriving there was great difficulty
in opening the door of the carriage, and the En-
peror losing patience, took off his hat and got out
through the window. He returned the crueifx
and embraced Miramon and Mejia, distributed
gold pieces to the soldiers, and in loud voice
said in Spanish ~ forgive all and beg all to
forgive me, and I hope that my blood, which is
about to be shed, may make the happiness of
Mexico. Viva MEXICO! Viva su Independents !"
Having said he put his hand on his breast to
show the soldiers where to aim. The drums beat
and a proclamation was made that whoever called
for mercy for the prisoners should share their fate.
Not voice was raised from among the immense
crowd pressing forward behind the lines. The
signal was given and the three companies fred
Miramon and Mejia fell down dead. Macmillan
a cry of agony. Two seconds after, on sign
from the commandant, he received the coup de
grace. j. ). g.