The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-05
A GREAT HISTORIC TRAGEDY.
The Bloody Close of a Brilliant Imperial
Drama Enacted on MexicO's Soil.
The Last Hours and Cruel Death of Macmillan
and Gems. Miramon and Mejia-HOw Nine.
MiramOn Was Enticed from the Scene.
Translated from the Paris Figaro.

Translated from the Paris Figaro
[The widow of General Miramon, who was Maxi
milians fellow-captive and persisted with him, has
written her memoirs They are still unpublished, but
of friends has read several parts of the man
uscrpt and among others the last act of the drama
June 10, 1867. The following is this thrilling
chapter.-Editor of LIE Figaro
The prisoners had been incarcerated in the
Capuchinas Convent, a heavy, square stone
building. solidly constructed, after the ordinary
style of Spanish converts. On the first story,
looking over high-waled. narrow courtyard,
corridor, ten metres long and three wide, gave
cess to three cells; they still bore the names
which the Capuchin sisters had given to them,
and the frst called the ELEVEN Thousand Vir-
gins" was occupied by General Meja; that of
Santa Rosa" by Miramon; while the other
Santa Teresa" more spacious was destined for
the Emperor. The cloister's austerity still
apparent in the interior of these cells, trans
formed into prisons-a stone door. white
washed walls, an iron folding be1stead, two or
three chairs, table, and washstand of the
most simple description.
1t was about s o'clock in the evening, and the
Emperor was dining Seated on the side of his
bed, he held basin between his knees in which
he placed the dishes; or the small deal table
chandelier bore several lighted candles, lighting
the cell up'brightly and on the clear background
of the plain and dingy walls. Maximilan's
shadow stood out in bold relief. At his side
were General Miramon and Nine Miramon, both
silent, and absorbed in their sorrow. The
General, overwhelmed by the humila-
tons ne had undergone in his
struggle In defense of his honor-not of his life.
which he knew too we'll to be in the power of
pitiless enemies-profoundy felt all the devoted
ness of his wife. and his affection for her
only the greater. He held her hand in his, and
softly, perhaps involuntarly, he carried 1t to his
lips. The movement had not escaped the En-
peror's notice and tears sprang to his eyes. The
General and his wife, much moved, thought that
recollection of the Empress mad caused this
sudden pain. NO. said Macmillan, "but l
only knew too late how devoted you were to me,
and | suffer at being the of your separa-
ton. "Ah, sire" replied Miramon, ''f l had
listened to my wifes advice should not be here
now" II am here because | listened to the ad-
vice of mine." rejoned Macmillan.
The 10th of June, towards midday, the prison
ers were breakfasting; Nine Miramon was at
her husbands side when the fiscal AspiroZ
tered the cell and announced to them that the
induto had been rejected, and that they would
be executed at o'clock in the afternoon of that
same day. General Miramon reproached the ifs
cal, Aspiroz, with giving them the order in the
presence of his wife, and he begged the latter
and Nine. Cobo to withdraw and prepare his
death-bed. He requested them to have his body
buried in the San Fernando cemetery, at Mex
leo, by the side of his fathers tomb aud to place
his heart in an urn, which should be deposited
at the foot of the tomb of General Osollo,
one of his frat and best friends.
Nine. Miramon left the cell with Nine. Cobo,
heartDroken, to fulfill the sad mission. Miramon
wrote several letters. He said to General de
Partcarroyo: 81 am going to die in three hours
time. although they have been unable to bring
forward any proof of the act of treason with
which they charge me to Justify my condemna-
ton; but | was doomed to die, and it would
surely have come to this sooner or later" The
condemned men dressed themselves in full
mourning. all three wearing a black frock coat
and black trousers General Mejia alone wore
the faja round his waist, mark of his rank of
general. They quilted their cells and awaited in
the narrow corridor the order to march to their
death.
Three o'clock was striking. The troops were
under arms. and the courtyard literally swarmed
with soldiers. They were waiting for orders
from headquarters. The time passed slowly in
this cruel delay. The heat was still heavy and de-
pressing the usual vague sounds from the busy
little town completely covered by the clash
ing of the officers ScabbardS and their shouting
of orders to their men. Half past struck. Some
minutes before one Of General Esc0beGos aides-
de-camp at last appeared. He carried an order
to suspend the execution for three days. Mme
Miramon, who had gone home, was waiting in
tears for her husbands corpse to arrive. The
hours passed slowly In sangulnarv visions and
dull anguish, when suddenly some people en-
tered the courtyard. They came to tell her of
the respite accorded to the condemned men.
She returned to her husbands cell, but, so as to
spare her the terrible trials she had Just passed
through. and which would shortly recommence
the General asked her to go to San Luis Potosi
and beg Juarez to pardon him. She would per-
haps succeed in obtaining it, now that, morally
he had already passed through the threshold of
death. She did not like going for in three days
she could not be back. The Emperor insisted.
Monday, June IT, Nine Miramon took the dill
gence to go to San Luis. She was fortunate ia
winning to her cause the lawyers Riva Paiacio
and Martinez de la Core, Maximilian's defend
ers, the Ministers of Austria Hungary and Prus-
STA, and the Juarist General Jeronlmo Trevno,
whose noble sentiments never once belied them
selves. His entreaties were even pressing
that Juarez. moved, was hesitaUng, when M. S.
Leido de Cejado appeared. JuareZ's Minister
for Foreign Affairs was short in height, bald,
nose aquiline, mouth small and slightly twisted.
ut is to-day never Monsieur lie President,
that you will consolidate the peace of the repub-
lie" The Emperor living, it meant the empire
General Mlramon was young and bold; he was
incontestably the most able soldier in Mexico
General Meiia, of pure native race was brave
soldier, who enjoyed the greatest popularity
among the Indians OF the Cordilleras-the Siena
It was absolutely necessary that these three
men should disappear Juarez, strengthened in
his first resolution, decided that the execution
should be maintained for the 10Th.
The eve of the execution Colonel Palacio,
charged win the guard of the prisoners, whose
good graces he had been fortunate enough to
obtain, en4sred the cell of Miramon, who Ques-
toned him: well, Colonel, where is the place
of execution to be9" II do not know, General"
II think they have chosen the Cerro de las
Campanas." 81 think so too" stammered the
Colonel. ''Well. so much the better; it is an
important point" Miramon sat up until mid
night, at which hour NJ Lombardo, Nine.
Miramons brother, brought him tele-
gram from his wife containing these words:
'All is lost: farewell until we meet in
heaven. Coucha de Miramon The General
crushed the telegram up in his hand. 81
only regret existence on my poor wifes
account Co." he said to NJ. Lombardo;" ''be to-
morrow On the Cerro with the other friends who
have promised to assist at the execution, and
bring a sheet with you to cover my body from
the vulgar gaze" Miramon slept three hours;
he then rose drank a cup of chocolate, and
dressed himself with care. at 6 o'clock he was