The Irish standard., 1886-10-16
MAx1MN4t EXECUTION.
How the EmRe1'r i;enera,s Miramon1
and Ms.ka Their Eate

and Nfe54 Their Fate.
The moment ha. come: each of the
condemned nnel /, ountel the car
riage which awaiie them, and they
traversed the street Of (lueretaro in
the midst Of mott. multitude, who,
respectful and afflicted. crowded roundI
on their Passage; h,.:la kerchieis were
waved, and now and again :, sob would
reach the prisoners ears. The con-
demned men bowed on each side as
they recognized in the crowd many a
familiar face. Some minutes before
seven O'Clock they arrived on the Cerro
de las Campanas, little more than
here they descended from the carriage,
walked on foot halfway up the bill
called Cerro de las Campanas and.
turned their backs against d clump Of
cactus. The General in command Of
the troops, S. Graeia de Leon, caused;
an order Of the day to be read, making
it a penalty Of death for any person
who should try to prevent the execu-
tion; and the prisoners were then given
leave to address the crowd. The SUM
was by now high in the blue sky, glow!
ing over the profound azure of the;
lofty mountains and bathing the val-
ley with an intense flood of light and
heat. The Cerro, like an immense rock
thrown in the valley, stood forth bare
and yellow-looking, green in places,
with patches of cactus and nopals; a,
square flour thousand men surrounded
the base Of the hill, with its regular
lines and its uniforms and bayonets
glittering in the sun. Outside the med;
ley of the undulating crowd. toward
the east, appeared the lines OF the white
houses of Queretaro. all nearly COW
cred with foliage and surmcunted with
numerous cupolas and crosses: in the
far distance the dim, blush outline Of
the Cordilleras. The officer in COM
mand of the file of execution ap-
preached Maximilian and asked his
pardon for having to fulfill his duty.
The Emperor distributed several pieces
of gold bearing his e11igy to the sol
diers, recommending them not to aim
at his face. fIe then embraced GEN
erals Meiia and Miramon, and as the
latter had placed himself on his right,
he said to him aloud: "Brave men
should be respected by their Sovereigns
to the brink Of the grave. General,
pass to the place OF honor" Miramon
stepped to the center. Then with a
firm voice the Emperor addressed the
crowd: ':Mexicans! Men of my race
and origin are born either to make a
people happiness or to be martyrs. God
grant that my blood may he the last
she'd for the redemption of this un-
happy country Long live Mexico?'
Immediately General Miramon, at the
top of his voice, as when be COM
manded his troops on the battlefield,
cried: .'Mexcans! Before the court
martial my defenders only sought to
save my life. At the moment I am
about to appear before my God pro-
test against the name Of traitor which
they have thrown in my face to justify
my condemnation. Let this spot Oh
infamy be removed from my children's S
name, and God grant that my country
may be happy. Long live Mexico!'
General Majia raised his eyes toward
the heavens: every holy mother, I be-
seech thy Son to pardon me, as par
don those who are about to sacrifice
me- A volley rang out from the file
of soldiers, and, amidst the cloud of
smoke. which slowly drifted away,
Miximilian appeared writhing convul-
sively in pool Of blood, and groan-
ing: s'Hay Honaba'e!" The coup de grace
put him out ofhis agony.-Parss Figaro.