Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-29

grinning and rolling apparently in
seemed to go sideways or on their
heads, waltzing along the narrow streets
in most unnatural attitudes. The old
Mexican doctor felt their pulse, temples
and feet and made his professional
diagnosis:
''CGraja; Tres dies q noches en- CARO-
ga Nal de cabeza y desarre Clio de los
,aerUos." He began administering strange
drugs which soon produced refreshing
sleep. They awoke after several hours
very much refreshed. and after eating a
sparing meal were all right, except very
weak. The people RECALLED them with
strange, curious stories. There were some
almost white, but the majority were
mixed with the Indian-what is COM
monty known as greasers. Though
nearly all spoke the Mexican language,
the better class also spoke English quite
huently. The majority were miserably
ignorant, but few were quite
intelligent. In answer to inquiries
as to where they were, they were in
formed in Chilli. To them Chilli was
Greek, until they heard the name of the
Emperor Henry mentioned. They had
heard the floating rumors of this abso-
lutte monarchy IN the heart of the desert,
but this was the first time they had be-
lieved in its existence. Here it was-a
strange nation. a new world, an uneX-
plored region to outsiders, and yet
something like civilization. AS they
walked out upon the streets they beheld
houses of adobe, wood and stone. They
We're built chiefly on the Mexican plan,
bat one was evidently English archi-
lecture of what is called the Queen
Esizabethan period. They saw several
carts, one or two wagons and an old
carriage, which they were informed be-
longed to the Emperor. This house,
they were informed. was His Majesty s
residence. The palace, a large building
of stone, with some pretensions to ele-
gance, stood upon an eminence at the
end of a village. 1t was surrounded by
stone wall about eight feet high, and
with gate entering at the front and
one at each side. Halt a dozen soldiers,
in a uniform which was mixture of
Mexican, English and of the United
States, sat in front of each gate. They
were an ignorant-looking set of knaves,
and, in fact, well-drilled company of
United States infantry could put the
entire army of the Emperor to flight.
Four or five old rusty pieces of artillery
lay in inches made for them in the wall
about the palace. The Emperor had
taken the utmost caution for his own
safety.
As the two Americans were walking
about the village, dark-skinned officer,
with heavy saber dangling at his side
and brace of pistols sticking in his
belt, came to the front and, saluting
them. said in very good English:
His Excellency, the Emperor, has
sent for you to come to his palace
The prospectors could only assent,
and vet, with their hearts futtering in
their bosoms, they hesitated. There
was nothing better than to comply with
the request. If rumors were true con-
corning this petty tyrant of the desert,
he was subject to fits of cruelty. He
might be incensed at this invasion of his
country, as he might term it, and have
them put to death, imprison them, or
worse, condemn them to slavery. They
were satisfied that they might pass life
time in slavery in this strange land with
no hope of ever being rescued. They
expressed their willingness to meet his
Majesty, and were conducted by the of
ficer toward the great front entrance.
The soldiers, six in number, rose at
their approach and stood at ''present
arms until the officer and two Ameri-
cans had passed within.
They found a spacious lawn, very
beautiful, with paths of white pebbles
leading through it. There were orna-
mental trees of almost every variety
the palm and cedar, the paradise tree,
the pine and fig tree. Rare exotics
bloomed on every hand. Two foun-
tains were playing On each side Of the
main path leading to the front door of
the palace. About one hundred sol
diers, mostly poems, were lounging
about the front premises or sleeping
under the great walls. This, they
learned, was almost half the army of
the Emperor.
They entered the front door, which
was massive affair, with great port
cullis in front, and they were in a spa
cious hall. There were great many
doors on either side of them. A chan
delier was in. the hall to light it at night.
Ascending aefight of stairs, they entered
a large chamber somewhat rudely con-
structed and yet with some degree of
elegance. Its walls were tapestried with
cloth made of the hair of wild animals
and feathers of birds ingeniously woven
by Indian women. Seated upon a sort
of throne, but made of wood instead of
gold, though ornamented with gay
plumage, furs and tapestries, was the
Emperor of Chilli. The old mans
brow was clouded, and he, beyond a
doubt, was in no enviable mood. He
glared a moment at them with his little
pale blue eyes, and demanded:
"Who are you?'
George Smith, being the coolest of the
two, answered they were American
prospectors.
''What are you doing here:?' was the
next query.
eve were going to the mines in
Lower Arizona when we were at
tackled by band of Indians.
They stole our mules and chased US
so far out on the desert that we lost our
way and have wandered here. We were
almost dead with thirst and burning
with fever, when we came. Your peo-
pie have been very kind to US, your
Majesty"
The term your Majesty" was like
pouring oil on troubled waters. The
petty tyrant, under the subtle flattery of
the shrewd prospector became some
what affable. They remained standing,
not daring to seat themselves in mon
arch's presence, and the Emperor pro-
ceeded to interrogate them fully as to
their intentions and as to their own
country He was very nuch Interested