Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-14
"Nhi1 arc o doinn born., .h.

next 1nery.
wv We're going to the mines in
Lower Arizona when we were at
tackled by q band of Indians.
They stole our mules and chased Ms
so far out on the desert that we lost orr
way ana have wandered here. We were
almost dead with thirst and burning
With ferer, when we came. Your PEG.
Majesty"
The term ''.your Majesty,' was like
poullngoil on troubled waters. The
petty tyfant, under the subtle ~tlattcry of
the shlcwd prospector became some
what aiiable. They remained standing,
not daring to scat themselves in a mon
arc9's p'osencc, and the Emperor pro-
cecued to interrogate them fully as to
their lntantions and as to their own
country. He was very much interested
IN the United States, regretted that Gar
1leld had been assassinated, and ex-
pressed his qualification that the r~ascally
Gltean h3 been hung.
It's the only way to serve such ras-
calls" he declared. 81 believe We rulers
OF the nation can not be too severe in
Furnishing them. A rascally pcon at
tackled me once with q hoe because | had
the villain whipped. l had him tied
andshothim myself. Then Ihadh his body
hung for three weeks to tree as a warn
ing to the others. 1t has been a lesson
to'the rascals."
The Americans were dismissed and
toH to com again the next day. The
Emperor seemed very sociable on this
occasion and talked very much, display
ing a remarkable degree of intelligence.
Smith asked him if he had ever engaged
in war with any country. He an
swered three times. Twice with
Indians and once with Mex.
leans. That each time he had been sue
c%essful, and prided himself very much
on his military skill. He said that dur.
ing war his realm had been invaded
by an army OF hostile savages., His
skillful artillcrists kept them away from
the palace, but they destroyed a part of
the town and some fields for him. 81
then marched at tho head of my in
fantry and cavalry at night he said,
land attacked them as o as it was
daylight. We fought them for an hour
and put them to flight, when we
charged on them and cut down many
before they escaped to the desert. The
next day VIC buried a hundred and thir-
ty-nine of the enemy"
"How many wounded and prisoners
did you taketp" Smith asked.
"None."
This shortanswer showedthe prospec-
tors the true character of the man. If
ever they saw a shrewd, bold, cruel
wretch, he was one, and though they
left him in a very cool humor, they
were still uneasy and knew nothing as
to what their fate would be. Smith,
possessinga great deal of curiosity, ask
ed the officer if the Emperor had
any family and whether there would be
a son to Inherit the throne. The Off
Ger, fixing his great black eyes on him,
said it would be best for him to ask no
questions on that subject, and they
knew whether the Emperor Henry had
n wife or twenty. A week passed and
they saw nc more of the Emperor. One
day his carriage rolled down the street.
and, very anxious to get away from
Chilli, Smith was approaching it when
an attendant seized him by the shoulder
and hurting him back, said somethingin
the Mexican tongue which he could not
understand. The Americans were
alarmed. Their arms had been taken
from them on their arrival, and they
were utterly dcfenceless. They sougb.
the next day to gain an audience witt.
the Emperor, but were refused. He
seemed for a month to ignore them,
and they began to fear they would
either become slaves or be put to death.
One night Il small squad OF soldiers
extreme western boundry of their
try. They were mounted on two hardy
mustangs like their guard. At dawn
they came to the desert, which they at
once proceeded to cross. 1t was fully a
days ride. Their guard was silent and
morose, and scarcely u word
was spoken. At night they came
to an end Of the desert.
There were signs of vegetation, trees,
streams of water and green grass for
their horses. Here they encamped and
remained all night. At early dawn the
officer in command gave them their
rifles and revolvcrs, and told them to
keep down the stream q day or two and
they would come to a camp of American
miners. Then they all mounted their
horses and gallopcd away, and in two
hours had disappeared on the great
desert. Smith and Aiken have never
been inclined to another visit to the
American Emperor.
Whether this story and the many
stories told of this Empire are true or
not, it is an undoubted fact that Henry,
the emperor of Chilli" rules his realm
today within the territory Of the United
States, twenty years after the emancipa-
ton proclamation.-John r. Mus1c&.
HIS TWO " .