The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

young Empress pledQe0 the cause OF neT
husband with desperate earnestness and
zeal. Napoleon hesitated, questioned, pom
dered and became confused Finally he an
nounced his decision that he could not af-
ford to have his troops remain in Mexico.
Then and there he broke the sacred con-
tract he had made with Macmillan three
years before. and by that act he broke the
heart of poor Carlotta
So intense was the strain under which
she had been labOring that all at once
while in the presence of Napoleon, her mind
gave way. He was the only witness, but in
great haste and alarm he summoned the
court physicians, and at the same time j
was admitted to the room in which she
lay, suffering such mental agony as is sell
dom witnessed.
THE poor woman's health was shattered
by the shock of the EmperOrS refusal to
come to her husbands aid. combined with
the keen disappointment at the conduct of
her brother, King Leopold, yet she insisted
on going to Rome to interview the Pope.
and nothing could restrain her. Her de-
mentia was apparent when we departed
from Paris and anxious indeed were the
days of that memorable journey. Fortu-
nately the Empress was not violent, but the
weight of the responsibility l carried was
so great that could scarcely eat or sleep.
What If anything should happen to her,
thousands of miles away from home? 1t
a terrible thought Even then Maxi
milan did not know of the condition of
her mind After the day they parted at
before we left Paris all Europe was aware
of Carlotta's affection. Her health was
broken and her mental sufferings were such
as to arouse the deepest pity.
CARLOTTA BECOMES MAD.
I'VE reached Rome in safety and secured
an audience with Pope Plus TX. On that
occasion her dementia was apparent to
startling degree. She refused a cup Of
chocolate offered her by the Pope, claiming
it was poisoned. During the interview she
became raving maniac. After great diff
tvs no to ,ofa 10 tor
to Miramare to the wonderful palace which
Macmillan had erected for her pleasure on
picturesque promontory in the Adriatic
sea. She labored under the delusion that
everything offered her was poisoned and
nothing could remove this impression from
her disordered mind. She refused all food
except that which she prepared for her
self She was taken charge of by the royal
relatives of her husband in Austria, but
later at the order of her brother and
against the advice of her physicians, she
was removed to Belgium and placed in a
retreat at Tervueren. That place was
stitution al Bouchout, five miles from Brus-
sells, where she is to-day.
For more than quarter of a century
she knew nothing of the tragic death of
Emperor Macmillan. Even as late as 1894
she believed him to be a prisoner in Mexico.
Just how or when she learned OF his fate
is unknown.
THE mission of Carlotta to Paris and
Rome, as a matter of course, considering
her condition, was failure. Even had she
been possessed of all her faculties, her elo
quence and charms of manner would have
awaited her nothing Napoleon was not in
g, position to carry out his promise and, as
Macmillan had failed to keep his agree
ment with the Catholic Church and had dis
regarded the edicts of the Pope, the latter
did not feel bound to carry out his part of
the contract. History has already recorded
how these conditions sealed the doom OF
Macmillan in Mexico.
II have never seen Carlotta since the day
I left her in charge of relatives and friends
at Miramare, the birthplace of Macmillan.
hastened back to Mexico to be with the
Emperor in success or defeat and remained
with him until the day of his death.
"A few months ago it was reported that
Carlotta was regaining her mind, and that
she longed to visit Mexico. The Mexican
government offered to extend to her every
courtesy in the event of such visit, but
her condition was not such as 10 permit
travel Recently it was published that she
was on the verge of death, but nothing has
been heard of her condition since then.
Poor Carlotta. The tragedy of her life
For more than thirty years this once gra-
ciouS and beautiful woman has gaZed
through prison bars upon a world in which
there remains for her no joy. Napoleon
would have been merciful if he had stricken
her dead The blow that he gave her was
worse than fatal.
DIED GRIEvING FOR HIS WIFE.
Macmillan had heard of her affliction be-
fore returned to Mexico. He was deeply
moved, as described by Basch and Bancroft,
the historians. Nothing could comfort him
and the loss of her companionship was es-
pecially severe, coming, as it did, at crisis
in his life, when he needed encouragement
and counsel more than ever. Every reader
of history is familiar with Maximiian's ar
rest, trial and execution. About that time a
false report was circulated that Carlotta
yxr.,c 10 ;fxr;,,
but the belief filled his mind with agony
but after few days, realizing his own
doom, he become resigned to her supposed
death. 1t is one bond less holding me to
life he said. His last words We're of her.
Il remained with the Emperor and in his
trusted service until the time of the tragedy
at Queretaro-hS execution, which l regard
as literal assassination. | have large
number OF letters and official documents
from him, all of which l hold above rice,
but the most precious is the following
written in his own hand only few hours
before his death:
"Queretaro, Capuchinas Prison, June 10,
My Dear Gunner-Before I go to an I'M
merited death / write you these few lines
to thank you for your fidelity to me person.
ally and for your loyal adherence to nv
cause. Remember me in your prayers, and
oeiieve me- yours very sin .ecSere ,,,,,n
"The letter M played a conspicuous part
in MaximIian's career-so conspicuous as to
have prompted frequent reference to it by
the superstitious M was the first letter Of
his name. He was born at Miramare; went
from there to Mexico; was shot with Mejia,
Miramon and MendeZ, when Marquee de-
Tended the capital against JuareZ."
Such is the story told by hero of Max
imlian's forlorn hope. Yet, such are the
vicissitudes of life that after a career
scarcely equaled in the worlds history for
romantic interest, this gallant old soldier
was arrested recently on a charge of en-
bezZlement preferred by several creditors
from whom he had purchased small supplies
for his news stand. He was arraigned be-
fore Judge Charles F. Flint, of the Dallas
District Criminal Court. After the evidence
had been heard the judge addressed the
audience with some show of asperity and
said: THE prisoner is discharged. There
is absolutely nothing in this evidence to
show that he is guilty of the crime with
which he stands charged.
AS he walked forth from the courtroom
free, General Gunner, with tears in his eyes,
said to the friend upon whose arm he
leaned. I'm my lifetime have had oppor-
tunities to swindle in sums large enough to
divide up into fortunes. l have not fallen
in my old age to the level of a petty GRIM
inal. My honor is as clear to-day as 1t was
in the happy days when l was the tried
and trusted friend of Macmillan and
Carlotta.
RAILROAD SECRET SERVICE.
HOVv the Detectives Work to Keep