The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-10-29
RED DEATH OF WAR
Tragic Fate of Macmillan at the
Hands of the Mexicans.
HIS PENALTY FOR FAILURE.

Was Consummated and How the
Vengeance of the victors Was Sat
isfied-coolness of the Unfortunate
Prince.
No more tragic incident is recorded
milan Half a century ago younger
brother of the Emperor Francis Joseph
was sent to rule Mexico. Together with
his wife. he sat upon the frail throne.
even then tottering. How he failed is
another story, but when he was taken
prisoner he prepared himself for death
the red death Of war.
In a volume written some years ago
Major John N. Edwards pictures graph
ically the closing hours of the tall.
handsome prince who would be king
us follows:
The morning broke fair and white in
the sky. aud ut 6:30 o'clock three car
riages drew up in front of the main
gate Of the convent Of Capuchins
The bells rang in all the steep!es. there
We're soldiers everywhere, and long
lines of glittering steel that rose and
fell i'm yet the soft. sweet hush of the
morning.
In the first carriage got Maxini!ian
and Father SOria, a priest. In the sec
ond carriage there came Miranlon and
his priest. in the third Mejia and his.
Then the solemn cortege started = =
All the people were in the street. On
the faces of the multitude there Were
evidences of genuine and unaffected
sorrow. Some among the crowd lifted
their hats as the victims passed along,
some turned away their hea,lS and
wept. and some. even among the sol
diers and amid the hostile ranks of the
Liberals. fell upon their knees and
wept.
The place Of surrender was to be
the place of execution. Northwest of
the city mile or more the Hill of the
Bells Gel Cerro de las CainpanasI up
reared itself 1t was inclosed on three
sides by 6OOO soldiers of all arms, ieav
ing the rear or uncovered side resting
upon wall
1t was 7:3O o'clock when the car
riages halted at the place of execution
Maximilian was the first to alight He
stepped proudly down, took handker
chief from his pocket and his hat from
bis head and beckoned for one of his
Mexican servants to approach. The
man came
Take these" the emperor said
'They are all | have to give"
The faithful Indian took them. kissed
them. cried over them. fell upon his
knees few moments in prayer to the
! good God for the good master and
| arose hero.
In front Of the dead wall three cross
| es had been firmly embedded in the
| ground On each side was Il placard
bearing the name Of the victim to be
immediate there That upon the righ!
was where the emperor was to be shot.
that i'm the center was Miramor. that
upon the left for the grim old stole and
fighter Mejia.
| Maximilian walked firmly to his
place The three men embraced each
other three times. To Mejia he said:
I'VE will meet in heaven"
Mejia bowed, smiled and laid his
hand upon his heart.
To Miramon he said:
Brave men are respected by sover-
eigns. Permit ME to give you the
/ place of honor"
As he said this he took Miramon gen
tly by the arm and led him to the cen
ter cross. embracing him for the las1
time
Escobedo was not on the ground Al
aid-de-camp, however. brought permis
| sion for each of the victims to deliver
i farewell address. The emperor spoke
briefly. Miramon drew from his poclSe
small piece Of paper and read.
i When Miranon had ceased readins
MACMILLAN placed his hand OH hi!
breast. threw up his head and cried il
a singuarly calm and penetratin:
voice. "Fire!"
i Eighteen muskets were discharged III
one musket. Mejia and Miramon diet
Instantly. Four bullets struck the EN-
peror, three in the left and one in th
right breast. Three of these bullet
passed entirely through his body, com
ing out high up on the left shoulder
the other remained embedded in tn
right lung. The emperor fell littl
sideways and upon his right side. eS
claiming almost gently and sadly:
"Oh. hombre. hombre! Oh. man! Oh
man..
4 He was not yet dead. a soldier wen
up close to him and fired into hi
stomach. The emperor moved slightl
as If still sensible to pain. Anothe
came out Of the firing party aud. put
ting the muzZle of his musket up clos
to his breast. shot him fairly throug
the heart
The tragedy was ended. Mexica
vengeance was satisfied: the soul G
the unfortunate prince was with 1t
God. and until the Judgment day tn
blood Of one who was too young an
too gentle to die will cry out from th
ground even as the blood of Abel.
II