The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-12
RED DEATH OF WAR
Tragic Fate of Macmillan at the
Hands of the Mexicans.
HIS PENALTY FOR FAILURE.

me AkGnGmGnr OF Bf0od-H0W u
Was Contaminated and How the
Vengeance of the Victors Was Sat
isfied-coolness of the Unfortunate
Prince.
No more tragic incident is recorded
In history than the execution Of Maxi
milan. Half century ago a 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 volume written some years ago
Major John N. Edwards pictures graph
ically the closing hours OF the tall.
handsome prince who would be king
as follows:
The morning broke fair and white in
the sky, and at $50 o'clock three car
riages drew up In front of the main
gate of the convent of Capuchins.
The bells rang in all the steeples. there
were soldiers everywhere, and long
lines of glitterfng steel that rose and
fell In yet the soft, sweet hush Of the
morning.
In the first carriage got Macmillan
and Father Soria, a priest. In the sec
ond carriage there came Miramon 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 heads 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 a mile or more the Hill of the
Bells (El Cerro de las Campanas) up
reared itself. 1t was inclosed on three
sides by 5000 soldiers OF all arms, leav-
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.
Macmillan was the first to alight. He
stepped proudly down, took handker-
chief from his pocket and his hat from
his 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
/ ~
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 a placard
bearing the name of the victim to be
| inundated there That upon the right
was where the emperor was to be shot,
| that in the center was Miramon, that
upon the left for the grim old stole and
fighter Mejia.
Macmillan 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 be said this he took Miramon gen
fly by the arm and led him to the GEN.
ter cross. embracing him for the last
time
Escobedo was not on the ground An
Hid-de-camp, however, brought permits
4 49,
d farewell address. The emperor spoke
briefly. Miramon drew from his pocket
a small Piece of paper and read.
When Miramon had ceased reading
Macmillan placed his hand on his
breast. threw up his head and cried in
a singuarly calm and penetrating
voice. Fire.
Eighteen muskets were discharged as
one musket. Mejla and Miramon died
instantly Four bullets struck the EN-
peror. three in the left and one in the
right breast Three of these bullets
passed entirely through his body, com
ing out high mp on the left shoulder
the other remained embedded in the
right lung. The emperor fell a little
sideways and upon his right side. ex
claiming almost gently and sadly:
"Oh. hombre hombre! oh. man. Oh
man."
He was not yet dead. 4 soldier wen
up close TO him and fred into hi:
stomach. The emperor moved slightly
as if still sensible to pain. Anothel
rame out OF the firing party and. put
ting the muZzlc of his musket up clos,
TO his breast. shot him fairly through
the heart.
The tragedy was ended. Mexican
| vengeance was satisfied: the soul o
| the unfortunate prince was with it
God. and until the Judgment day tn
blood of one who was too young anC
II too gentle TO die will cry out from tn