El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-06-29
MaximiIian's Death
HOW THE EMPEROR OFMEx-
leo WAS ExEcUTEDATTER HIS
TALL MlS67.

list Of terrible things that have made
Mexico the horror country Of the Western
Hemisphere. When Macmillan died, q prif-
ciple was u~pheId--the principle that Europe
had no place on this side of the Atlantic.
Austrian government was not CONCERN
ed Officially, but a member Of the Royal
House Of Hapsburg had been placed on the
throne Of Mexico while we Of the United
States were too busy with our Civil War 70
intervene.
When the Mexicans overthrow the mon.
archy, the emperor was executed. The story
of the tragedy Is quoted by the st. Louis
Times from the late Major John N, I'd,
wards, in his book, 'Shelby's Expedition 10
Mexico" The sad narrative follows:
They Fell On Their Knees and Wept
The morning broke fair and white in the
sky, and at half past six three carriages
drew up in front Of the main gate of the
Convent of the ~Capuchinas, The bells rang
in all the steeples, there were soldiers ev,
erywhere, and long lines of glittering steel
that rose and fell in yet the soft, sweet
hush OF the morning.
Into the first carriage got Macmillan
and Father Soria, a priest. The emperor's
dress was very plain. He wore a single
breasted black frock coat, with all the but,
tons buttoned except the last one; a black
vest, necktie and pantaloous, plain cavalry
boots and q wide-brimmed hal, or SOM
brero.
In the second carriage there came Mira
mon and his priest, in the third Mejia and
his. Then the solemn cortege started. In
the extreme advance five cavalry rode, the
one behind the other, with an interval be-
tween of 20 PAGES, and yet further in front
OF the five there rode a solitary corporal. A.
company Of infantry, 80 rank and file, anne
after the cavalry. Then followed the car
riages, escorted by a battalion of sharp
shooters, one-half Of whom ianked each
side of the road, marching parallel with the
vehicles. A rear guard of $50 mounted men
closed the mournful procession.
The sun rose and poured it's unclouded
rays over the city. All 4he people were In
the streets. On the faces Of the multitude
Here were evidences of genuine and unaf-
seeted sorrow. Some among the crowd
lifted their hats as the victims passed along
and some turned away their heads and
wept, and some, even amid the soldiers 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 OF more, the Hill of the Bells, E4
Cefro de las Campanas, upreared itself. II
was enclosed on three sides by 5000 sol
'diers Of all arms, leaving the rear uncover
ed side resting upon a wall.
Ali He Had to Give
II was half past seven o'clock when the
carriages halted at the place of execution.
Macmillan was the first to alight. He step
ned proudly down. took a handkerchief 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 ms
dian took them, kissed them, cried oyer
them, fell u-<s - knees q few moments in
prayer to It'd yood God for the good master
and arose a hero.
In front of the dead wall three crosses
had been firmly imbedded in the ground.
On each side was a placard bearing the
name of the victims to be inundated there.
That upon the right was where the emperor
was to be shot; that in the center was MI
ramon; that upon the left for the grim old
stole and fighter, Mejia.
Macmillan stroked down the luxnriant
growth Of his long yellow beard, as it was
his constant habit to do, and walked firmly
to his place. The three men embraced each
other three times. To Mejia he said:
"We will meet in Heaven"
Mejia bowed, smiled and laid his hand
his heart.
To Miramon he said:
Brave men are respected by soyereigns-
me to give you the place Of honor.H
They Die as Martyrs
AS he said this he took Miramon gently
by the arm and led him to the center cross,
embracing him as he left him for the last
~t
Escobedo was not on the ground. An
aide-de-camp, however, brought permission
each Of the victims to deliver a farewell
The emperor spoke briefly;
Persons of my rank and birth are
into the world either to insure the
welfare of the people or to die as martyrs.
didn't com to Mexico from motives of
| came at the earnest entreaty
Of those who desired the welfare Of our
Mexicans. / pray that my blood
may be the last to be shed for our unhappy
and may it insure the happiness Of
he nation. Mexicansl Long live Mexico!"
Mejia drew himself up as a soldier on
iuty, looked up once at the unclouded sky.
and around upon all the fragrant and green
things and bowed his head without
Miramon drew from his pocket a small
piece of paper and read as follows;
"Mexicansl behold me, Condemned by a
Council of War, and condemned to death as
4 traitor. In these moments which do not
belong TO me, in which my life is already
hat Of the Supreme Being, before the en-
ire world 1 proclaim that ] have never been
! traitor to my country. ] have defended
my opinions, but my children viii never
be ashamed Of their father. / have not the
stain Of treason: neither will it pass to my
Mexicansl Long live Mexicol
Long 1--we the emperor
Eighteen Muskets Rlazed
When Miramon ceased reading, Maximil-
an placed his hand on his breast, threw
lp his head and cried out In o singulsrly
;alm and penetrating voice, "Fire!"
Eightean mnskels ware DISCHARGED as