Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-07


teresting to give one of the tragic and
terrible chapters in the long list of
terrible things that have made of Mex
leo the horror country of the western
hemisphere. When Macmillan died, a
principle was upheld-the principle
that Europe had no place on this side
of the Atlantic. The Austrian govern
ment was not concerned officially. but
a member of the royal house of Haps-
burg had been placed on the throne OF
Mexico while we of the United States
were too busy with our Civil war to
intervene.
When the Mexicans overthrow the
monarchy, the emperor was executed.
The story of the tragedy is told by the
late Major John \. Edwards, in his
book, "Shelby's Expedition to Mex
leo" The narrative follows:
The morning broke fair and white
in the sky and at half past three
carriages drew up in front of the main
gate of the convent of the Capuchinas.
The bells raing in all the steeples,
there were soldiers everywhere, and
long lines of glittering steel that rose
and fell in yet the soft, sweet hush of
the morning.
milan and Father SOria, a priest. The
emperor's dress was very plain. He
wore a. single-breasted black frock
coat, with all the buttons buttoned eX-
cept the last one; a black vest, necktie
and pantaloOnS, plain cavalry boots
and a, wide brimmed hat or sombrero
I'm the second carriage there came
MiramOn and his priest, in the third
Mejia ard his. Then the solemn cor
tege started. In the extreme advance
five cavalry rode, the one behind the
other, with an interval between of
twenty PAGES, and yet further in front
of the five there rode a solitary gen
eral. A company of infantry, so rank
and file, came after the cavalry. Then
followed the carriages, escorted by q
battalion of sharpshoOters, one-half Of
whom f1anked each side of the road,
marching parallel with the vehicles. A
rear guard of $50 mounted men closed
the mournful procession.
The sun arose and poured it's I'M
cIouded rays over the city. All the
people were in the streets. On the
faces of the multitude there were evI
dences of genuine and unaffected sOr-
row. Some among the crowd lifted
their hats as the victims passed along,
some turned away their heads and
wept, and some, even amid the soldiers
and amid the hostile ranks of the lib
erals, fell upon their knees and wept.
The place of surrender was to be
the place of execution. Northwest of
the city, a more or more, the Hill of
the Bells, FL Cerro de las Campanas,
upreared itself. It was inclosed on
three sides by 5000 soldiers of all
arms, leaving the rear or uncovered
side resting upon a wall.
ut was half past o'clock when the
carriages halted at the place of execu-
ton Macmillan was the first to
aIight He stepped proudly down, took
handkerchief from his pocket and
hit hat from his head and beckoned for
one of his Mexican servants to ap- |
proach.
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 a |
few moments in prayer to the good |
God for the good master and arose a |
hero.
I'm front of the dead wall three |
crosses had been firmly imbedded in |
the ground. On each side was a plac-
ard bearing the name of the victims to |
be inundated there. That upon the
right was where the emperor was to |
be shot; that on the center was Mira
mon; that upon the left for the grim |
old stole and fighter, Mejia.
Macmillan stroked down the lux
uriant growth of his long yellow
beard, as il was his constant habit to
do, and walked firmly TO his place.
The three men embraced each other
three time. To Mejia he said:
I'VE will meet in heaven.
"Mejia bowed smiled and laid his
hand upon his heart.
ITO Miramon he said
Brave men are respected by SOW
ereigns. Permit me to give you the
place of honor
las 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 time
Escobedo was not on the ground
An atde-de-camp, however, brought