THE EXECUTION OF MAXIMILIAN".

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 207, 23 March 1877, Page 7

THE EXECUTION OF MAXIMILIAN".

Kit Carson, an eye-witness of the execution of Maximilian at Queretaro, describes it as follows :—"I: — "I was under General Corrona for several years, and was present when Ma-xiuiilian and his two generals were shot. I was within ten yards of him during the last half -hour of his life. History says that his last words were ' Poor Carlotta !' History is wrong. A report was prevalent, apparently from authentic sources, that his wife had died two weeks before, and Maximilian believed it. When he was brought out for execution he was accompanied by two Mexican priests, whom ho uaibraced and kissed repeatedly. He then took from the hands of one of the priests a crucifix, and kissed it twelve or thirteen time;,. The sergeant of the squad appointed to shoot him then ca ne forward, and, kneeling, asked pardon for having to perform tho awuil task of taking his life. Maziiniliau took a inedil (i gift from Victor Emanuel) from his breast and gave it to the sergeant, with the remark that ' if he obeyed orders he was a good soldier.' The two generals knelt down with their backs to the firing squad. Maximilian stood up facing his executioners. Placing his hand on his heart, he looked at the soldiers firmly and said, in English : ' Boys, aim here. 5 A sheet of flame and smoke came from the levelled muskets, and Maximilian fell to the ground. The two generals died instantly, but the ex-king still lived. As he writhed in agony, he moaned out in Spanish, 'O, man! O, man! 1 The soldiers then drew nearer, and gave the fallen monarch the coup de grace."