seat during his absence.
I was about to continue my journey when two men advanced and engaged two seats in my hack to San An- tonio, for which they paid me five dollars. I had noticed them at the post office when I exposed my money bag, and, doubtless, they supposed the coin was all in gold, when I took the gold piece from it, which they saw. There was nothing suspicious in their appearance, and I was pleased to have their company.
The distance from Castroville to my father's house, where I changed my team, was only four miles, and we passed an unusual number of people on the way. Soon after starting an unaccountable feeling caused me to form an unfavorable opinion of my passengers and made me suspect that they were not all right, and the sequel will show that my impressions were correct.
While the horses were being changed I greased the axles of my hack as usual, and when through the four-pound monkey-wrench which I used was returned to the tool-box in front. When ready to start I noticed that the cushion of the rear seat, which my passengers were waiting to occupy, did not fit properly, and I reached over to straighten it. As I raised the right-hand end I saw under it the monkey-wrench that I had replaced in its proper receptacle a half-hour before,
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In the meantime no one but the two men had been near the vehicle, and I was convinced that they had placed the wrench in that place with murderous intentions. Evidently they designed using it as a weapon in a plan to kill and rob me, and I did not hesitate to charge them with the cowardly scheme. They denied having had anything to do with it, but I entertained contrary convictions and ordered them to leave the yard. They obeyed me without uttering another word, but my father, who was holding my team, called them back and insisted that I should return them the five dollars they had paid me. He said the poor fellows might need it, and I obeyed him, perhaps reluctantly, because, naturally, I felt no sympathy for them. Later I was told that they re- turned immediately to Castroville, and I afterwards learned that they were deserters from the United States army.
The dangers I confronted in my travels were often compensated by pleasant entertainments at the end of my journey; and I recall one in which I took part that had no Indians or robbers connected with it, like those I have noticed. The occasion was a grand ball that was given about the latter part of June, 1867, in the customs-house at Piedras Negras, to celebrate the termination of the war that closed the reign of the Emperor Maximilian in Mexico. All foreigners in Eagle Pass were invited, and many, including Thomas B. McManus, Charley Groos and myself, were in attendance, together with all the best people in that part of the country. My impression is that the news of Maximilian's executon, which took place on the 19th of June, had not been received, and the ball was an expression of joy on account of the restoration of the republic.
My information with reference to that tragic event was acquired, principally, from individuals who participated in the war, and I will relate a few facts connected with the subject that were communicated by Colonel
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Morales of the Mexican army. He spoke of the great sympathy of the people for Maximilian, after he was condemned to death, and particularly of its manifestation by five hundred of the most respectable ladies in the City of Mexico, who drew up an appeal for clemency. Dressed in black robes, the long procession presented themselves before the military tribunal with the petition for the emperor's pardon ; but it was useless ; his fate was sealed and he was beyond the hope of mercy.
He witnessed the execution of Maximilian, Mejia, and Miramon, and his relation of the facts was very impressive. They were taken to a hill outside of the city of Queretaro by the platoons of soldiers that were detailed to execute them. When drawn up in line Maximilian advanced and presented each of the firing party a gold doubloon, with the request that they would take good aim until he gave them the signal to fire by removing his hand from his breast. After resuming his position he eulogized his generals and resigned to them the honor of dying first. After they fell he calmly con- fronted the death that awaited him and met it with a fearlessness that became him. In after years I saw the spot in the Cathedral of Mexico where the emperor and empress stood in all their pride and glory when crowned, and, as I thought of their sad fate I could see the chapel that marks the place where he and his generals were executed.
Generals Mejia and Miramon were gallant and competent officers in whom the emperor placed implicit confidence and they proved themselves worthy of his trust, but another, in whom he confided to an equal extent, betrayed him. The " foreign legion," to whom was entrusted the duty of sustaining his throne, was composed of criminals taken from the prisons of Europe with the design of getting rid of them and were utterly unreliable as soldiers. I was told by responsible Mexican officers of both armies that the legion was a band of robbers who
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plundered indiscriminately and that the regulars of the French army would have nothing to do with them. All the facts show that Maximilian was the victim of a conspiracy and his fate was regretted all over the civilized world.
I only met with one accident during the eighteen months of travel while conducting my mail route, and that was not serious. It happened at Chichon, where I stopped for dinner with my three passengers, and to change my team. I had agreed to break a pair of wild mules for Domingo, the ranchman, and had been working them for about three months, from one station to the next, but every time they would try to run away, though I always got the best of them by allowing them to run, after getting them in the road, until they tired themselves down. I had them hitched up on this trip, and a man held them until we were all seated in the ambulance. When he turned loose the unmanageable brutes, they headed for a high and strongly built picket fence, and before I could turn them, the hack came in violent collision with the posts. In my efforts to hold them I was badly hurt by being pulled from the seat, and as the vehicle was smashed, it was necessary to procure another conveyance before we could proceed. The nearest place where one could be had was Eagle Pass, but as the Indians were raiding in that part of the country, no one at the station would undertake the chances of making the ride for love or money.
When troubles accumulate to a certain point something generally happens that improves the situation, and in our case the emergency was met by Henry Shane, a friend of mine, who lived in that vicinity. His offer of assistance was accepted, and he started for Eagle Pass about one o'clock on his favorite saddle horse. The distance of twenty-seven miles was ridden and the return trip with an ambulance and two horses, that he got from Albert Tuerpe, was made in about eleven hours. Imme-
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diately after his arrival we hitched up the same wild mules, and without further mishap arrived at Eagle Pass about daylight. I started back the same morning, in the borrowed vehicle, about eight o'clock, as usual, and after driving about fifteen miles I met Mr. Shane with the broken ambulance, driving the horses he had gotten from Albert Tuerpe. He had added to my obligations by following me with it, and it was taken to the government post, at Fort Duncan, which had been established a short time before, where it was repaired in the shop there, in a most suitable manner, without one cent of charges.
The following week when I returned from San Antonio I met Mr. Shane and asked him what I owed him for his services and trouble, but he disposed of the subject by saying, " Nothing ; I was very glad that I was able to help you when you were in need." His generosity had been displayed by traveling fifty-four miles over a dangerous road at the risk of his life when no one else would take the chances. f He had left his horse in Eagle Pass and assumed the responsibility of taking the conveyance through and his return, making a total distance of one hundred and eight miles, together with all the incidental troubles and expenses attached, all on my account and with no expectation of reward.
There is an old and true saying that " a friend in need is a friend indeed," and Mr. Shane's practical illustration of the fact was demonstrated
