Confusion in Taciihaya. 183 



captured at San Lorenzo, who were destitute even of food and 

 clothes, and were in a most miserable condition. If I could 

 do something for them in Mexico, and bring them some clothes 

 and money, he most readily would permit me to deliver both 

 to them myself Accordingly, I spoke about it to Baron Mag- 

 nus and the Austrian officers, and we collected for this purpose 

 one hundred dollars, which were placed in my hands. 



On April 24, in the morning, the minister sent his carriage 

 for me, and I drove to the garita. From thence I went to the 

 Casa Colorada, where I saw Colonel Leon, and informed him 

 that I had some money for the foreign prisoners. He led me 

 himself into the castle of Chapultepec, and called the prison- 

 ers in. They were a Captain Rudolph Sporrberger, with seve- 

 ral sergeants — altogether fifteen persons. They had scarcely 

 any clothes, and were indeed in a very miserable condition. I 

 gave the captain twenty-five dollars, and each of the others 

 five dollars, for which they gave me a receipt. This receipt is 

 still in my possession, to prove that I did not forget my com- 

 mission. 



From thence I went to Tacubaya. By the manner of the Libe- 

 ral officers and soldiers I saw that there was something wrong, 

 and when I came to the house of Madame Hube, I found 

 them all in tears and in great anxiety. I do not know what 

 had happened during my absence, but on April 24 Porfirio 

 Diaz issued an order that all persons who proposed to leave 

 Mexico under the pretext of negotiating should be shot ; and 

 as I was in that position, they saw me already in my coffin. 



I wanted to go immediately to the General, in order to ex- 

 cuse myself for my long absence ; but Madame Hube would 

 not let me go, and detained me for several hours. Whilst I 

 was thus detained, a carriage-and-four drove up before the door, 

 and an officer informed me that he had orders to take me 

 directly to the head-quarters of the General. Of course there 

 was great lamentation at INLadame Hube's, but I was obliged 

 to obey ; and after having packed up a few clothes I entered 

 the carriage, together with Margarita and Jimmy. 



When we arrived at head-quarters, an adjutant of 

 Porfirio Diaz informed me that I was to leave the republic of 

 Mexico immediately, and handed me a passport, requesting 

 me to name any port from which I would wish to sail, to 

 which I should be brought by an escort. 



