The Prisoners leave Queretaro. 227 



he asked for them. Probably to bribe me he gave me part of 

 the Emperor's hair and beard, and a piece of the red silk sash 

 which was saturated with his blood ; and to my husband he 

 sent a piece of the Emperor's heart in alcohol, and a bullet 

 which was found in the body. I spoiled, however, the specu- 

 lation of this wretch, by showing the inventory he gave me to 

 Admiral Tegethoff and President Juarez. He was sued for 

 trying to sell what did not belong to him, and coiidemned by 

 the court. 



On the morning of the 8th of October the order arrived that 

 the prisoners were to be transported from Queretaro to their 

 different places of detention, namely, Oaxaca and Vera Cruz. 

 On the 9th, at one o'clock, p.m., they left under an escort, 

 and on parting the inhabitants of Queretaro presented them 

 with all kinds of eatables, and showed their sympathy in a 

 very affecting manner. 



I followed with the wife of Colonel Diaz and Colonel von 

 Gagern in the diligence, and met the prisoners on the loth in 

 San Juan del Rio. There I took breakfast with my husband, 

 and went to Mexico in advance of him. 



Tile prisoners were placed there first in the common house 

 of correction, and all visitors excluded ; but this was altered 

 in a few days and they were transferred to the convent of 

 Santa Brigida, where they were very well quartered, and where 

 they received a great many visitors, who all brought them 

 flowers, fruit, cigars, and other comforts. 



I and friends of my husband exerted ourselves with all 

 persons of influence to bring about a change in his position. 

 If we could not persuade the authorities to exile instead of 

 imprisoning him, we would try at least to retain him in Mexico, 

 instead of sending him to Oaxaca. Salm, however, who did 

 not think that this would be granted, wished at least to be per- 

 mitted to go to Vera Cruz, because he believed that escape 

 from there would be easier than from a place in the interior. 



On the 24th of October, in the morning betweeen five and 

 six, I received a note from my husband, informing me that the 

 prisoners Avere to be transferred at once to Oaxaca and Vera 

 Cruz. Their departure had been kept secret in order to pre- 

 vent their many friends from showing their sympathy. I 

 arrived in the convent when they had already left, but overtook 

 them at the garita. They were transported through the streets 



