The Irish standard., 1891-06-27
DEATH BRAVELY MET.
a Recent Military Execution IN
One Of the Mexican States.

Il Recent Military Execution IN
One of the Mexican States.
The Heroic Manner in Which an Unfor"
tunato Officer Faced His End-Hts
Last Request of His Execution
ers-A Sad Story.
Monterey and the state of Nuevo
Leon have been the theater Of many
military tragedies, but the shooting OF
Salvador Estuperron, second lieutenant
of the Mexican calvary, was the sad
dest that has ever darkened the annals
of the state.
Last December, says the St. Louis
Globe Democrat, company OF the
Thirteenth regular cavalry was ordered
to do special duty at Cadereyta. small
town on the Gulf road. The company
was in command of first lieutenant
and Estuperron.
A dispute arose between the officers,
and Lieut.. Estuperron fearing, as his
friends say, that his life was in danger,
drew his pistol, but did not shoot at his
superior. It is claimed that he snapped
the pistol, but it missed fire. For this
offense he was placed under arrest and
tried by a general court1nartlal ana
sentenced to death. There were extern
uating circumstances admitted and the
case was carried to the highest federal
courts. Pending decision the first
officer of the company was shot dead
in the portals at Monterey by one of his
soldiers, and the soldier, while yet
the smoke was curling from his
weapon, was shot down by the captain
of the company. Whether these deaths
affected the pardoning power or not
will never be known, but the finding
of the court was approved, and power
full personal appeals by persons init
mately associated with President Diaz
were unavailing.
The time of the shooting was kept a
profound secret for a time. The
cathedral clock chi1ned four. There
was sharp bugle call, a hurrying OF
mastering feet, quick commands and
rapid evolutions, and in q few moments
the garrison fell into line. The gate in
the rear of the barracks was opened,
and the Thirteenth cavalry, in full
marching order, on foot, issued forth,
followed by their band with muffled
instruments. The Fifth cavalry fol-
lowed, and then the Fifth infantry.
They formed a square, three sides OF
which consisted of the respective regi-
ments The fourth was the wall of the
barracks. The general commanding
the department and staff took up po-
sition in the center. When the troops
haulted the commanding officer cried:
attention! Fix bayonets!'' He then
announced the sentence, and added:
elf any man moves in the ranks or
gives any expression Of sympathy with
the prisoner or fault with the sentence
he shall be committed to prison from
one to five years, depending on the
gravity of the offense."
Silence, as of death, fell upon the
soldiers and the few spectators vino
were allowed to be present. 1t was
now four forty-fve. From the gate is
sued company Of the Thirteenth, at
it's head prisoner and by his side a
priest: With firm tread and a proud
ly-lifted head he marched, never falter-
ing or hating, but with bright smile
upon his face, he looked the least con-
cerned of the party. he. halted at a
small marked elevation twenty feet
from the barracks. His company fled
past and formed in front, four files
deep. Two lines advanced, halted, and
one still advanced. There were six
men III each line. The firing party
thus consisted of six men in the front
line within ten feet of the prisoner,
and the sec ond line within fifteen feet
The other two lines formed a reserve.
The death knell tolled, and the clock
struck five. The officer advanced to
bandage the eyes of the prisoner, but
the latter waved the officer aside and
said:
GIVE have looked to often in the face
of death to fear it now.''
cit shall be as you wish,'' saidx the
captain, as he took his place to the left
of the firing party. Taking off his hat
the prisoner surveyed the assembled
troops and looked once for the sun
tipped hills, and said to the firing
party: ''Shoot straight for my heart,
but do not strike my face. Adieu,"
And bringing his hands to the posi-
ton of ssattention,' he waited the end.
The was slight flash of the captains
sword. The guns came to "Ready!'
Another flash. ''Aim!'' The blade
drops Six sheets of flame dart toward
the prisoner, who sprang into the air
with three bullets in his heart. The
surgeon took his wrist. The captain
gave quick command, a soldier
stepped from the ranks, and, placing
his rifle to the prisoners head, fred. In
less than fifty seconds from the drop of
the sword Lieutenant Estuperron was
dead.
1 An Entcrprisins Miss.
A bright Maine girl, who, several
years ago, at the age of twelve, was
left to care for herself, determined that
she would not only support herself, but
would have rs rood IN education as the