Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-02
HOW A BRAVE YOUNG SOLDIER MET
A CRIMINALS DEATH.

a first lieutenant and the deceased. a
dispute arose between the officers, and
Lieutenant Estuperron, fearing, as his
friends say, that his life was in danger,
drew his pistol, but did not shoot at his
superior. 1t is claimed that he snapped
the pistol, but it missed fire For this
ofense he was placed under arrest and
tried by a general court martial and SEN
fenced to death.
There were eXtenuating circumstances
admitted, and the case was carried to
the highest federal courts. Pending a
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 cap
tain of the company.
Whether these deaths affected the par
doning power ornot will never be known,
but the finding of the court was ap-
proved, and powerful personal appeals
by persons intimately associated with
President Diaz were unavailing. The
death warrant was signed and carried
into execution. That the officer was ad- |
mlred by the people and dearly loved in
his regiment was well known by the
authorities, as precautions taken by the
commandment of the department were
ample proof.
THE DEATH SCENE.
The time of the shooting was kept a
profound secret. The cathedral clock
chimed T. There was sharp bugle
call, hurrying of mastering feet, quick
commands and rapid evolutions, and in
a few moments the garrison fell into
line. The gate in the rear of the bar
racks was opened, and the Thirteenth
cavalry, in full marching order, on foot,
issued forth, followed by their band,
with muff1ed instruments. The Fifth
cavalry followed, and then the Fifth in
fantry. They formed a square, three
sides of which consisted of the respect
i've regiments. The fourth was the wall
of the barracks. The general command
ing the department and staff took up
position in the center. When the troops
halted the commanding officer called:
"Attentionr' Fix bayonets!' He then
announced the sentence. and added:
eff 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 CD the
gravity of the offense."
The silence as of death fell upon the
soldiers and the few spectators who were
allowed to be present. Affair off the
church bell tolled the knell for the dy-
ing. The early sun just gilded the
mountain peaks that rise like giant SEN
tinels around the historic city, and ones
thoughts went back to the dull gray
morning, long ago, when an American
soldier knelt upon his coffin and met a
bloody death almost on the same spot.
Great white wreaths circled the higher
hills. 1t is now 4:45. From out the gate
issued company of the Thirteenth, at
its head prisoner, and by his side a
priest With firm tread and proudly
lifted head he marched, never faltering
Or haltirg, but with bright smile upon
his face he looked the least concerned
of the party.
FACING DEATH BRAVELY
He halted at small marked elevation
twenty feet from the barracks wall. His
company filed past and formed in front,
four files deep. Two lines advanced,
halted, and one still advanced. There
were six men in each line. The firing
party thus consisted of six men in the
front line within ten feet of the prisoner,
and the second line within fifteen feet.
The other two lines formed reserve.
The death knell tolled, and the clock
struck 5. The officer advanced to band
age the eyes of the prisoner, but the lat
ter waved the officer aside and said:
81 have looked too often in the face of
death to fear him now"
''It shall be as you WISH" said the
captain as he took his place at the left of
the firing party. Taking off his hat the
prisoner surveyed the assembled troops,
looked once at 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 hand 10 the
position of 'Attention'' he awaited the !
end
There was slight flash of the cap
tain's sword. The guns came to.
READY" Another fash. calm" The
blade drops. Six sheets of fame dart to-
ward the prisoner, who sprang into the
air with three bullets in his heart. The
surgeon took his wrist. The captain
gave quick command, soldier stepped
from the ranks, and placing his rife to
the prisoners head, fired. In less than
fifty seconds from the drop of the sword
Lieutenant Estuperron was dead.
Tie bugles sounded. The troops filed
past the body; it was put into the coffin,
and the grim tragedy was overland as
brave man as ever buckled on a sword
had crossed to the "bivouac of the
ead."-Cor. st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Nineteen Hours Battle with Outlaws.
Deputy Marshal Calcraft has just re-
turned from the Sac and Fox reserva-
ton, and gives the following details Of
how he and nine other deputies and
troop of United States cavalry effected
the capture of the Dalton boys and their
gang for robbing the Santa F'e train at
Wharton.
Thursday the trail of the robbers was
fornd nv the Indian scOUts and blood