Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03

InIrUeenJn regular Cavalry was
ordered to do special duty at Caderey-
ia, a SMALL town on the Gulf road.
The company was in command of a
first lieutenant and the deceased.
A dispute arose between the officers,
and Lieutenant Estuperron fearing as
mis- 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 court-martIal and sentenced to
death. There were extenuating cir
cumstauces admitted and the case was
carried to the highest federal courts
Pending a decision the first officer of
the company was shot dead at the por-
tails 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, bnt the finding of the court
was approved, and powerful personal
appeals by persons Intimately asso-
ciated with President Diaz were una.
vailing.
The time of the shooting was kept
a profound secret. The cathedral
clock chimed 1. There was a sharp
bugle call, a hurrying of mus
tering 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 muffieo
instruments. The Fifth Cavalry fol-
lowed. and then the Fifth Infantry.
They formed square, three sides of
which consisted of the respective regi-
ments. The fourth was the wall OF
the barracks. The general command
ing the department, and staff. took ur
position in the center. When the
troops halted the commanding officer
cried, attention. Fix bayoaets!"
he then announced the sentence, and
! added:
I'll 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
gray ' of the offense."
The silence, as of death, fell upon
the soldiers and the few spectators
who were allowed to be present. It is
now 4:fo. From the gate issuaI a
company of the Thirteenth, at it's mead
prisoner, ana by his side a priest
With firm tread and a proudly lifted
head he marched, never falterinr or
hating but with a bright smile UPON
his face he looked the least concerned
OF the party. He halted at a small
marked elevation twenty feet from the
barracks wall. His company fled past
and formed in front, four files deem
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
deathknell tolled and the clock struck
D. The officer advanced to bandage
the eyes OF the prisoner but the latter
waved the officer aside and said:
"a have looked too often in the face
of Death to fear him now"
sit 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 as
sembled troops, looked once at the
sun-tipped hills, and said to the firing
party: Shoot straight for nv heart,
but do not strike my face Adieu.' -
And bringing his hands to the posi-
ton OF ''attention." he awaited the
end. There was a 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 a quick command. a
soldier stepped from the ranks, and
placing his rifle to the prisoners head,
fired. In less than fifty seconds from
the drop of the sword Lieutenant
EstuperrOn was dead,