, 1891-05-26
DIED AS A SOLDIER.
Details of the Recent Execution
of a Mexican Officer.
Condemned to Death for Draw
ing His Pistol on a Superior.
Lieut.. EstuperrOn Bravely Pays
the Awful Penalty.

80 @A''h ANA#N NAAN - 4 III AbAlNN
ing particulars Of the execution of Lieut..
Estuperron on the 18th inst. were re-
ceived here TODAY: Monterey aud the
state OF Nuevo Leon has been the theatre
OF many military tragedies, but the shoot
ing Of Salvador Estuperron, second lieu
tenant of the Mexican cavalry, this morn
ing, was the saddest that has ever dark
ened the annals of the state. A brief
history of the Ievent which led to this
mornings execution Is necessary to a
proper understanding OF the case. Last
December a company of the Thirteenth
regular cavalry was ordered to do special
duty at Cadereyta. a small town on the
Gulf road. The company was in com
mand OF a first lieutenant and the de
ceased. \ dispute arose between the
officers, and Lieut.. Estuperron fearing. as
his friends say, hat his life was in dan
ger, drew his pistol, but did not shoot at
his superior. 1t is claimed that he
snapped the pistol, but it missed fire.
For this otiense he was placed under ar.
rest aud tired by a general court martial
and sentenced to death. There were ex
tenTatlng circumstances admitted and the
case vas 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 vas curling from his weapon, was
shot down by the captain Of the
company. Whether these deaths affected
the pard0niug power or not will never be
known, but the finding OF the court was
approved, and powerful personal appeals
by persOus Intimately associated with
President Diaz were unavailing. The
death warrant was signed and carried
into execution. That the officer was adj
mired bv the people aud dearly loved in
his regiment was well known by the au-
thoritIes, as the PRECAUTIONS taken By the
c~ommandant Of the department were am
pie proof.
The time Of the shooting was kept a
profound secret until last night. The ca
thedral clock chimed 1. There was a
sharp bugle call, a hurrying Of mastering
feet. quick commands and rapid evolu-
tons and 10 a few moments the garrison
tell into line. The gate IN the rear of the
barracks was opened, and the 18th caval
rY, 10 full marching order, on foot. issued
forth, followed by their band. with NUT
fled instruments. The 9Th cavalry fol
lowed, and then the 9Th infantry. They
formed a square, three sides of which
consisted of the respective
The fourth was the wall of the barracks.
The general commanding the department,
and staff, took up a position in the center.
When the troops halted the commanding
officer called, Attention. FIX bayo-
netsl' lie then announced the sentence,
aud added:
III 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
live wears, depending on the gravity Of
the otfense.'
The silence, MS 0f death, fell upon the
soldiers and the few spectators who were
allowed TO be present. Altar off the church
bell toued the knell for the dying. The
early sun Just gilded the mountain peaks
that rise like giant seDtincls 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 whit wreaths cir
cled the higher hills. 1t is now AS.
From Out the gate issued Il cumpany OF
tho 18th, at its head aprisoner and b. his
side a priest With a firm tread and a
proudly lifted head he marched, never
taltering or hating, but with a bright
smile upon his face. he looked the least
concerned OF the party. lie halted at a
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 teet
OF the prisoner, aud the second line within
fifteen feet. The other two lines formed
a reserve. The death kuell tollcd, and
the clock struck 5. The officer advanced
to bandage the eyes Of the prisoner, but
the latter waived the officer aside and
said:
Il have locke too often in the face of
death to fear him now
1T 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-tippsd hills aud
said TO the firing party: Shoot straight
for my heart, but do not strike my lace.
AdIeu. And bringing his hands to the
position 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
towards 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 rife to the
prisnnpr's head 6rad In loss than So,
seconds from the drop OF the sword Lieut..