The St. Johns herald., 1892-01-14
DEATH BKA1ELY MET.
A Recent Military Execution in
 One of the Mexican States.
The Heroic Manner in Which an Unfor- tunate Officer Faced His End-His
 Last Request of His Execution

tunate Officer Faced His End-His
 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 o1 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. Lou-c Globe-Democrat, a company of the Thirteenth regular cavalry was ordered to do special duty at Cadercyta, smal town on the Gulf road. The compana was in command Of a first lieutenan and Estuperron.
 A dispute arose between the officers. and Lieut.. Estupcrron fearing, as hi friends say, that his life YVES in danger drew his pistol, but d;d net shoot at hl: superior. It is claimed that he sDappe' the pistol, but it missed fire. Fer this ofense he was placed under arrest apt. tried by a general courtmartlal ant sentenced to death. There were exten- uating circumstances admitted and the case was carried to the highest federa courts. Pending a decision the first officer of the company was shot dead in the portals at Monterey by one of hi 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 ful personal appeals by persons inti- mately associated with President Dlaz were unavaillng.
 The time of the shooting was kept profound secret for a time. The cathedral clock chimed four. There was a sharp bugle call, hurrying or mastering feet, quick commands and rapid evolutions, and in 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 muftied 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 commanding the department and staff took up po- sition in the center. When the troops haulted the commanding officer cried: Attention! Fix bayonetsT 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 on the gravity of the offense." z,'.
 Silence, as of death, fell upon the soldiers and the few spectators wno were allowed to be present. It was now four forty-fve. From the gate is- sued company of the Thirteenth, at its head prisoner and by his side a priest: With firm tread and proud ly-lifted head he marched, never falter- ing or halting, but with a 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 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 Ewithin ten feet of the prisoner, and the sec ond line within fifteen feet The other two lines formed reserve. The death kne1 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: ~-;. --..-..@
 'I've have looked to often in the face of death to fear it now."
 Ut shall be as you wish" said 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. J And bringing his hands to the posi- ton of attention, he waited the end The was slight flash of the captain: sword The guns came to Ready Another flash. "Aiml' The blade drops Six sheets of flame dart toward the prisoner, who sprang into the ail with three bullets in his heart The surgeon took his wrist. The captain gave a quick command, soldier stepped from the ranks, and, placing lis rife to the prisoners head, fired. Il ess than fifty seconds from the drop O the sword Lieutenant Estuperron wa dead.