The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1893-04-29
MEXICAN DISCIPLINE.
HOW A BRAVE YOUNG SOLDIER MET
A CRIMINALS DEATH,

Fate Of Popular Captain of Cavalry In
Mexico Story OF the Execution and tho
circumstances That Led Up to tho
shooting--A Powerful Picture,
Monterey, in the state Of Neuvo Leon,
has been the theater of many military
tragedies, but the shooting of Savator
Estuperron, second lieutenant of the
Mexican cavalry was the saddest that
has ever darkened the annals of the state,
A brief history Of the event which lied
TO this execution is necessary to proper
understanding of the case,
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 command Of
u 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 ut his
superior. 1t 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 sen.
fenced to death.
There were extcnuating circumstances
admitted, and the case was carried to
the highest federal courts Pending u
decision the first officer of the company
was shot dead in the portals ut 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 or not will never be known
but the finding of the court was ap
proved, and powerful personal appeals
by persons intimately associated with
! President DSIz were unavailing The
death warrant was signed and carried
into execution That the officer was al
mired by the people and dearly loved in
| his regiment was well known by the
authorities, as precautions taken by the
commandant of the department were
ample proof
THE DEATH SCENE.
The time of the shooting was kept q
profound secret. The cathedral clock
chimed T. There was sharp buglt
call, 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 bar
racks was opened, and the Thirteenth
cavalry, in full marching order, on foot
issued forth, followed by their band
with muffled Instruments The Fifth
cavalry followed, and then the Fifth in
fantry. They formed square, three
sides of which consisted of the respect.
i've regiments. The fourth was the wal
Of the barracks. The general command
ing the department and staff took up Il
position in the center When the troops
halted the commanding officer called
Attention! Fix bayonets" He then
announced the sentence, and added:
"lf any man moves in the ranks OF
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.
The silence as of death fell upon the
soldiers and the few spectators who were
allowed to be present Afar 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 AS. From out the gate
issued company of the Thirteenth, at
its head a prisoner, and by his side a
priest With firm tread and proudly
lifted head he marched, never faltering
or halting, but with a 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 a reserve.
The death knell tolled, and the clock
struck 8 The officer advanced to band
age the eyes of the prisoner, but the lat