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old Catholic cemetery, the men placed in a wagon, the ropes adjusted about their
necks, and the wagon moved on, leaving them to strangle to death.
What the course of events would have been had Garra been personally present
with his warriors, can only be conjectured. His misfortunes were not yet at an end. The
Cahuilla chief whom he hoped to win over proved loyal to the whites, and while they sat
discussing the matter, he caused his men to slip up behind Garra and seize and bind
him, and delivered him to the authorities at Los Angeles. He was brought to San Diego
under guard on January 8th, and a court-martial was assembled for his trial on the
charges of treason, murder, and theft. The board consisted of General Joshua H. Bean,
of Los Angeles, Major Weston, Lieutenant George F. Hooper, Major M. Norton, Captain
T. Tilghman, and Major Santiago E. Argüello. Cave J. Couts was judge advocate, Major
McKinstry counsel for the prisoner, and J. J. Warner interpreter.
In the course of the trial it was brought out that Garra had expected aid from a
number of Californians, but this was doubtless a mere fancy of his own. The courtmartial
took occasion to publish a signed statement that nothing whatever had been
brought out at the trial reflecting upon the men accused. Captain Israel says:
"I never understood Garra very well. With his education, he ought to have known
he would have no chance in fighting the Americans. He had told the Indians he would
turn the bullets into water, and it looked as though he himself believed he could do this,
as he certainly was not afraid of them. While he was in jail here he told me about an Indian
chief, somewhere
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off in the San Bernardino mountains, who, he said, had promised to send him three
hundred warriors. He also accused Argüello and Ortega of promising to help him. If
Argüello ever made any promises of that kind, it must have been when old Antonio had
him scared--Argüello's explanation was that he was trying to find out what the Indians
were up to and that he never promised them any help."
At three o'clock on January 10, 1852, it was announced to Garra that he must
die. Father Juan Holbein remained with him from that hour until the end. At half past
four, the firing squad of ten men paraded before the cell, the provost marshal, Robert D.
Israel, informed Garra that his hour had come, and the march to the grave was begun.
Garra's bearing was cool and he showed a determination to die like a man. The priest
thought his conduct unbecoming, and tried to insist upon his praying all the way. Garra
refused to do this, saying: "What is the use? That is of no account!" The priest stopped
the procession and stood quarrelling with Garra about it, until he gave in and began to
pray. "Then," says Israel, "we found that Garra knew more Latin than the priest did."
This by-play continued all the way, the priest continually insisting upon Garra's praying
and Garra refusing and declaring there was no use in it, but muttering a prayer now and
then to rid himself of his importunities.
Arriving at the open grave, Garra took his station at its head, and then a new difficulty
rose. Father Juan commanded him to ask the pardon of the people assembled;
Garra at first refused, and only after repeated commands and entreaties did he lift his
eyes and say, calmly and with a contemptuous smile: "Gentlemen, I ask your pardon for
all my offenses, and expect yours in return." When a soldier advanced to tie a handkerchief
over his eyes, he laughingly refused to permit it, but at Father Juan's request he
again yielded and allowed his eyes to be bandaged. The provost quickly gave the com-