Wenceslao Moguel Herrera (1 November 1896[1] – 29 July 1976), known in the press as El Fusilado (Spanish: "The Shot One"[a]), was a Mexican soldier under Pancho Villa who was captured on 18 March 1915 during the Mexican Revolution, and survived execution by firing squad.[2][3][4]
Wenceslao Moguel | |
|---|---|
 Moguel c. 1940 | |
| Born | Wenceslao Moguel Herrera November 1, 1896 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico |
| Died | (aged 79) Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico |
| Other names | El Fusilado |
| Occupation | Handyman |
He was sentenced to death without a trial, and was shot 8–9 times in the body. He received the coup de grâce, or one final shot to the head at point-blank range to ensure death, yet managed to survive, though he was permanently scarred and disfigured by the event.[4][2]
Stories differ as to how he survived. Some sources suggest that he was rescued: "The next day Moguel was found unconscious among the dead bodies of his comrades. He was given medical attention and recovered."[2] Others state that he escaped on his own and received care afterwards: "[Moguel] crawled away to the church of St. James Apostle three blocks away where a church member found him and took him home until he recuperated."[4]
Moguel appeared on the Ripley's Believe It or Not! radio show on July 16, 1937.[5] He is the focus of a song, titled El Fusilado, by British anarchist band Chumbawamba. It appears on their thirteenth studio album. This song was covered by The Longest Johns in 2023.
Notes edit
- ^ Ripley's Believe it or Not! incorrectly translated "El Fusilado" as "The Executed One"
References edit
- ^ "Wenceslao Moguel Herrera, "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b c "The Evening Independent". June 28, 1935. p. 10.
- ^ Pacheco, Edgar A. Santiago (2020-11-04). "Los libros del fusilado de Halachó". Informe Fracto (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ a b c mexicomystic (21 August 2014). "The Firing Squad". Mexico Mystic's Blog – Expat In Tlaxcala. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- ^ "The Free Lance-Star". July 16, 1937. p. 5.
Bibliography edit
- Wenceslao Moguel. El milagro del Santo de Halachó, o Historia de un Fusilado. – Merida, 1967. – 186 pp.