The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-05-01
ROMANCE OF HISTORY.
TWO YEARS IN THE LIFE OF SANTA ann

ROMANCE OF HISTORY.
TWO YEARS IN THE LIFE OF SANTA ANNA.
IL was IN ,ne beginning Oi August, 1916,
that The American fleet lay safely sheltered
under the green Isle Of Sacri6cos. The
tropical sun poured lis fierccsi rays upon the
tre.liaged ocean, whose unrippIed surface
stretched on one side beyond the range of
mortal ken, whilst on the other side, the
white surf became so blended with the snowy
coast, thai the naked eye was PANIED in de
| fining the limit of the sea and the land But
looming up in The distance, in cold and sol.
emn grandeur, is the venerable, clond-cap
Tor many days is wont TO gladden. The hear
If the ,empesi-iossed mariner, with the hope
ut soon lreading once more bis mother earth.
Aud far beneath and nearer, on coral isle.
IS the lrowIng castle Of San Juan, keeping
ward upon The barber of The ''Iovely city OF
Vera Cruz" and with its two hundred guns
grnning fierce defiance at its gallant Toes
But daunrIess, yet imp aiien, of their long
queiude, Those gallant ships never relaxed
,heir vigilance nor changed their position, in
spite of The peIils to which they were hour.
ly exposed. The force, order and discipline
were pla My marked in the appearance and
condition of that feet. Their duty was Ia
cot off all intercourse with the port Of the ad
versary, and faithfully and laboriouslJ did
hey meet its acquisitions.
u was late IN tie evening, near sunset
when the sentinel on one Of the ships sta.
Toned farihesi out 10 sea, deserted The smoke
nf a steamer in The distance. lie informed
the officer Of the day OF The fact, and as he
steamer approached preparations were made
FIR boarding her. Presently she stood to.
blowing off her steam, and awaited the ar.
rival of the boaI, which soon came alongside
A Lieutenant and two NJ dshpmen then
stepped out ot the boat, assembled the gang
way, aud were received aboard The steamer
with the customary saluies. Escorted into
he cabin, the American officers were inlru
daced TO circle of gentlemen whose coun-
ienances wore an expression Of much ankle
iy and oppression. They wee gentlemen
whose dark visage, large black eyes and
muslaches belokened their Spanish origin,
whilst lh-ir dress, caring and minners plain.
~ showed that they were men of conse-
quence aud position. But one, prominent
above others, allrac,ed the attention Of The
Americans by bis impressive air and com.
handing cuunienance. lie was man of
The ordinary height ard size, and though
pl inly dressed, was obviously looked up ia
by the Others as their chief aud leader. Aud
truly his per-onal appearance entitled him
To be SO regarded, Tor his face aud figure
were those ut MN of high Character, supe-
rior intellect, aud soaring amhiIiun.
"Al!ow me, gentlemen" remarked the
captain o { The steamer, "io introduce to you
i.n Antonio L"pez de S,n,a Anna, aud
su'e." In spite of the habtual selI.com
msnd and sang froid incident to The life and
habits uf our naval officers, The American
lnvolunlanly drew buck IN establishment and
emb lrassneni, at the men ion oil The name
If tins nOled Mexican chief But from this
they were soon relieved by the graceful and
easy address Of the General, Who arose and
advanced towards them, slluiing them in a
sery cordial manner. Alter The interchange
i compliments, the Americans were abonl
10 retire TO make their repor, when an elegant
nd magnIticenly alfred young lady, in The
bloorn of youthful beauty, aud sparkling will,
diamonds and rich ornaments, entered The
cabin, and was presented To them as the Sc
nora Santa Anna. Our officers fingered for
MON eni To survey the charms of ibis love
y lady, whose laughing, happy face, deep
blue eyes, and auburn ringIeis, transported
their hearts aud meInories tar away TO their
own distant homes, frightened 10y the smiles
of their loved wives aud sweeihearis of the
Saxon blood and feature.
But remembering iheu duties. our officers
gu ckly retired 10 report 10 their comm ,nder !;
,nd soon their boat was rapid, c'eaving the
sa'er towards The fig ship Of the fleet. H.
he mean lime the steamer stood quiell,
waiting The result Of this report. On The
popp OF the Il 'g-ship stood the worn figure
ii the Commodore Of our feet, whose coun-
enance, wrinkled by care aud disease, was
fixed with great interest upon the foreign
steamer. The officers who had boarded her
approached and made their report. The
CommodoIe retired for moment, To his room.
nd then, after cautiously inspecting Certain
documents which he seemed 10 have pre-