Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-04-10
gnteresting SkettB,
interview WITH SANTA ANNA.
CALAMAR, New Granada, Jan. ll, 1886.

N 6uIISV V1Iu WIN ~ FINNHi
CALAMAR, New Granada, Jan. II, 1856.
We were disappointed, as is usual in all
Spanish countries, in getting our horses to
leave Carthagena on the evening of the 9Th;
but they arrived during the night, and be-
fore sunrise on the following morning we
were in the saddle. Our baggage was also
placed on the backs of horses and asses; and
as several friends accompanied us few
leagues, cavalcade that looked more like
Chaucer's Canterbury translated into Span
ish, rode forth from the ancient looking city
of Carthagena. We are bound for Bogota,
the capital of New Granada, and our compa-
ny consists of General Mosquera-of whom
I have already spoken-two deputies to Con-
gress from the province, physician, young
gentleman returning home from tour in
Europe, your humble servant, and several
other peoples servants, with the usual at
tendance of couriers and drivers for the bur-
den beasts. Including friends and atten-
dants, there were not less than fifty horse
men in the party; and as we rode through
the city, gathering those who were on the
point of departure, the fair acquaintance of
each waved their handkerchiefs and sped us
on our way with many an adios from the
overhanging balconies. Among the animals
was one little jackass, whose burden to the
unused eye was strange enough. Two strong
ly nailed boxes which he bore carried four
thousand dollars in silver, being a remittance
to some one at Bogota.
A pleasant ride of two hours brought us
to Turbaco, where our friends who were to
return had ordered sumptuous farewell
breakfast. This village, four leagues from
Carthagena, is the present residence of Gen
eral Santa Anna, ex-Dictator of Mexico. At
ter we had duly honored the preparations
which our friends had made for us, and for
which our ride had given US keen appetities,
about dozen of US lighted our segars, and
proceeded to call upon the man who had
played so conspicuous part in Mexican af-
fairs. His house, which is a large one-story
building, in the old Spanish style, with
colonade, carriage entrance and gardens, has
o very agreeable aspect in the midst of the
poor thatched houses of the people among
whom he lives.
We were ushered into the great parlor,
which occupies nearly the front of the house,
and the General was informed of our arrival.
The walls were papered to the height of a.
bout FIVE feet from the floor, with an elegant
French paper, gold figure on blue ground,
with crimson border, and the white space
above was relieved by several colored French
prints in plain frames. A rosewood piano
was standing open, with some loose sheets of
music on it; two or three sofas and dozen
of mahogany cane seat chairs were ranged
around, and across the centre of the room,
between the two great doors, opening one
upon the street and the other upon green
sward court yard, stood, facing each other,
two.rows of arm and rocking chairs, with q
marble top centre table between them, upon
which stood a vase of flowers. The whole
arrangement had an air of quiet simplicity
and tropical comfort that was very pleasing
The ex-Dicator appeared almost immedi
ately. l had known him ten years since, in
Havana, and had expected to find him much
changed, but if there was any alteration il
was for the better. He has all the appear,
ance ola we'll preserved man of fifty, about
five feet ten or eleven inches in height, with
a large robust person, erect and somewhat
rotund his eyes are dark, and the project
ing brow gives them sunken appearance
making their color changeable with the vary
ing light; complexion fine olive, no whisk
ers or moustache, and, with the exception o.
few crows Saet about the corners of the
eyes, no wrinkles are to be seen about hi
face or brow; his hair is of light iron gray
color, but I am told he uses dye for it.
He entered the room slowly, walking with
some apparent labor and quite lamely, using
cane. His dress was that of plain South
ern gentleman; pantaloons Of a small check
ON brown ground; light vest, thin brown
coat, loose neck cloth and we'll made boots
The only ornament was pin of large bril-
liants in his bosom. From his reference t.
dates during the conversation, I deduced hi:
age to ffty-nine, and in reply to the question
he told me that his birthday was the 21st o
February.
He received us with all the stately courte
sy of Spanish Hidalgo of the old school