The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-06-26
SANTA ANNA's LEG.
The Lost Limb of the Old Dictator
Rescued by an officer and Returned
by a Lady-Fallen Greatness
Seeking Grave in Mexico.

0c6ktuE q 0taV0 III AAAoAiCOs
| General Santa Anna having re
sumed his residence in the city {
| Mexico, a correspondent of Sa
Francisco paper interviewed him q
his residence in the Gale Vergara
The correspondent writes
Having been well acquainted witt
this prominent man when at tn,
height of power in 1856, and on thu
point of placing crown on his head
| was struck with the difference o
now and then. At that time thu
streets were crowded to look at thu
Su alteza, when driving with a large
escort to the Pasoe. and now / founc
Don Antonio Lopez living in the
plainest style, an old man, withou,
ambition, his face full of wrinkles
but still marching pretty erect, in
spite Of his artificial leg. Though
approaching the age Of eighty years,
his black, though scaniy hair, and
his whole appearance, is that of q
man Of sixty. Gen. Miguel And
rode had the kindness to present me
again to his fallen greatness he res
ceived me and several other visitors
without any ceremony, and made us
sit down near him; to an invalid Of
ficer he gave a tender abrago, calling
him mi veterano, and inquired after
old companions in arms, many Of
whom had died already.
~ have returned to Mexico" he
said, "because my native country
has too much attraction for me."-
When | was asked abroad, "Why
do you long for your ungrateful
countrymen ~ l answered that
wanted to be buried where my lost
foot was resting, | now feel as if !
had come to foreign land. Already
at Vera Cruz; when asking for an
oldIfriend, Twas invariably answered
dead = A whole generation has
passed over me; and, like the sands
on the desert, tho years are heaped
on my head. | met on the road an
old man with white beard, who
was my god child, and whom I held
in my arms when christenad in 1922.
| have become a stranger to al par
ties. I have no ambition. fSaRl
astonished at everything ! now see
in this country, but ! hope yet to
find a last resting place p
His accent sounds rather strange
and antiquarian; but still gives evil
dence of natural eloquence. He
then told us the curious story about
his leg, and in the following words
Regarding my foot, | must men.
ton that | believed it lost when the
rabble took it from the toomb on the
9th of December, 184l, and dragged
it through the streets; but yesterday
a lady came to see me, telling me
that her husband, who was an old
ColonelaOf the Mexican army, had
preserved it and recommended her
to return it to me if | should ever
come back to Mexico. / am expect
ing this gift to-day at noon. con-
slider this conduct the more praises
worthy because the gift might have
been made in 1862, when was
President; but then such action
would have been considered an adu-
lation."
When asked how he felt, Santa
Anna answered that, in spite Of his
seventy six years, which he reached
on the 21st Of February, he did not
feel yet like dying; that his intelIi-
gence was prompt, his memory good,
and that in writing his own life (of
which fifty-four sheets were finished
already he had consulted no docu-
ment. Everything is right here"
he said, striking his head, shut the
want Of a leg makes me thirty years
older than I feel. still remember
that, in 1920, DR.. Mouteogudo made
me swear on the Bible--in Tampa
street, No. 24--to fight for the indie
pendence Of New Spain. then left
for Vera Cruz, collected at Soledad
/ 800 parochos, 276 infantry and one
field piece--this made me man"
He had scarcely finished these
words when the lady arrived with
the promised foot. DR.. An1onio
opened the box and examined lie
relic with interest. The foot was
perfectly mumifed, but well con-
served.
The interview ceased shortly after,
and | was highly pleased in renew
ing the acquaintance Of a man who,
in spite Of his many errors and acts
Of cruelty, proves about the only
man who knew how to preserve order
and govern this country. / hope
that Congress will restore to him
part of his confscated estates, or at
least give him a decent pension.
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