15. A Dying Pancho Villa Couldn’t Think of Any Memorable Last Words, So He Asked His Followers to Make Up Some
Francisco “Pancho” Villa was a Mexican bandit who became one of the major players and military leaders during the Mexican Revolution of 1910 – 1920. Initially supported by the US government, he became governor of the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, before a falling out with his allies, coupled with a withdrawal of American support, reduced his power and forced him back into banditry. Feeling betrayed by the US, he raided the American town of Columbus, New Mexico, in 1916, which triggered the Pancho Villa Expedition – a failed American attempt to capture him.
Evading the gringo pursuers cemented Villa’s place as a Mexican folk hero. He stayed on the run, until 1920, when he cut a deal with the Mexican government to lay down his arms in exchange for an amnesty and a 25,000 acre hacienda. In 1923, he declared his bid to run for president, only for his car to get ambushed and shot up soon thereafter. Fatally wounded, a dying Villa figured that a life as interesting as his should end with an interesting final statement. However, he couldn’t think of anything memorable, so his last words as he expired were: “Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something!“
