Lucia Zarate stands as the most well-known small person in the annals of littleness. Not since the reign of the Sicilian Fairy, Caroline Crachami, in the 1820's had there been anyone exhibited so tiny and yet so well-proportioned.
Lucia's early childhood is shrouded in mystery. Some say she was born in San Carlos in Northern Mexico. Others, that she hailed from Vera Cruz, which is along the Gulf of Mexico.
She was first brought to the United States in 1876 and was exhibited straighaway in various venues all leading up to her big debut in Philadelphia at the Centennial Exposition, held in celebration of that Nation's first 100 years of Independence.
As was the custom with showmen who exhibited midgets, she was promoted as being older than her years - in her case twelve. Hence, to this day, many biographers believe she was born in 1864. However, she was consistently said to be a year older than her exhibition companion, General Mite, who we know was born in 1872. Thus I believe she was actually born closer to 1870 making her only about 6 yrs old at the start of her brief thirteen-year career.
Lucia then stood about 51cm high, which would be below the knee level of an average-sized American man! It is true that over the years her stature increased but it is probably safe to say that she never exceeded 66cm. in height. |
