Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-05-16

TIE SAMSON OF TIE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

lttie OF the = VI eSfern Samson" III knew
nothing of bis birth or parentage, but sup
posed he was born In Portugal. from
whence be was stolen when a child and
carried to Ireland His earliest recollec
tions were those of boyhood in the latter
country While yet lad, be apprenticed
himself 10 sea captain for seven years.
IN pay for q passage to this country On
his arrival, his time and services were
sold TO Mr. Winston, Of Virginia. in
whose services be remained until the
breaking out of the Revolution. Being
of an adventurous turn of mind. l. sought
and obtained permission of his master to
join the army and was engaged in active
service during the whole contest Such
was his strength and personal bravery.
that no enemy could resist him He
welded a sword, the blade cf which was
five feet in length. as though it had been
a feather, and every one who came In con-
tact with him paid the forfeit of his life
At Stoney Point, he was one of the q for
lorn hope" which was advanced TO cut
away the abatis. and next to Major Glib
bon. was the first man to enter the works
At BrandYwine and Monmouth. be exhi-
bited the most fearless bravery. and no
thing but his inability to write. prevented
his promotion TO commission Trans
/ ferred to the south. he took part in m9st
Of the engagements in that section, aud
towards the close of the war be was en-
gagged in contest which exhibited in
striking manner. his self confidence and
/ courage
Ou= day, while reconnoitering. he stop
ped At the house Of man by the name of
W, to refresh himself Whilst at tie
table he was surprised by nine British
/ troopers, who rode up TO the house and
told him be was their prisoner Seeing
+ that he vas SO greatly outnumbered, be
pretended to surrender and the Dragons
seeing be was apparently very peacefully
/ incliued, after disarming him, allowed him
considerable freedom, while they sat down
to partake of the food which be had left
+ when disturbed Wandering out into the
/ door-yard, he was accosted by the Pay
master. who demanded of him everything
OF value about him, at the risk of his lie,
+ In case of refusal
have nothing to give" said Francis
/ co, . SO use your pleasure"
Give up those massive silver buckles
in your shoes" said the dragoon.
They were the gift of friend re
I piled Francisco, and give them to you
| never shall take them If you viii, you
/ have the power, bat l never Will give them
to any one"
Putting his sabre under his arm. the
soldier stopped down to take them Fran
cisco. seeing his opportunity. which was
+ too good TO be lost, seized the SWORD, and
drawing it with force from under the arm
of the soldier. dealt him severe blow
across the skull. Although severely woun-
ded. yet being a brave man, the Gragoon
drew pistol aud aimed it at his antaro-
/ mist, who was too quick for him. however.
and as he pulled the trigger, blow from
/ the sword nearly severed his wrist. and
7 placed him hors G3x c0nlbdt The report
/ of the pistol drew out the other dragons
! into the yard. as well as W, who very
ungeuerously bTopght out musket, which
he handed to one OF the soldiers, aud told
/ him to make use Of It Mounting the
only horse he could get AZ. he presented
the muzzle al tue breast of Francisco, and
pulled the trigger. Fortunately it missed
FIRE. aud Francisco closed in upon him
/ A short struggle eusued, which ended in
his disarming and wouD2ing the soldier.
Tarletons troop Of four hundred men
were now in sight aud the other dragons
were about to attack him. Seeipg his
case was desperate, he turned toward an
adjoining thicket. and as if cheering on
party of men. be cried out, Come on. my
brave boys: now's your time; We will
soon dispatch these few and then attack
/ the main body I" at the same time rush
ing at the dragons with the fury Of an
enraged tiger.
& "a - ttr Efn-
/ fed precipitately to the troop, panic
struck and dismayed Seizing upon the
! traitorous villain, W, Francisco was
about to dispatch him, but he begged and
plead so hard for bis life. that he forgave
him. and told him to secrete for him the
I eight horses which the soldiers had left
behind them Perceiving that Tarleton
had dispatched two other dragons IN
search Of him he made off into the ad-
/ joining wood, aud while they stopped al
/ the house, he, like an old fox. doubled
upon their rear, and successfully cFaded
their vigilance. The next day he went to
W for his horses. who demanded two
! OF them for MS services and generous IN
tentions Finding his situation danger
Gus. and surrounded by enemies. where
/ be sho Id have found friends, Francisco
was compelled to make the best of 1t. AID
left with SIX horses, intending TO revenge
himself upon W at future time !;
but" as he said. :. Providence ordained
shat | should not be bis executioner, for
be broke his neck By fall from ene Of
those very horses"
Many other anecdotes are told Of Fran
cisco illustrative Of his immense strength
and personal prowess. AT Camden, where
Gates was defeated, be rel.eated, aud af-
ter running along road some distance.
he sat down to rest himself He vas sud
denly accosted by British Dragon, vino
presented pistol and demanded his i'm
mediate surrender His gun being emp
lty. he feigned submission. and said he
would surrender, at the same time remark
| ing that his gun was of no further use t.
him. be presented it sideways TO the
trooper. who IN reaching for ii threw blm
self of his guard. when Francisco. qaics
a. .honght rnn him through With his ba