Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-24

his situation dangerous and surrounded by
enemies, where he ought to have found
friends, Francisco was compelled to make
the best of it, and left with his six horses,
intending to revenge himself upon W
at future time, 'sbut,'' as he said. ..Prov-
idence ordained that should not be his
executioner, for he broke his neck by a
fall from one of the very horses
Many other anecdotes are told of Fran
cisco, illustrative of his immense strength
and personal prowess. AT Camden, where
Gates was defeated, he retreated, and af-
ter running along a road some distance,
he sat down to rest himself. He was sud-
denly -accosted by British dragoon, who
presented pistol and demanded his i'm
mediate surrender. His gun being emp
ty, he feigned submission, and said he
would surrender, at the same time remark.
ing that his gun was of no further use to
him, he presented it sideways othe troop
er, who in reaching for it threw himself off
his guard, when Francisco, quick as
thought ran him through with the bayo-
net, and as he fell from his horse, he noun
ted him and continued his retreat. Over
taking his commanding officer, Colonel
Mayo, of Powhattan, he gave him up the
animal, for which act of generosity the
colonel afterwards presented him with a
thousand acres of land in Kentucky.
The following anecdote exemplifying
his peaceful nature and his strength, is al
so told OF Francisco. How true it is, we
cannot say, but we tell ita it was told tous,
many years ago, while he was still living
in Buckingham county, Virginia.
One day while working in his garden,
he was acosted by a stranger who rode up
to the fence and inquired of him if he knew
''where man by the name of Francisco
lived"
Raising himself from his work, and
cycling his interrogation, who appeared to
be one of the ''half-horse- -half-alligator'
breed of Kentuckians, he replied, "Well
stranger, don't know of any other person
by that name in these parts but myself
'sWell, reckon you amt the man l
want. I want to find the great fighting
man I've heard tell SO much about The
fellow they say can whip all creation and
Kaintuck to boot"
81 can't tell you, stranger, where you'll
find that man, don't know such man,"
said Francisco, resuming his work as
hint to the other that the conference was
ended. But the Kentuckian was not to be
blufed off as he would term it. 'sLook
ere, stranger" said he, returning to the
charge, "what might your given name beg"
"My name is Peter Francisco, at your
service"
"Ah!" returned the other, "you're just
the man / want to find,' at the same time
riding inside the fence, he dismounted and
tied his ANIMAL rough ungainly Indian
poney-to one of the posts.
ssMy name is Big Bill Stokes, all the
way from Old Kentuck. am the Ken
lucky game chicken, am. I can out-rm
out hop, out-jump, knock down, drag out,
and whip any man in all them diggings.
So, as hearn tell of a fellow down here
abouts who could whip all creation,
thought I'd saddle old Blossom, and just
ride over to see what stuff he's made of, and
here am. And now, stranger, I'm most
starved for a fight, and I'm bound to see
who's the best man, before go home. Its
all in good feeling you know, and if You
lick me, why I'm satisfied, but"
''Stop minute, stranger said Fran
cisco, ''you've mistaken the man entirely. |
I'm no fighting man at all, and If was,
I've nothing against you to fight about"
"Well, don't know; is there any other
Peter Fransisco in these partsz'
ssNo, not that know off,
s.Well, then, you're the man. and you
must fight. I've come all the way from
Old Kentuck, and I amt a-going back
without knowing which is the best man"
.sBut won't fight. I've got nothing to
fight about. and l tell sou 'front.' .fgdr
"D-d if You shan't fight, stranger,
I'm bound to lick you if I can. if I don't
you must lick me-
By this time Francisco had become an
CRY at the importantly of his visitor, and
determined to put an end to the scene
Seizing his antagonist therefore by the seat
of his buckskin breeches, and the collar of
his hunting shirt, he threw him over the
fence into the road; then walking leisurely
to where his pony was tied, he unfastened
him, and taking him up by main strength,
threw him after his diseomftted rider.
The Kensuckian raised himself from
the ground, perfectly dunb-founded by such