Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-30

pHeu, Vcli, stranger, uoll kHoW vi aUy Pei-
son by that name in these parts but myself"
"Well, reckon you amt the man want !
want To find the great fighting man l've heard
tell so much about. The fellow they say can
whip all creation, and Kentucky to boot"
81 can't tell you, stranger, where you'll find
that man, don't know such man." said Fran
cisco, resuming his work as hint to the other
that the conference was ended. But the Ken
tuckian was not 10 be bluffed off, as he would
| term it. "Look 'ere stranger" said he, return
ing to the charge, "what might your given name
2" "My name is Petor Francisco, at your
service"
| "Ah! !" returned the other, "you're just the
man want to find, ;" at the same time riding in
side the fence, he dismounted and tied his animal
"a rough ungainly Indian poney- to one of the
posts. t.
MY name is Big Bill Stockes. all the way
from Old Kenluck. ! am the Kentucky game
chicken, am. can out run. out-hop, t-jump.
knock down. drag out, and whip any man in all
them diggings. So. as hsarn tell Of a fellow
hereabouis who could whip all creation, thought
I'D saddle Old Blossom, and just ride over to SEQ
what stuff he's made Of. and here am. And
now, stranger, Pm most starved for fight, and
Pm bound to see whose the best man, before 60
home Its all in good feeling you know, but if
you lick me, why Pm satisfied. but"
"Stop a minute, stranger" said Francisco,
! "you've mistaken the man entirely, Pm ao fight
ing man at all, and if was, Pvs nothing against
you to fight about"
"Well, don't know is there any other Peter
Francisco in these parts?"
"No. not that know Of"
"Well, then you re the man. and you must fght,
I've come all the way from Old Kentuck, and |
aim, sgong back without knowing which IS the
best man."
'.But won't fight. Pve got nothing to fight
about. and | tell you ,cont fight"
Cd if you shant fight, stranger. Pm
bound to lick you if can, if dom you must lick
me-"
By this time Francisco had become angry at
the importantly OF his visitor, and determined to
put an end to the scene. Seizng his antagonist,
therefore, by the seat of his bucsskin breeches.
and the collar Of his hunting shirt. he threw him
over the fence into the road; then walking lei
surely 20 where his pony was tied, unfssiened
him, and taking him up by main strength, shrew
him after his discomi,ed rider.
| The Kentuckan raised himself from the eground
perfectly DUN founded by such an exhibition Of
strength, and. sfler rubbing his eyes, as thong he
thought he might not have seen clearly he noun
tod his pony, reu,arking: "W ell stranger,
reckon you'll do. | reckon its about time for me
to make tracks. Ifanybody asks you about the
great fight, you can tell 'sm you licked BlStokes
most---ly."
| Francisco was a powerfully built man, standing
six feet and one inch in height, and weighing
two hundred and sixty pounds. His muscular
System was extraordinarily developed, and he had
been known to shoulder with ease cannon weigh
ing eleven hundred pounds; and gentleman OF
| undoubed veracity. still living in Virginia, who
| knew him well, says: "He could take lne in his
rlgh. hand and pass over the room with me, playing
my head against the ceiling as though had been
a doll baby. NV weight was hundred and
NINETY. five pounds" HE wife, who was woman
Of good size and fair proportions, he would take in
his right hand, and holding her out at arms length,
would pass around the with her. and carry her
up and down stairs in that position. He would lake
q barrel of cider by the chimes. and holding it to
his mouth, would drink from the bung long and
hearty draught without any apparent exerIlon.
Yet with all his strength he was very peace
| fully disposed man, and never made use of his
power, except in case Of necessity about his usual
vocatnns or in defence of the right. On occasions
Of outbreaks at public gatherings, no was 6stter at
| rushing in and preserving the public peace than
all the conservative authorities On the ground
| Although uneducated, he was man Of str"ng
natural sense. and of kind, amiable disposition
He was wiihal companiouable man, and his an
ecdotes and stories Of the war, Of which he pos
sessed rich fund. rendered him welcome guest
in the first families of the State. His industrloss
and temperate habits, together with his kind dis
position. made him many friends. and through
their influence he was appointed Sergeant alarms
of the Virginia House Of Delegates. in which ser
vice he died in 1886. and WAS buried with militia
ry honors in the public buryag ground at Rich
mond.