The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-06-23

peaceful nature and his strength, Is also
told Of Francisco. How true Il is, we can.
not say, but We tell it as It was told to us,
many years ago, while he was still living in
buckingham county, Virginia.
One day while working in his gard n, he
was accosted by a stranger, who rode up to
the fence and inquired Of him If he knew
"whers man by the name Of Francisco
lived"
Raising himself from his work and eyeing
his interrOgaior, who appeared to be one Of
the "half.horse'' "halt alligator" bread Of
kentuckians, he replied, swell, stranger,
l don't know Of any other person by that
name in those parts but myself"
swell, reckon you amt the man want.
| want to find the great fighting man I've
heard SO mu;h about-the fellow they say
can whip all creation and Kentucky TO
boot.
II 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 kcntuckian was not to be 'bluded o6E,. .
a. he would term il, "Look 'ere, stranger
said he, returning to tho charge, "wiHt
might your given name bei" "My nsme Is
Peter Francisco, ct your service"
"Ahl" returned the other, you're just th9
man want to lind, st ths sasAs time ridind
inside the fence, he dismounted aud tisd
snimal--a rough, aasainly Indian popy-
one Of the posts. N
MY name is Big Bill Stokes, all the waj
from Old kentuck. ! ain the KentuckJ
game chicken, am. lean outrun, out hop
out jump, knock down, drug out, and whi6|
any man in all them Gisgings. So, a.
have hearn tell Of fellow down hcreabout
who could whip all crestion, l thought II
saddle old Blossom, and Just see what stu
he's made Of, and here am. And no
stranger, I'm most starved for q fight, a
I'm bound to See who's the best man, befol
60 home. It's all in good feeling, yo
know, and hyou lick inc, why rm sa,is1e|
but
"Stop minute, stranger said Franc
CO; you've mistaken the man entirey-I'
no fighting man at all, and If ! was, II
nothing against you to tight about"
"Weil, don't know; is therd any oth@
Peter Francisco in these partsr"
mo, not that know Of"
swell, then, you're the man and
must fight. I've come all the way fri
Old Kentuck, and aint going back with,
knowing which is the best man"
"But wont fight. I've got nothin6
to fight about, and tell you won't fight /,
"D-d You shan't tight stranger--l'&
bcand to lick you If l can--if don't 8
must lick me-"
| by this time Francisco had become anf
at the importuni.y Of his visitor, and detcl
mined to put an end to the scene Sci1in1
his antagonist therefore by the seat Of
buckskin brceches, aud the collar Of
hunting shirt, he thftw him over the
into the roml. then walking ieisurclj
where his pony was tied, he unflstcned
and taking him up by main strength, Il
| him after his discoun.itted rider.
| The Kcntuckian raised himself from
/ ground, totally dumbioundcd by such 6
| hibtion of strength, aud after rubbing
eyes AS though he thought be might
have seen clearly, lie mounted his
rcmarking, "Weli, stranger reckon
do. reckon it's about time for nd
thee to mako tracks. IF fany body asld
about that great fight. you can tell 'e(
licked Bill Stokes mostly"
/ Francisco was powerful built~