Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-07-28


US many years ago. while he was still liy-
ing in Buckingham county.
One day while working in his garden he
was accosted by stranger. who rode up to
the fence and inquired il he knew where a
man by the name Of Francisco lived?
Raising himself up from his work, and
cycling his interrogation, who appeared to
be one Of th, 'half.horse, hali-alligator'
breed of kcntuckians. he replied, We'll,
stranger, don't know of any persons in
these parts but myself
We'll, reckon you amt the man I'm
after. l want to lind the great fighting
msn I've heard tell so much about. The
ieller. they say, can whip all creation and
old kentuck to boot
Il can't tell you stranger where you will
find that man. don't know such a man,
SAID t'rancisco-resuming his work as a
hint to the other that the conference was
ended, but the keatuckian was not to be
blutied oil, as he wauld term it. Look
ERE, stranger, said he, returning to the
charge, what might your name be p
My name is Peter Francisco, at your
service
'Ah = returned the other you're Just the
MN l wan'tto find,' at the same time rid
ins inside the fence, he dismounted and
tie the animal-a rough, ungainly Indian
pony to one Of the posts.
My name is Big till Stokes, all the
way from Old kentucll. | am the Ken
tucky game chicken, | am. | can ont
run, out-hop, outjump, knock-down,
drag-out, and whip any man in all them
diSgngs SO, as | heard tell of fellow
down hereabouts who could whip all crea
ton, l thought I'd saddle Oil Blossom,
and just ride over and see what stuff he's
made of, and herol am. And now, stran-
ger I'm most starved for fight, and am
boun to See who is the rest man before |
go home. Its all in good feeling you
know; and if you lick me, why, I'm salts
fed. 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 you
about
We'll, l don't know, is there any other
Peter Francisco in these parts?'
'No-rot that | know Of
well then, you're the man, and you
must fight. I've come all the way from
Oldkent lck, and amt agoing back with.
out knowing which is the best man.
But wont fight. I've got nothing to
fight about, and l tell you l won't light.
Darn'd if you shan't fight stranger
I'm bound to lick you if l can; if DOM
yon must lick me-
BY this tim, Francisco had become an.
gry at the importantly of his visitor, and
determined to put an end to the scene
Selling his antagonist, therefore, by the
scat 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 poncy was tied, he unfastenec
him, and taking him up by main strength
threw him after his discomfited rider.
The kcntuckian raised himself from thu
ground, perfectly dumfounded bv such :
exhibition of strength, and, after rubbing
his eyes as though he might have ot seeI
clearly, he mounted the pony-remarking
well, stranger, l reckon you'll do,
reckon it's about time for me to max,
tracks. If any body asks you about tina
great fight, you can tellem you licked Bill
Stokes most confoundedly.'
Francisco was a powerful built man
stand ng six feet and one inch in height
: weighing 200 pounds. His muscular sys
tenn was extraordinarily developed, ard b
had been known to shoulder with ease
cannon weighing 1,1OOO pounds, and
gentleman ofundoubted veracity, still liv
ing in Virginia, who knew him we'll says
he could take me-playing my heae
against the ceiling as though Ihad been
doll baby. My weight was 1876 pounds
His wife, who was woman of good siz
and fair proportions, he would take in hi
right hand, and, holding her out at arm
length would pass around the room will
her and carry her up and down stats il
this position. He would take barrel o
cider by the chimes, and, holding it to hi
E mouth would drink from the bung lon.
and hearty draught without any apparell
exertion.
Yet with all his strength he was YER,
peacefully disposed man, and never mad
use OF his power except in case of necessit,
about his usual vocations or defense of th
right. On occasions of outbreaks at pub
Tic gatherings, he was better at rushing il
and preserving the public peace than al
the conservative authorities on the ground
Although uneducated he was withal
companionable man, and his anecdotes
and stories of war, of which he possessed ,
rich fund, rendered him a welcome CUES
IN the first families OF the State. His in
dustrlous and temperate habits, togethe
with his kind disposition. made him man,
friends; and through their influences he wa.
appointed Sergeant alarms of the Virgin
ia House of Delegates, in which services h,
died in 1886 He was buried with militia
ry honors in the public burial ground al
Billy, my boy said short sighted
and rather Incorporate father to his son.
bright eyed little fellow of about five sum