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

Eater Fra,cisco, tho sampson OF the wsst.
ern Hemisphere.
As late as the year 1886, there lived in Vir,
oiuis man whose strength was 80 remarkable
As TO win him the title of the Virginia Samp
.on.u He knew nothing Of his birth OF parent
soe. but supposed he was born in Portugal, from
whence he was stolen when child, and carried
to ireland. His earliest recollections were thUss
of boyhood in the latter country. While yet 4
lad, he spprenticsd himself to sea captain, fol
seven years. in payment tor passage to this
couutry. Oa his arrival, his time aud services
were soId TO Mr.. Winston, of Virginia, in
whose services he remained until the breaking ouI
of the Revolution. Being OF an adventurous torn
of mind he sought and obtained permission of his
master to join the army, and was engaged IN ac-
tive service during the whole contest Such was
his strength and personal bravery, that no enemy
could resist him. He welded sword, the blaos
of which was i've feet in length, as though it had
been feather, and every one who came in CON
tact with HIN paid The forfeit OF his lite. At Sto-
nv Point he " as one Of the ''forlorn hope" which
was advanced 20 cut away the abattls, and, next
TO Major Gibhon. was the first man to enter the
works. At Brandywine aud Monmouth he ex-
hibted the most fearless bravery, and nothing but
his inability TO write, prevented his promotion to
q commission. Transferred to the South, he took
part in most of the engagements IN that section
and towards the close of the war, he was engaged
in contest which exhibited in striking man.
aer, his remarkable self confidence and courage.
One day. while reconnoilsring, he stopped al
the house of man by the name OF W.. to
refresh himself. While at the table, he was sur
prssd BY nine British troopers, who rode up TO
the house, aud told him hs was their prisoner
Seeing that he was 80 greatly outnumbored, he
pretended To surrender, and the dragoons seeing
ne was apparently very peacefully inclined, after
disarming him, allowed him considerable freedom
while they sat down to psrake ot the food which
ha had lett when disturbed Wandering out int
the door yard, he was accoSted by the Paymaster.
who demanded Of hin everything ot value about
him at the risk OF his life, IN of refusal. 81
have nothing to give" said Francisco, $50 ust
your pleasure" "Give up those massive silver
buckles in your shoes, said the dragoon They
were the gift of friend" replied Francisco
land give them to you never shall {; take them
il you will you have the power but never will
gius them to any one." Putting his sabre under
his arm, the soldier stopped down to take them
Francisco seeing the opportunity, which was to-
good TO Os lost, sezed the sword, and drawing u
with force from under tbs arm OF ihe soldier, dealt
him severe blow across the skull. Although Sc
yerely wounded, yet being brave man, the dra
ooou drew pistol and aimed il at his antagonist
who was too quick for him, however, and a. he
pulled the trigger blow of the sword nearly sev-
cred his wrist and placed him hor, du combat
The report of the pistol drew the other dragoons
into the yard as well as w., who very un
generously brought out musket, which he hand
cd to nae of the soldiers, and Told him 10 max,
use of it. Mounting the only horse they coule
gst at, he presented the muzzle at the breast o
Franc sco and pulled the trigger. Fortunately
it missed fire, aud Francisco closed in upon him
A short struggle ensued, which ended in his dis
arming aud woundiug the soldier. Tareton,
troop Of four hundred neA were now In sight, and
the other Dragons were about to attack him
Seeing his case was desperate he turned toward
on adjoining thcket, and as if fcheering on party
ofmen he cried out, ''Coms ou. my brave
boys uow's your time; we will soon dispatch thesf
few. and then attack the main body!n at the same
time rushing at the Dragons with the fury Of al
euraged tiger,
They did not wait to engage him, but fled pre-
cIpitaey 10 the troops, panic struck aud dlsinay'
ed. Seizing upon the tratorous villain W., Fran.
cisco was about To dispatch hm, but he begged
and plead so hard for his life, that he torgave him
aud iuld him 10 secrete for him the eight horses
which the sodiers had left behind them. Perceiy-
ing that Tarlton had dispatched two other dra
guons in search Of him, he made of into the ad
joining wood, and while they stopped at ibe house
he, like an old fox. doubled upon thelE rear, and
successfully eluded their vigilance. The ne3
day he went to w. for his nurses ne demanded
two of them for his service. aud generous nten-
tious. Finding his situation dangerous, and sur
rounded by eGeinies, where he ought to have
found friends, Francisco was compelled to make
the best of it, and left with his SIX horses, intend
ing to revenge himself upon W at fu
turs time, but" as ne said, Providence ordaip-
ed that ne should not be his executioner, for he
broSe mis- neck by fall from one Of the very hor-
ess"
Many other anecdotes are told of Francisco, H.
Illustrative of his immense strength and personal
prowsss. At Camden ,whereG ates was defeated
he retreated, and after running along the road
some distance, he sat down TO rest himself. he
was suddenly accosted by British dragoon, who
presented pistol and demanded an Immediate
surrender. HIS gun being empty, he fegned sub
mission, and said he would surrender, at the same
tine remarang that his qua was no further use
20 him, he presented it sideways 10 The trooper
wbo in reaehlsg for it threY himself off his guard
when FranclscO, quick as th0ught,fan him through
with the bayonet, and, as he fell from his horse
ne mounted him and continued his retreat. Over
taking his commanding officer. Col, Mayo, o.
Powhauan, he gave up the animal. for which ac
of gener ty the Colonel afterwards presented hin
with thousand acres of land IN Kentucky.
The following aReedOte exempfying his peace
ful nature and his strength, Is also told of Fran
cisco. How true it is, we cannot say ,out we tel
it as it was told to US many years ago. while h'
vas living in Buckingham county, Virginia:
One day while working in his garden, he wa
accosted by stronger who rode up to the fence
and inquired of him if he knew "where map b.
the name Of Francisco lived %
Raising himself from his work, and ey.iag hi