Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-05-24

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peaceful nature and his strength, lis also told
of Francisco. How true it is, we cannot 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 garden, he
was accosted by stranger, who rode up 10
the fence and inquired if he knew where a
man by the name of Francisco lived
Rising himself from his work and eyeing
his interrogation, who appeared to be one of
the 'halfhorse, halt-alliga;or' breed of Ken
tuckians, he replied, well, stranger, don't
know of any other person by that name in
these parts but myself
well, reckon you amt the man l want
l want 10 find the great fighting man I've
heard so much about. The fellow, they say,
can whip all creation and Kentuck to boot
Il can't tell you, stranger, where you'll
find that man; don't know such man, said
Francisco, resuming his work as a hint to the
other that the conference was ended But
| the Kentuckian was not to be bluffed, as he
would term it.
Look ere, stranger said he, returning to
the charge; 'what might your given name be q
MY name is Peter Francisco, at your ser
vice.
'Ah!' returned the other, you're just the
man want to fnd' AT the same time rid
ing inside the fence, he dismounted and tied
!
his auimal-a rough ungainly Indian pony
to one of the posts.
: My name is Big Bill Stokes, all the way
from old Kentuck. l am the Kentucky game
chicken, | am. can out-run, out-hop, out
jump, knock down, drag-out, and whip any
man in all them diggings. So, as 1 hearn
tell of fellow down hereabouts who could
whip all creation, thought I'd saddle old
Blossom, and just ride over and see what stuff
he's made of, and here / am. And now,
stranger, I'm most starved for fight, and I'm
bound to see who is the best man before | 60
It's all in good feeling, you know, and if you
lick me, why I'm satisfied, but
stop minute, stranger said Francis
co, 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 Francisco in these parts1'
mo, not that know Of
sWell, then, you re the man, and YOU must
fight. I've come all the way from old Ken
tuck, and | amt going back without know
ing which is the best man.
But won't fight. I've got nothing to
fight about; and tell you ,oont fight
'Darned if you shan't fight, stranger-I'm
bound TO lick you if | can-if don't you must
lick me-
By this time Francisco had become angry
at the importantly of his visitor, and deter
mined to put an end to the scene. Selling
his antagonist by the seat of his buckskn
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, hre,0 him after his discom-
flied rider.
The Kentuckian raised himself from the
ground. perfectly dumbfounded by such an ex-
hibiton of strength. as though he thought he
might not have seen clearly; he mounted the
pony, remarking, well, stranget, reckon
you'll do. | reckon it's about time for me to
make tracks. If anybody asks you about that
great fight, you can tell em you licked Bill
Stokes most confoundedly.'
Francisco was powerfully built man,
standing 6 feet and l inch in height, and
weighing 26I pounds. His muscular system
was extraordinarily developed, and he had
been known to shoulder with ease a cannon
weighing l100 lbs, and gentleman of un-
doubted veracity, (still living in Virginia, J
who knew him we'll, says, 'he could take me
In his right hand and pass over the room with
] me, playing my head against the ceiling, as
though had been doll baby MY weight
was 1875 pounds His wife, who was a
woman cf good size, and fair proportions, he
would take in his right hand, and holding her
out at arms length, would pass around the
! AOoih win hOiJ anu CdlI HSI uP anu -uOWn
stairs in that position. He would take bar
rel of cider by the chimes, and holding it to
his mouth, would drink from the bung, long
and hearty draught without any apparent ex-
ertion.
Yet, with all his strength, he was a very
peaceably disposed man, and never made use
of his power, except in case of necessity,
about his usual vocations, or in defence of the
right. On occasions of outbreak at public
gatherings, he was better at rushing in and
preserving the peace than all the conservative
authorities on the ground. Although unedn-
Gated, he was man of strong natural sense
and of a kind and amiable disposition He
was withal q companionable man, and his an
ecdotes and stories of the war, of which he
possessed rich fund, rendered him wei
come guest in the first families OF the State
His industrious and temperate habits, together
with his kind disposition, made him many
friends, and through their influence he wa.
appointed Sergeant-at-arms of the Virginia
House Of Delegates, in which service he died
IN 1885, and was buried with military honor
AZ me public burying ground at Richmond.
man undertook to make pair of trace