Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-07-05

man H. Ill tutuI ulSSihSo' Nv %
hearn tell of fellow down hereaEouts
who could whip all creation, | thought
Ia 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 fora fight, and Pm
bound to see who's the best man be-
fore go home. It's all in good feel
ing, you know, and if you lick me,
why I'm satisfied, but"
.Stop a minute, stranger" said
Francisco, you've mistaken the man
entirely; I'm no fighting man at all,
and if | was, I've nothing against you
to fight about"
ssWeH, I don't know; is there any
Other Peter Francisco in these parts?"
tsNo, not that [ know Of"
"Well, then, you're the man, and
you must fight. I've come all the
way from old Kentuck, and | amt
going back without knowing which is.
the best man.
aBut / won't fight. I've got moth
ing to fgbt about, and | tell you |
won't fight" I"
"Darn'd if.you shan't fight, stran-
ger-I'm bound to lick you if I can
If I cant you must lick me-"
By this time Francisco had become
angry at the importantly Of. his visi-
tor, and determined to put an end to
the scene. Saizing his antagonist by
the seat of bis buekskin breeches and
the collar of his hunting-shirt, he
threw him over the fence into the
road; then walking leisurely to where
bis pony was ted, he unfasGened him,
and taking him by main strength,
threw him aft5r his discomftted II.
der.
The Kentuckian raised himself
from the ground, perfectly dumbfound-
ed by such an exhibition of strength,
as though he thought he might not
have seen clearly. He mounted his
pony, remarlxing: "WeIL stranger, /
reckon you'll do Ireckon it's about
time for me to make tracks. Ii any
body asks you about that great fight,
YOU can tell 'em you licked Bill
Stokes most confoundedly."
Francisco was powerful built man,
standing six feet and one inch IN
height, and weighed two hundred
and siixty-one pounds. His muscu-
lar system was extraordinarily deVel-
oped and he had been known to
shoulder with ease a cannon weighing
eleven hundred pounds, and a gentle
man of undoubted veracity, (stili liv-
ing in Yirginia) who knew him well,
says che could take me in his hight
hand and pass over the room withme,
playing my head against the ceiling
as though / had been a doll baby
Nv weight was one hundred and nine
ty-fve pounds His wife, who was
a woman of good size, and fair pro-
portions, he . would take in his
right hand and hold her oat at arms
length, would pass around. the room
with her, and carry her up and down
stairs in that position. He would
take a barrel oftcider by the chimes,
and holding it to his mouth, would
drink from the bung long and hearty
draught, without any apparent exer-
ton.
Yet, with all his strength, he was a
very peaceably disposed man, and
hnever made use of his power, except
in case of necessity, about his usual
vocations or in defence of the right
On occasions of outbreaks at public
gatherings, he was better at rushing sg;
in to preserve the public peace, than all
the conservative authorities on the
Iground. Although unedueated, he
was man of strong natural sense:
and of a kind, and amiable disposition
He was, withal, companionabie man:
and his anecdotes and stories OF the
war, of which he possessed a rleh
fund, rendered him a. welcome guest u
1.-THE first families of the State. Ills
industrious and temperate habits, to
gether with his kind disposition, made |
him many friends, and through then
Influence he was appointed Sergeant
at Arms of the Virginia House o
Delegates, in which service he died
in 1886, and was buried with military
honors in the public burying groqn'
lat Richmond. -
II Children not yaccinated are no
{ .uouad tn attend school In Massachu