The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-09-04
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PETER FRANCISCO.

Western Virginia man whose strength
was SO remarkable as TO win him the title
of "thc Western Samson" lie knew moth
ing of his birth or parcntagc, but supposed
hc was born i'll Portugal, whence he was
stolen when child, and carried TO Ireland.
slis earliest rccollcctons wcrc those vf boy
hood in the latter country. Willie yet /,
lad, he apprcnticcd himself to Il sea captain
Tor seven years, in pay for 4 passage to this
country.
On his arrival, his time and services were
sold to n Mr.. Winston, of Virginia, in
whose service he remained until the break
ing out of the revolution. Bcing.o iii
adventurous turn of mind, lie sought and
obtained permission of his master to join
The army, and was engaged in active service
during the whole contest. Sucl, was Ills
strength and personal bravery, tlr.t no cn-
cmy could resist him. lie welded 4 sword,
tho blade of which was five feet in length,
rs though it had been q feather, and every
one who came in contact with linn, paid
the forfeit Of his lie.
At Stony Point he was one Of The for
1orn hope" Which WAS advanced to cut
away the abattis, and, next to Maj. Gibson,
was the first man to enter the works. At
Brandywinc and Monmouth he exhibited
the most fearless bravery, and nothinc. but
his inability ~ write prevented his promo
ton to 4 commission. Transferred to the
South, he took part in most Of the engage
mcnts in that section, and towards the close
of the war he WIS engaged in contest
which exhibited, i'll strikn. manner, lii,
sclfconlidcncc and courage.
One day while rcconnoitcrin&, he stop
ped at the house Of 4 man by the name of
W., to refresh himself. Willie ut the
table, he was surprised hy nine Br,isl,
troopers, who rode up 10 the house and told
him he was their prisoner. Seeing that he
was SO greatly outnumbercd, lie pretended
to surrender, and the dragoous seeing hc
was apparently peacefully inclined, after
disarming him, allowed him considerable
freedom while they sat down to l,artakc of
the food which he had left when he WIS
disturbed.
Wandering out in the door yard, he WIS
accostcd by the paym;uter, who demanded
Of him everything Of value about linn, at
the risk OF lis life in case Of refusal.
81 have nothing to givc," said Francisco,
$50 use your pleasure"
Give mp those massive silver buckles ii,
your shoes" said the lragoon.
"Thcy were the gift Of friend" replied
Francisco, "and give them to you I never
shall; take them if you will; YOU have
the power, but will never give them to
any onc."
Putting his sabre under his arm, the sol
dicr stopped down to take them. Fran
cisco seeing tho opportunity, which was too
good to be lost, seized the sword, and draw
ing it with force from under the arm of the
soldier, dealt him q severe blow across the
skull. Although severely wounded, yet
being brave man, the dragoon drew a
pistol and aimed it at his antagonist, who
was too quick for him, however; and rs he
pulled the trigger, blow from the sword
nearly severed his wrist, and placed him
hors du combat.
The report Of the pistol drew the other
dragoons into the yard, as well as W.
who very ungencrously brought out a mus
ket which he handed TO one of tho soldiers
and told him to make use Of it. Mounting
the only horse lie could get, he presented
tho muzzlc at the breast of Francisco and
pulled the trigger. Fortunately it missed
fire, and Francisco closed in upon him. A
short struggle cnsucd, Which ended in his
dIsarming and wounding the soldier.
Iarleton's troops were now in sight, and
the other Dragons were about to attack
him. Seeing his case was desperate, llc
turned to an adjoining thickct, and, as if
cheering party Of men, cried out, "Comc
on, my brave boys, now's your time; we'll
soon dispatch these few, aud then attack
the main body" at the same time rushing
z at the Dragons with the fury of an cnragcd
tiger.
sIhey did not wait to engage him, but
He'd sprccipitately to The troop, paiiic-struck
I and tlisnnayed. Selling upon the traitorous
villain W., Francisco was about to dis
patch him, but lie begged and plead SO
hard for I,is1ifa that he forgavc him and
siold him to secreto for bin the eight horses
which the llicrs had left behind them
sfcsjy Ing ttliat Tarleton had dispatched two
etheFdafage geons 81 search of him, he made
Esipt ;ttls woods, and while
house hs, like an old
scar, and Success