Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-07
PETER FRANCISCO.
HIS BODY FILLS A SIMPLE GRAVE IN
SHoCKos CEMETERY.
A Man OF Great Strength and Courage
"Reminiscences of His Life as SOL
dier and Citizen.
tor the Dispa.ch.I

the Dtslotch sometimes VISIT Shockoe Gene
terry. where sleep hundreds of the dead OF
Richmond's earlier days. Perhaps as they
have gone along over the narrow paths
among the graves reading the inscriptions
upon the tombs Of the people they knew
either personally OF by reputation uoI
there lie buried men whose distinguished
career in life have made them known
throughout the nation, their ewes may
have for moment rested upon
SIMPLE grave OF the head OF
which stands pine board, on which
are painted the words. ." Peter francisco.
Died 1867 Che date IS mistake) ms
unprotected grave would perhaps riNe.
the attention Of the general observer but
for a single moment for, NJ no gazed
around him. his eyes would IAN upon (. :
well-prcscrycd section ia which he would
see a large marble slab, bearing the IN
scrIption, John Marshall" At once his
mind would be filed with thoughts apou,
the great Chief Justice OF the tnllt1
States. whose name is immortal and whose
reputation has gOn0 wherever the tieIls-
Language is known and wherever
the principles OF law are appIcs
ciated and observed among the nations VI
the earth 4 mental VISION OF the lia.iit,
gentle. quiet old man, in mis- pla H. plS s,l
4
tinCuishablc from any other citileh ,A.,fii
by bis uniform courtesy. politehVssii " -
general GENT. omanly dCmcaror 70 ~ 'uo
people would appear. as ne walNeu - . ~
ms quaint old house. still standing on '.e
corner Of Ninth and Marshah slIeels' 70
and from the market with oasAe' ".i 49,, r,'S
am and a turkey m his hand; ana some
might recall bis conversation VII" ''S
coachman upon one occasioh-
uonsrs AND MssrEs LEAN.
jim" said the Chief Justice, how IS y
that your horses are so poor ana lean
gave Won plenty Of corn and oats 10 feed
them. | am afraid you do not feed them
Indeed, Massa. / does feed EN- re-
piled Jim, but da won't CIT fat. Hoses
Is like men. Oar - lean HOSES ana oar IS
fat BOSSES. and dar IS lean men ana iat men.
Juaf look az Massa GEORGE tlchett up the
street he am fat and his bosses am lat.
Den Nassa. lust look at yOurself-you am
lean and your bosses am lean. You glts as
much 10 eat as Massa Pickett, and your
hosses gifts rs much feed IA hizzen, but
Na,sa. Won Is lean aud your bosses IS lean
aud you boot belong 70 the lean KIND;
feed won't fatton 'om."
The old Judge accepted with smile the
necro's reasons "a conclusive, however
much his own logical mind NAV have dis
covered the fallacy of his argument, or
perhaps another might recur 70 his decla-
raiions OF grand principles and his lucid
eXpositious Of the law as they are gwen III
ms sound opinions in the supreme Court
az the United States. world Of thought
would be open 10 the gaze OF an intelll-
gent mind IN the contemplation OF this
mans life and work alone. Nowonder then
that this simple grave near by should be
forgotten.
PETTR's GREAT STRENGTH.
But Peter Francisco deserves more than
n passing notice, for he. too. IN his day
performed acts which Will not be without
pleasure and interest if known by the
present generation. Peter was native OF
Italy. but his parentage IS unknown. lie
was brought when a child from England 10
the United States before the war OF the
Revolution. in which he was soldier.
He was large. well-built athletic, power
full man and almost as strong as giant.
Tradition has handed down many re-
markable evidences of his great strength.
lie was blc 20 carry heavy piece OF ar
tillery upon his shoulder, he could upset a
wagon loaded with tobacco. and in Peters
burg when he was ffty-three years Of age
ne easily lifted hogshead of rum upon his
knees and drank out of the bung, and II Is
said that upon one occasion a man went to
his house 70 pick quarrel with him about
some supposed Injury he had done HIM;
Peter listened 20 HIM very quietly ana
when he had finished his talk be took INN
by the back Of his coat and threw HIM
over the fence and then took his horse
which was standing by and threw that
over too. and told the man to 90 about his
business or he would give him sound
thrashing. The man went.
In 1871 Colonel Iarleton, with part OF
CoInwallis's cavalry, played havoc III this
part of Virginia. He burned houses
around Richmond and committed great
outrages and devastation in several coun-
ties round about this city. He scared
Governor Tom jefferson and the Legis-
lature of the State out Of the city,
and they took refuge at Monticello
and Charlottesville. Arnold came very
near capturing both the Governor and
the Legislature at that place. but for
tunatelv they were apprised OF his near
approach by messenger on horseback,
riding AZ break-neck pace, to inform
them that Arnold and his troopers were
near by In pursuit of them. The Leglsla-
ture scattered-e each man for himsef-in
All directions, and Governor Jefferson Ind
IN the ragged mountains until the danger
bad passed.
HOW HE ESCAPED.
In the county Of Amelia when Tarleton's
men passed through there Peter Fran
cisco went out recommending the enemy.
He stopped for awhile at the house OF
Mrs. Ward, in that county, and while he
was there some Of IarletOn's men and two
or three negroes came up and captured
him. The following is Peters own account
OF what happened:
"Bong told that was a prisoner | con-
scented 20 IL, seeing myself oyerpowered
by numbers, and the enemy, supposlng
that | was peaceable fellow, went into
the house leaving me and the paymaster
together. He demanded my watch, which
/ gave him. and in order to secure IT in
~. l. vi ~ dor IN
with the hilt behind him. thought this
a favorable opportunity, and stepping
back one pace in his rear drew the sword
with force from under his arm and gave
him instantly a blow across the skull.
Nv enemy was brave, and though
and at the same time pulled the
trigger, but cut his hand near
" off and the bullet grazed my
side. Ben. Ward, a man of the house, see
Ing this encounter very ungenerously
brought out muskst and gave II to one
Of the British and told him 10 make use OF
H. He mounted the only horse they could
get and presented il az my breast. IL
missed fire. rushed at the muZzle of the
gun. A short struggle ensued. l disarmed
and wounded him, Tarleton's troop OF
men were in sight. All was hurry aud con-
fusion. which increased by hallooing as
loud o. | could. Come on, my brave boys,
now's your time. Will somebody dispatch
these few and then We will attack
Zoe main BODY The wounded man
eew to the troop. The seven were
pauie-struck and'fed. seized Ward and
would have dispatched him, but the poor
wretch begged for his life. He was not an
object Of contempt but pity. The eight
horses that were left behind / gave him to
conceal for me. Discovering that Tarle-
ton had dispatched ten men in pursuit of
me evaded their vigilance. They stopped
20 refresh themselves. / like an old fox
doubled and tell back in their rear. |
went the next day 10 Ward for my horses.
intended at future day % ayenge myself
upon him, bat Providence ordained |
should not be his executioner. for he broke
hs neck by tail from one OF the very