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THK VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.Bloody Affray. - A desperate rencontre ..tcurrcd lo*l week in St. Francis Two dii-uithi-d cit'zcna were killed, and three ,|,« r- w‘T* dangerously wounded. The difR-j(|]fy resulted from an attempt to arrest John 11 ill. a member of the hut legislature, and for-merly of ,I|U s,n,e Convention. who, m it ilt; alleged. is the notorious robber Nixon Curry, tint committed auch atrocities fifteen years ,,, in the mountains of Carolina.—Little Rock Qozcttc, May, 1840.’*WV have given the previous extr.ct from the ..Ideil niid most respected journal of Arkansas,i.rder to satisfy every reader that thr follow-,ng narrative, extraordinary as soma of its incident* may appear. i« no tuauo of fiction. In-deed, while relating genuine evenle and parnt-iu« true scones, we hare been particularly c,„eful to avoid all vivid colours. Should this -hnrt eketch by *ny chance reach the fore*!* ,,l Arkansas. the people there will deem its description tame in comparison with the deeds «.f tbs man. The writer, who haa resided long „„ i he frontier. no ueo for fancy in portray-mg its exciting life. Simple memory will serve him very well.About fifty year* ogo, there lived in Iredell Co.. North Carolina, n Presbyterian preacher by the nmue of Carry. He was a man in easy circumstances, of irreproachable rhoracter, and having a l«pg° family of promising sons and il*lighters. Among theae the favourtc wns Nix n. distinguished when a boy lor nis fear-Itfrs courage and the tenderness of his heart ,i ike. Ho serins, from several anecdotes of his curly days, tJ have been it child of impulse and intense onrnnsttwes and passion. When ,,«•!) six years of age, he had a ownbat at u-hool, with the bully of thn ploy ground.irly twice hit own weight, aud after suffering m st dreadfully, at least achieved victory, due tiniest entirely to the sheer power of his endurance. From the time lie was six yeare old, • nut is to *ay from the lirst season he attended in tin country school house, had Nixon Curry hern in love. Hin idol was a little girl of the ■amo sge, and under the tuition of the sauir master. The attachment appear* to have been mutual from the commencement. They stood up in lt;uc class, and always managed to aland together. During the hours of recess wheu the other juveniles were amusing themselves with lilt; jatnrous sports, the precocious lovers would wander amidst leafy groves, or by the mossy margins of the silver rills. liven then they ixchanged pledgee, and discoursed in sweet sinless whispers of llioir f jture bri !*l.And thus they grew up in one delicious identity of fancy and feeling. Their bias for each other's society while children, caused no particular remark. At seventeen, when Lucy's relative* were endeavouring to force her into the arms of another, she fled with the lover nf In r childhood. They were pursued, overtake).; and Nixon Curry shot his rival and one of the proud Gordons dead on the spot, and lie r*-*• .»(•*d with his hridr, although hotly chssed by more men, and fouud an asylum in the Alice-liany Mountains, near the sources of the Catawba Here, under the plea of necessity, hi embraced the profession of a robber, and reu dered his name famous by the nnmberand as-t i.i-hmg boldr.a-e of bis exploits. We tuny record if, not as a matter »»f merit perhaps, but for the sake of historical truth, that the youth fid haodit nil never known to perpetrate any deed of murder for the purpose of plunder, although he did several to avoid arrest. At length the rumour of his dariog felonies ccaerd suddenly; notwithstanding a reward o^re thousand dollars was offered for his app^Hki-si n by the Governor of the State, he wot heard of no more in North Carolina.At the first settlement of the fertile delta bordering on St Francis, there came an emigrant who called bimtelf John Hill, and who foou succeeded in ncqniring universal popularity Although of moderate menus, he was sober, industrious, generous, and hospitable ; and eucb continued to be hie character in the new roun-of his adoption fur twelve successive year*. He was repeatedly elected to the Territorial Legislature, where he distinguished himself by an impassioned eloquence, at a chief leader in the ih-mocratic ranks. He was next a member ol the Convention that formed tho State constitution; and he was elected again the ensuiug year to represent his own oounty in the Slate of Arkansas. At this period commenced his second nrries of misfortunes. Hill’a nearest neighbours were the Stroogv, four brothers of C'.naii'erahle wealth, more ambitious, and if vre may borrow tbo phrase of tbo couo'ry, 'great h^hler*.’ Notwithstanding their character was »0 die similar from that o'. the pacific ' bear ha-ter,'a close and cord al intimacy grew up between them, and Uill, in an unguarded moment, made the eldest brother, George, a confidant us to the secret of his previous history. It happened that the aame George conceived a violent desire for political distinction, and requested Hill to resign his seat in the Senate, in the illiberal friend's favor. Hill refused, and I he Strongs conspired lor a terrible reveoge.Writing back to Carolina, they procured a copy of the reward offered for the arrest of Nixon Curry, the far-famed robber ; and then, collecting a parly of a dozen desperate men, they attempted In capture Hili in hie own bourn, n-e latter had nlaaya gone armed with Ida enormous double-barrelled shot gun, two long rifle pistols, and a knife so heavy that few •aben beside himself could wield it. The assault f the Strongs proved horrible to themselves. Mill killed two of the brothers, and dangerously wounded five of their friends, escaping himsell unburt. The excitement resulting from this -flair was boumUeai. Tbo Governor of Arkau-•a» published an additional reward for the arrest f John Uill; and thus, betwixt the two fires, Inc victims chance seemed perfectly hopeless. •I'll’s eooduct at this crisis was prompt and Ivarlaaa as eves. Peeking up hastily, be sat 'lt;ut with his wife and rhHdrea for Upper Ar-kaess*. lie was overhauled at Conway Cut-( m house by two hundred men in pursuit, all thoroughly armed. HUI saw them approach, nnd with Uia dreadful doable-basval — that •ur« death dealer to either me* or beeat, witbio , v« hundred yards—instantly marched to moot hit foes. This inoredible bravery joined to tbs '•‘it before inspired by bit desperation, affected the sdvtnciog troop with suoh an uuaccountfrpanic, that the whole two hundred soeght 'My in n disgraceful and rapid flight. Saveral ’ thor attempts were made to capture the dan-f-rout outlaw, hut all alike andmg in ludicrous p bloody failures. In the meautime Hill's ' hsrncter underwent a complete change. lie Ported to gambling tables, and «)so learned • indulge in the fliry stimulus of ardeat drink, “d Ids disposition, necessarily toured by re-f«ot events btcamo qaarMlsome in the extreme.During the Septcmbor term. I M3, of tho C'icuit Court for Pope County, in which HUI resided, h« got out of bed one morning uaoom-gloomy, and while ho was at the break-frat table, suddenly burnt into tears.L. What is the matter, my dear f asked Lucythat beautiful Lucy, who had formerly left her wealthy home in Carolina for the rohber and ihe robber's cave.' I have had a dreadful dream,' answered the husband} ' I saw Georg* Strong m my sleep, and he kUavd me wilh hi* pale lips, that burned like fire, and smelt like sulphur. 1 am sure I shall die before sunset.''Then do not bo to court to-day,' said the wife in earnest entreaty.' But I will.' rep led Ihe husband, firmly. Then addressing his son. a floe intelligent boy of thirteen, he continued—' Bill, you toe my gun ' -pointing his finger as he spoke to the great double barrel hanging over tho door—' practice with this every morning, and the day you are sixteen. shoot the loads of bo’h barrel* into the man who will this day kill your father.'4 Yonder comes Mose Howard j he will protect you, pa,' remarked Mary. Hill’s eldest daughter, a lovely girl of fifteen, who was to be uiamed the next day to the youth then approaching.Hill and Howard dcpartod ; l.ucy wilh tears and Mary blushing, both calling out as they left the gale—' Take care of him Mose I aud be sure that you bring him hack to-night.'Never fear.' answered the youth with n laugh, ‘ Hill will never dio till I kill him.'Than he will live for ever,’ retorted Mary,As soon ss the fricads reached the village. Hill began to drink deeply, and manifested more or dinaiy anxiety for a combat, insulting everybody that crossed his path ; and all (he youth's cutreaties failed to pacify him. At last the desperado swore that he would clear tho court house . and immediately on luring, wilh a furious countenance, and threat u to hb purpose —judge, lawyers, jury, and spectators, rusde a genrrai rnsh tor the itoor. One old drunken man alone did not run as fast as Hill wiahed, and he sprang on the imbecile wretch, and commenced beating him unmercifully. How ard then caught hold of his future father-in-law, (alas f who was never to be !) and attempted to pull him away.With eyes red, and glaring like a mad dog's, ho instantly turned upon bis friend, and with a single blow of his fist felled him to the floor ; and following up the violent act. he leaped upon the youth, and began a most ferocious battery. In vain Howard endeavoured to escape, crying out in tones ol beseeching horror, ' For God's sake, oeaae I Hill! don't yoa know me P—your friend Mose! Remember Mary!' Hill’s soger only increased, till finally be threw his hand to his belt and clutched a pistol. And then Howard's blood also boiled, and be resolved to fight lor bis life, lie was of as powerful a frame as the other—the only person in all Arkauaas to be compared with the desperado in physical strength.Ha grasped the barrel of the pistol as Hill cocked it, and the weapon exploded in tbeir hands without injury. Once more they clenched, and the moat dreadfnl struggle ensued ever witnessed io the west. The advantage ahifted from one aide to the other for the space of five minutes, till both were bathed in stream™ of their own blood.Even thu bystanders, looking on through the wiudowa of tho log court house, were struck with wonder and awe At length, while writhing aud twisting like two raging serpents, the bindlc ol Hill's huge buwie knife—unthongbt of previously —protruded from beneath bis hunting shirt. Both saw it at the same time, and both attempted to grasp it. Howard succeeded, quick as lightning he drew the keen blade from in scablisrd and sheeted it up to the vory hilt in the bosom of bis friend, aud the father of bis Mary.'The dream is fulfilled,'exclaimed Hill with a. smile of strange sweetness, that remained on bis features even alter he was a corpse. Ho ihon sank down and expired without a groan.Howard gazed on him there aa he lay, with that singular smile on hie face and hit glazed eyes open. And then, awakening with a start, aa if from some horrible vision of the night, the poor youth fell headlong on the body ol bis friend, cryiog in tones that melted the heart of many a hardened spcoU tor,' Great God ! what have 1 done ? Farewell Mary, yonr father has gone, and I am going with him!' And turning ihe point of his gory knife towards his own breaat, would have plunged it into his own heart, hod be not been prevented by the bystanders, who bad crowded into tho room.The udw evening Mose Howard disappeared, and was heard of no more for nearly two years, when a horse dealer brought back word that be had seen him in San Antonio, Texas Wheu the shocking news reached HMI'a family, the beautiful \ Mary burn into a wild laugh. She ia now in the asylum for the insane at New Orleans. It will bo remembered that the fallen desperado had enjoined upou his ton to slay the slayer of hif father on the day he should arrive at 16. Without any such charge, vengeance would hive been considered by the boy as a sacred duty ; for on the frontier, the widows of the slain teach vengeance to tbeir chil dren, and they occasionally execute it themselves. Accordingly Bill HUI practised with his father's gun every day for two -uccesaive years, sad this even before be had any rumoar as to the piece of Howard’s refuge. He then learned that his foe was in Texas, end two months before he wes 16 he set out to hunt him up. At the end of four months BUI Hill came back end hanging up the double barrels in their old bnck horu rack, an I awercd hia mother's enquiring look—' Mother Mo«e is dead; I let him bare both loads. Though I cried before I done it. and afterwards too; he louked so miserably pole, and bony as e skeleton 'THE BISHOP OF OXFORD ON PRINCE ALBERT’S DEATH The ** Daily Telegraph has an admirable article | on the Bubop of Oxford’s treatment of the death of the Prince Consort as a chastisement of Providence provoked by the sins of the nation. This 1 slander on the nation, blister to tbo Queen's '■ green grief and presumptuous, profane intrrpre tatiou of tho will of the Almighty, was conveyed in a sleek, smooth, soapy, slippery speech at s meeting for tbo propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts. Does it not prove that there is a grievous want of the true Gospel nearer boms ? Does it not show that there is a great and urgent occasion fox lha conversion ol a Bishop to Cbrtati anity P 1» it not written,' Judge not lest ye be judged.’ and is not the rashrst, the most presumptuous of judgements one on the iaecratable dispensations of provideace ? Amongst the very heathens, what was struck by the bolts supposed to be the bolts ofheuren, was held sacred, and Shakespeare, a vary different moralist from Bishop Wilber force, toys beautifully and bsuig-nanlly, ' This sorrow's sacred, M strikes where it does love.' The Bishop of Oxford would amend the text to hate. But will he ooodcvoend to explain why death it to be understood as a mark of Divine displeasure F To us U seems that the life, the existence, of such s Bishop u Dr Wilbsr-force may be a more marked sign of the wrath of tbs Almighty than the death of a blameless Prines liks the late Coaaori of oar Qumo.* Heaven sends its favourites early doomnot so,tcrhaps, the grovelling sensualists, the sanotifled ypocrites, the oily Tartuffts. They are the Uving scourges of our sins. It li to hi them mil red ia the high places, that is the opprobrium Of tho land. Shocking Indeed it is to find ooa of Epicurus's bogs in the searedI fold.Prince Albert had penetration. He woe solicited by a Bisbop. we will not say by whom, to ■unport the claims of a man of very doubtful opiuious to a bisboprick. He demurred, ox-Ircascd his misgivingi of tbo ambitious Caudills'* orthodoxy. Shortly aftsrwarda tho disappointed man went over ta Rome. \\ bou ui-xt the Princo mot tho Bi.hop he observed bow for-innate it was that he, the Prince, had not recommended his friend tho renegade to ecele.iaat.col advancement, to which tbs lodiacrcot but characteristically unprincipled answer was, ' Had your Royal Highness done so, tbs spostacy would not have happened.' From that mourn it the Prinec koew his maa; who, whoever be s, no* the Priooos death so a judgment. Out upon him!—“ Examiner.
Newspaper Details
Castlemaine Mount Alexander Mail
Castlemaine, Victoria, AU
Fri, Apr 04, 1862
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 22 Sep 2022
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