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.......N. Y..r goAUGUST 19,1868... — I * : • ■ , -MMTniti Stmjiig^r Than Tlcilon4P.11 ffor his apprehens ion. Hill W is qyertakcm i^beiievotho8*ory beio^r, bat 1%v Conway Court; House by the 10 mop, maq » m«™ «uve, »d h*ltin£ »«?. [ftgon,' at./(idmonistiSn'the; affair of the Strong, rtevgr broatiiort. The writer ms Wife and children tlt;3 Jteop their places, ha/oaifcted to mentiua tjro facta rttr*t, that Cupy he marched fort a with his death-do[There are tbosn who lt;1 i/belie vo it is true in-«¥wf porUcuUr.ana * more hrave, hp^ioraUlewas under the infiuence .of atrongr drink when he'revealed the »Ur*agv hbatfory of hU early I |fe, ultlwmffk lie . was a very Jympemto The secoud omitwUm w,I that Mow Howard, spoken of, was tho betrothed of Curiy’a supreme*! beautiful daughter Alwy.—BuUe Vbupty {Cat.)1ii• TUJtiVTLAVr.: ■ • 1i ■la tho year lB-—there lived in Iredell«guncounty, North Carolina, a Preshyteriiin minister by the name of Curry. He Was a man ia comfortable circumstances, of most excellent reputation, with a large family of jfons and (laugh ters, Among these was a boy by the name of Nixo|i, noted for his spnghtlincss, his activity and courage. .'•!••'iiany are the incidents recorded of his early days, wherein he displayed his bray-ery, and won the respect and admiration Of his schoolmates., | ibi seemed impulsive, generous, and the possessor of many noblt I quuli ties. ' v ■ j jFrom childhood ^ixon Curry was in liove. His. fair.to ha a girl somewhatTho gallantry lt;Tithe action, and .Hill's increditable bravery, operated in his favor. Many were un willing to hurt so intrepid a character; others Were afraid; a panicwas created, and pill pursued his way uni* molested ,Subsequent attempts were made to nrrest him, but all resulted tragically or ludicrously to those attempting it. It was known that Hill tioqjd nCver be taken alive, and many hpgan to; bejlieve that he could not when dead also.Tbe constant pursuit and hunting him changed his nature. He became morose and sour, and unajble to foltd w auy regular business, i He resorted toj the gambling table for the support of hU family. Hejbecame a drinker, transform(;d into j rclaome opponent. 1 If Hill had btoo, and was s1 a most bitter and quar-*iii£a1c£\iyou hger than himself J attending tho same n with him. She! returned his affectscbootion,; and so ardently were they attached to each! other that, what is most rare in child-hood, no rival was ever suffered to comcj between them. jThus they grew up in a delicious dream of the future, and as their years increased, so apparently did their passion for each other. At fifteen this Was so evident that their parents forbade j all interviews between them. Her parents were the veryT •F. F.’s of North Carolina, and they bad and could easily secareimore brilliant prospects for her.The natural consequences followed. Thelovers met by stealtli, And renewed their pledges to each other. Lucy promised that whatever should occur] she would never wedjany one else, and Nixon vowed to stand by her so long as! a breath of life remained in his.body. I „At length, at the age1, of eighteen, when! Lucy’s relatives were dbing their utmost; to force her info tbe arms of another, she fled with her true and devoted love. They were immediately pursiied and overtaken* when tbe enraged Nixojn Curry, brought to bay, turned and shot] his rival, and one of the others, and renewed his flight.| The pursuit was hot,; but h i sue. c„\dcd[in eluding them; and tdok refuge in theen famous among the mountains of North Carolina, ho now became doubly so. Exception, perhaps that prince of duelists, James Buwio, there never was a iimn who inspired more terror. Men who had acquired a wide reputation for deeds of daring turned pale when they encountered. John Hill. Bullies who sought quarrels- on the slightest pretext accepted all manner of insults from him, without a single word of/remonstrance.One day in September, 1845, while he was seated at tho breakfast* table, Hill burst into tears.“What is the m attor, dear K*1 inquired his wife. )I have had a dieadful ^reani. It wast411 knoset. Together wea warning.w I shall die before sun-have encountered perilsand hardships; you abandoned, wealthand position for m never spoken an We have loved froAllegany mountains, nttor the sources of the Catawba.V sake, an4 ;you have tunkind word to me, u childhood,-and that love has never krjown abatement. It is this that troubles me—not regard for self. It is indelibly impressed Upon mymind that I shall die a horri bib death before sundown., and the thought that it will distress you, also distresses me.”These were the exact words of Hill, as testified by his wjife and children. His wife told him “Then my dear Husband, do not go to court to day.”(The Circuit Court of Pope: county, init shall bo remarked,ti\*iA»)I*1lt;i£lt;It08£C»e\ata(dHere really begins the extraordinary career of Nixon Curry. . tinder the plea ofnecessity, he took up the profession of robber, and speedily rendered his name famous by the number add character ot his \ Then turning to hi exploits. Without attempting to give any boy of fd, he [ told of the minor incidents, lit should be stated Bible* and upon itwhich Hall resided, was then in session “Y^s, my wife. I when a man’s time seek to a.void death•)rtf9%Itmust go,'’ he replied,; has come hb should not j „ but meet it bravely.” j 3 son William, n bright j c him to go and get the J ae made Lira swear tokill the man that killed bis father.♦ I“Here comes Mos will protect you* eldest daughter, asiie»n approaching.The youth who wing man, ehEthat, the young robber hever took a life tor the sake of plunder, although ho did it again to avoid arrest, j.| The Governor of Norjth Carolina offered : $5,000 for his apprehension, and many p.'ir-! ties, tempted by theofffr, fcagaged in the i pursuit. They frequently gained sight of the notorious bandit ; liuore than once the ; crack af his death-dealing rifle was heard i from some adjoining rook, but never were • they able to discover his retreat or bring I him; to bay. . |j Suddenly all rumors j of his daring conduct ceased, and although the search Was continued, he was seen; no more in North Carolina. It was judged that his quarters ; He insulted every I were becoming too hot! for safetv, and lut1 . . t/ I j 1 -IH! hud* therefore, prudently removed them i while the ojiportuuity remained to hiin.09 Howard, father; he remarked ‘ Mary, the she descried the youngt11*tIi. .. a a fine, powerful-look atied-a few minutes with, the family, and then whrit out with Hill, who shaved and dressed himself with particular neatmess and e-nbraced his ; wife with the warmest affef tiou, and qdth tears in his eves, before leaving. uAs smm as the two reached town, Hill began drilling deeply and j showed u more quarrelsome (lisposition than ever.ody that crossed his treaties of ;the young him. Finally ho do-path, and all the e man failed to paciorticelared that ho ’would clear the cburt house,During the first settlement of the fertile ; and dashed into the court room with fury delta bordering on the Francis, now in ; depicted in liiscounjtenanec. Judges, law-Othe Btu.to of ArkAn^itis,1 nil emigrant made ; vers, jury, V]»-*etat(jrs, all made a rush for his appearance, calling, himself John Hill, the door. Oi\) in m who lagged behind He rapidly became the imost popular inau i was seized b\'Ilill and beaten unmercifully.t(JttiIaciem the sett einent. Although of moderate means, he was sober, industrious, generous and of extended hospitality, and such continued to be his character in the coup try which he had adopted f^r a period extending’over about a dozen' years.During all this time,; jnot a quarrelsomeworlt;l occurred between him and any cjf his neighbors; and vet ullj knew that it was from no lack of courage on! the part ofYlt;fing Howardriuted man, anil att when, srlanmr likeBefore he could riaught hold of the infu-unpted to rest rain him, tiger, ho turned uponthe youth aud struck him to^the earth.a Hill sprang on himand lt;*ojnmcneeil pounding him.“For God’s sake.know me, yourjfrier d—Howard ?”Hill jHtemed ftmoinept. and finalhHill, for of all the huutdrs that pierced the | tcriuined to take hbstop. Hill I Don’t yourtI'iiti1iw more furious each clutched a pistol, k;e-friend’s life. Ho Wardjungles of euno in the “Great Swamp,” or ! seeing,the crisis had come, seized the boiwie descended by torchlight jiuto the bowels of I knife that protruded from hia vest qudthe Ozark Mountains, he had the reputa- ! .buried it in his'.bosdiu tion of being the most i fearless. He was | “The dream is fulfilled overwhelmingly elected again and agipn to I with a smile of si tho Territorial Legislature, and distinguished himself by hiq -powerful anjl im-passioned eloquence, and] speedily became aleiieader in the ranks of his own party. He was a member of the! Convention which formed the State constitution, and whs reelected to represent £iis county in the Senate of Arkansas. , - jAnd now began his sCcpnd. s* ries of misfortunes. Hill’s most irjtimate neighbors were the Strongs, four brothers of considerable wealth, a great deal of ambition, and in the phrase of the Country, “famous fighters.” A close and jcordial intimacy row up between them; juid-Hill, and the* atter, most*unfortunately and.unguardedly, made George, the eldest, a confidant of his previous history. It So happened that George had a -most ambitious desire for political distinction, and; made a request of Hill: that he should rcsigh his seat in the Semite in his favor. Hill j refused, and the brothers conspired to revenge.Sending to North Carolina, they procured a copy of. the rewara offered for Nixon Curry, the notorious rqbber. The four, powerful and determined as they were, oared not attempt his capture alone, but secured the assistance of a;dozen men. and made the attempt to capture Hill in his •own house. The latter never forgot his daily peril. He always carried an enormous double-barreled shot gun, two long rifle:pistols, and a formidable knife. Arkansas has never been noted as a peaceably inclined State, and in thpse days its population numbered a greater I per cent, of des-peradoes and lawless men; than it dobs atlingered on his nut after he was a cprp out a groan.Howard looked dexclaimed ijtill, gular sweetness that rally handsome face . He then died with-Wn into his face, ah ifunable to realize wqat he had done. Tjum he burst into tears.tti «ie\esVtstitcIIIAu“God knows I would hot have done its if t I could have helped it, but it was either your life or mine. |ritli a gloomy air, aqdHe turned a Wayupon the instant disappeared. He \yas never seen in Afkaiikis again, but several veal's after a trader brought the news thatAntonio, Texas, j ction, we should here ut as we are giving an be substantiated, dd another incident£he w:w li ving atlSaWere we writing lay aside the pen ; facts simply, which duty compels usltobefore the tragical tkleis ended.It will be remembered that Hill enjoined upon his son to avenge'his death. Faitjhifully did that $on When he had reachei loft for Texas. Hewiobey the commaiid*1 his sixteenth year be gone several montljkWhen he returned, hb said to his motheii »the present.The attack of tbe Strongs proved atier:“It is done, uiothef ! Poor Howard I *T pitied him, but I lhaq to do it.ftDull Minister*.(From the ijailexjenjlent.}The Independent c since, some plain su petted ministers, i have bceii except c|d the matter is inerim two upon dull minis No remark at thefferul, a few weeks •gcstions concerning hose views seem tb sound doctrine. But iete unless a word or 3R be also added. ,1 .to Boston Annivor-varies seemed to hit tpie nail on the headdreadful one for themselves. Two of the brothers were shot dead,; While six of theothers were badly woujnded, several of them mortally, when thejrist of them wereso well as the deman Moors, of Greenfield, ministers.” He ciille1fJriglad to withdraw for the I'time. This affair eanserl the most unbounded excitementthroughout' Arkansas. That John Hill’could be identical with tjie notorious rob- j ( ber Nix son Curry* was staggering to him- t dreds. Many for a time refused to believeit ; r bPerhaps the state of puilic feeling can best be shown by the twb following extracts from the Little Rock Gazette. The first appeared when Hilbbhcame so popular during the days of thie Convention :4 Among the truest friepds of the people of all in the present eosnvention may bonamed John Hill, of St. Francis. v His en-* ' « * 1ergy, eloqu ence and courage fully entitle him tk the place ho holds; a-nd. as wo trust he will long r«*tain—that! of the leader of the Arkansas Democracy}The second extract is! tkknn from the same paper for May, 1840 : !“ BjLOODY AffeaV.—A desperate rencounter occurred ia St. Frajucis last week. Two distinguished eitizen/i were killed, and three others dangerously ujounded. The difficulty arose from an qt tempt to arrest John a member of the lkstlegislature,aud formerly of the Sljate convention^ wrho, as it is alleged, is tlic hotorieus robber Nixon, Curry, w*ho ^ohimitted suchin the mou'n-gence ofiicaN, would into the country.” received as a novel,made by Rev. J,Mass., for 4*a few du[l i for a few men whq,as they say of domestic servants at iuteHi-bo, * “willing to goIt was evidently mirable, and startling (lemamL And,] though no suchr re? •ruits offered thejiusejves on the spot, y^the opportunity is sull open in every re?ligious bodjr.LYet it might seemvertise for dullness, parsons power ” ofinrdly needful to adfSince Pope’s llt; forty? that quality inDuneiad, the trfiit chronic among theclergymen to be dull seferas to the worli, . , “/ . . . 1__L t- . 4...__■ r' ' L_' - 'Ilike inviting a • brokehas be on clergy. Tq inviti;thougvtftIctIasaayItni\cukt*iit’rato\EoCto turn a pennvto turn a pera politician to turn h ia coat, ♦‘it is theiyf*nature to.All ! hut the righ4 kind of dullness :i£atrocijtiea fifteen years a^o j i tainf.bf North Carolina.”! j A requisition was sent pyiunot-so common, utter] all. Hones ti, kind? United, sensible dullness is growing.rare}) than it was. It is dying out with that, race of country pastors, 4* passing rich with fortv pounds a viar.” who farmed the] parish farm, such as ijt was, and harvestedj their own apples,; anW sent half u dozen! suns through colic*These rrcn told hoiuel' a ^way. Their phr.u^esTheir applications] wdut down iijito every! peWr Their prayers were a weekly narraVj tivo of tW. events of t|ie village. The Di? vine Grace, was suec experiences, great!ordeacon had his his barn. No longindAnCtibrtlhtlTB£on the produft|.. truths in a homely) D mucked of the soU.j oisuburbs disturbt^_ the Governor of North: Carolina demanjdiiig the surrender of Nixon Curry. The I Governor of | Their gods were gcjds Aikansas published an additional rewaM | Allen said;* and] tl for tliie airiest of John Hill; and thus be- ! There are such men tween the two, seemed as if it was about;! more of them. Wb up with the victim. j./Hill paeked up hastily, an^ set out with, his wife and children for Upper Arkansas, a herb he knew of the eapstefice of a band of defspcnidoes that ha had! reason to be-He was pursued ns, many of only far theafftf 4ntw.-.-J *« - ■* -AAA \ — a mr — — \r m m m mversa ry speaker. The ters must not die opt. Every man kno togi vo 1 y i n yoked on alj j mall; whether thi^iife, or that deucou after pleasant city. bo.se mien’s eou;ls. f tlw bills as Eihftny were I*till; btit We ti t free with thb Aunt-race ofl dull itiltilU-t iinout a trait of bril^ati y, are yet part;o|inisters 'wWd witih-the vital forb^ of their Whblo ccdmtry.ifiktteri fit their ^eitbrall Lorf tif tbec6fefe« aHfUdfirtithe points. No matt: *YTft!f1d«ditlww01p2tliMOinmH*ID
Newspaper Details
Wellsville Free Press
Wellsville, New York, US
Wed, Aug 19, 1868
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 22 Sep 2022
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