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The Outlaw,la the year 18— there lived in Ire-del county, North Carolina, a Presbyterian minister by the name ot Curry. He was a man iu comfortablecircumstances, of most excellent reputation, with a large family of sous anddaughters. Among these was a boyby the name of Nixon, noted for hissprightliness, his activity, and courage.Many are the incidents recorded of his early days, wherein he displayed his bravery and won the respect and admiration of his schoolmates. He seemed impulsive, generous, and the possessor of many noble qualities.From childhood Nixon Curry was in love. His fair one was a girlHOfiio wliut ^ouu^or tliuu liiruacl/1, at-tending the same school with him. She returned his affection, and so ardently were they attached to one another that, what is more rare in childhood, no rival was ever suffered to come between them.Thus 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 all interviews between them.— Her parents were the very F. F.’s of North Carolina, and they had and could easily secure more brilliant prospects for her.The natural consequences followed. The lovers met by stealth, and renewed their pledges to each other. Lucy promised that whatever should occur she would never wed any one else, and Nixon vowed to stand by her so long as a breath of life remained inohis body.At length, at the age of 18, when Lucy’s relatives were doing their utmost to force her into the arms of another, she fled with her true and devoted love. They were immediately pursued and overtaken, wheu the enraged Nixon Curry, brought tc bay, turned and shot his rival and one ofble knife. Arkansas has never been noted as a peaceably inclined state, and in those days its population numbered a greater per cent of desperadoes and lawless men than it does at the present.The attack of the Strongs proved a dreadful one for themselves. Two of the brothers were shot dead, while six of the others were badly wounded, several of them mortally, when the rest were glad to withdraw for the time. This affair caused the most unbounded excitement throughout Arkansas. The thought that thechival-wiavifriapierful looking man, chatted a few minutes with the family, and then went out with Hill, who shaved and dressed himself with particular neatness, and embraced his wife with the warmest affection, and with tears in his wi eyes, before leaving. ;As socn as the two reached town, j tio Hill began drinking deeply, and show- no ed a more quarrelsome disposition it than ever. He insulted everybody ed that crossed his path, and all the en- ho treaties of the young man failed to | on pacify him. Finally he declared he ruwould clear the court house, and dash-j derous and popular John Hill could be ed into the court room with fury de- j doidentical with the notorious robber Nixon Curry was staggering to hundreds. Many for a time refused to believe it.Perhaps tho state of public feelingcaii best be shown by the two follow-ing extracts from the Little Rock Gazette. The first appeared when Hillbecame popular during the days of the Convention.“Among the truest friends of the people of all in the present Convention may be named John Hill, of St.*picted in his countenance. Judges, lawyers, jury and spectators all madedetoa rush for the door. One man who! wllagged behind was seized by Hill andbeaten unmercifully.Young Howard caught hold of the infuriated man and attempted to restrain him, glaring like a tiger he turned upon the youth, and struck him to the earth. Before he could rise. Hill0sprang on him and commenced pound-imr him.inithipaca:tinthidothiif“For God’s sake stop Hill! Don't peFrancis. His energy, eloquence and you know me your friend—Howard ? wicourage fully entitle him to the place j Hill seamed to grow more furioushe holds, and, as we trust, will long each moment, and finally clutched a retain—that of the leader of the Ar- pistol, determined to take his friend’ska, sas Democracy.'life. Howard seeing the crisis hadThe second extract is taken from come, seized the bowe knife that pro- tathe same paper for May, 1840 :truded from his vest and buried it inBloody Affray.—A desperate his bosom..The dream is fullilled!” exclaimedFwo distinguished citi-1 Hill, with a smile of sweetness thatlingered on his naturally handsomeHe thenrencounter occurred in St. Francis last week.zens were killed, and three othersdangerously wouuded. The difficulty after lie was a corpse, resulted from an attempt to arrest died without a groan.John Hill, a member of the last Legislature, and formerly of the State jas ^ unable to realize what ! Conve \tion, who, as it is alleged, is j done. Then he burst into tears.the notorious robber, Nixon Curry, who committed such atrocities fifteen j years ago iu the mountains of North j Carolina/’ jA requisition was sent by the Governor of North Carolina demandingEraninhereiniwl“Howard looked down into his lace *iehe hadknwi“God knows I would not have done it if I could have helped it, but it was {o°either your life or miue.”wHe turned away with a gloomy air, and upon the instant disappeared. He! was never seen iu Arkansas again, Ithe surrender of Nixon Curry. The j but several years after a trader bro t Governor of Arkansas published an; news that he was living at Santhe others, and renewed his flight.The pursuit was hot, but he sue-|J°hn Hill; and thus between the two• . a • / • , 1 . • . |additional reward for the arrest of j Antonio, Texas.Were we writing a fiction, we shouldthlt;dafriifurfoieeeded in eluding them, and took ref- it seemed as il it was about up withuge iu the Alleghany Mountains, near I the victim.the sources of the Catawba.Hill packed up hastily and set outHere really begins the extraordina- with his wife and children tor L pperry career of Nixon Curry. Under I Arkansas, where he knew of theexist-reththe plea of necessity, he took up the ence of a band of desperadoes that heprofession of robber, and speedily ren-1 had reason to believe would protectdered his name famous by the numberand character of his exploits. Without attempting to give any of the minor incidents, it should be stated thatme youug ruOUer ut*vt-i WWK a.the sake ot plunder, although he did it again and again to avoid arrest.D oThe governor of North Carolina offered $8,000 for his apprehension, and many parties, tempted by the oiler, engaged in the pursuit. They frequently gaiued sight ol the notorious bandit; more than once the crack of his death-dealing rifle was heard trom some adjoining rock; but never were thev able to discover his retreat orWbring him to bav.O •Suddenly all rumors of his daring conduct ceased, and although thehim. He was pursued by over one hundred citizeus, many of them unarmed, and attending only for the purpose of witnessing the sport aud se-that was offered for his apprehension. Hili was overtaken at Conway Court House by these men, and halting his wagon, and admonishing his wife and children to keep their places, he narched forth with his death-dealinghere lay aside the pen; but as we are giving facts simply, which can be substantiated, duty compels us to add another incident before this tragical tale is ended.It will be remembered that Hill en-!1111 joined upon bis son to avenge bis 11111 death. Faithfully did that sou obev the command. When he bad reached bis sixteenth year lie left for Texas. When he returned he said to his moth-er *;*lt is doue, inotner : roor u.oward :I pitied him but I had to do it.”saorquaiot iSpiritual Adultery.ouhebegun.The gallantry of the action, andHill’s incredible bravery, operated inhis favor. Many were unwilliug to•f ejhurt so intrepid a character; othersHear the testimony of John Wesley on this subject. He says;‘•Whatever it costs, fiee spiritual adultery! Have no friendship with the world. However tempted by profit or pleasure, contract no intimacywith worldly minded men. And ilmwere afraid ; a panic was created, and thou hast contracted with any suchalready, break it oil’ without delay.Hill pursued his way unmolested.Subsequent attempts were made to j Yes, if thy uugodly lrieud be dear tosearch was coutiuued, he was seen no arrest him, but all resulted tragically j theemore in North Carolina. It was or ludicrously to those attempting it. | right hand, yet confer not with fleshai;tilinuiSiththtejudged that his quarters were becorn- It was known that Hill could never be ing too hot lor safety, aud he had, Uaken alive, and many'began to believeDtherefore, prudently removed them while the opportunity remained to him.During the first settlement of the fertile delta bordering on the St. j | Francis, now iu the state of Arkansas, an emigrant made his appearance, calling himself John Hill. He rapid-that he could not when dead also.The constant pursuit and hunting him changed his nature. He became morose aud sour, and unable to follow any regular business. He resorted to the gambling table for the support ofand blood, but pluck out the right eye, cut off the right hand, aud east them from thee! It is uot an indifferent thing. Thy life is at stake—eternal life or eternal death ! Aud is it uot better to go into the eternal lite hav-oing one eye or one baud, than having both to be cast into hell tire ? Whene\thhicuinr.his family. He became a drinker, j thou kuewest no better, the times of too, and was speedily transformed in- j ignorance God wmked at. But nowinsitcillly became the most popular man in to a most bitter and quarrelsome op- their eyes are opened, now the light ^Although of moder- ■ ponent. I is come walk in the light! Touch not i „D1-ll-Itye.si.the settlement.ate means, he was sober, industrious, generous, and of extended hospitality, j mountains of North Carolina, he now events keep thy self pure. But what-v i •• i . _ » i _i______ i Imnomo Hnnhlv KiTPPlitl ng, Hftl’ ! oi’oi* Hm whpf har t.liPU un 11 hpQt* or*If Hill had been famous amoug the j pitch, least thou be defiled. At alland such continued to be his character! became doubly lt;.perever do, whether they will hear orin the country which he had adopted; haps, that prince of duelists, James whether they will forbear, hear this: foraDeriod extending over about a Bowie, there never was a man who However importuued orsth:“lfct-; fr •iri-4»xw18.It-lLiyiure-lr-Holur-sn-4 Uperiod extending dozen vears.wDuring all this time, not a quarrelsome word occurred between him and any of his neighbors; and yet all knew I | that it was from no lack of courage 1 on the part of Hill, for of all the hunters that pierced the jungles of cane in the “Great Swamp/ or descended by torch-light into the bowels of the Ozark Mountains, he had the reputation of being the most fearless. He was overwhelmingly elected again and again to the Territorial Legislature,and distinguished himself by his povv-- | ertul aud impassioned eloquence, and speedily became a leader in the rauks of his own party. He was a member of the convention which formed the State Constitution, aud was reelected to represent his county in the senateofArkausas.And now began his second series of misfortunes. Hill's most intimate neighbors were the Strongs, four brottiera of considerable wealth, a great deal of ambition, and in the phrase oi the couutry, “famous fighters. A close and cordial iutimacy grew up Oetweeu them aud Hill, andthe latter, moot unfortunately aud unguardedly, made George, the eldest, a coulideut of his previous history, it so happened that George had a most amoitious desire for political distinction, and made a requsi oi Hiii that he should resign his seat iu the senate in his favor. Hill refused, and the brothers conspired to revenge.Sending to North Carolina, they procured a copy of the reward offered lor Nixon Curry, the notorious robber. The four, powerful aud determined as they were, dared not attempt his capture alone, but secured the assistance of a dozen men, and made the attempt to capture Hill iu his own house. The latter never forgot his daily peril. He always carried an enormous double-barrelled shot gun,two long rifle pistols, and a lormida-tempiedinspired more terror. Men who had thereto, have'no friendship with the acquired a wide reputation for deeds j world. Look around and see the mei-of daring, turned pale when they en- auchoiy effect it has produced. How countered John Hill. Bullies who ; many have fallen by this very thing! j 'sought quarrels on the slightest pre- They would take 110 warning; they text accepted all manner of insults would converse aud that intimately8oa:ciafrom him, without a single word of re-j with earLhlv-miuded men, till theyis a warning.7 T.ndrkar-ellse-s,allrs.monstrance.One day in September, 1845, while he was seated at the breakfast table, Hill burst into tears.“What is the matter, my dear ?” inquired his wife.“I have had a dreadful dream. ItI know I shall die before sunset. Together we have encountered perils and hardships; you abandoned wealth and position for my sake, and you have never spoken au. unkind word to me. We have loved from childhood, and that love has never known abatement. It is this that troubles me—not regard for self. It is iudellibly impressed upon my mind that 1 shall uie a horriblewdeatli before sunset, aud the thought that it will distress you, also distresses me.”These were the exact words of Hill, as testified by his wife aud children. His wife told him—“Theu my dear husband, do not go to court to day.”(Tiie circuit court of Pope county, in which Hill resided, it should be remembered, was then in session.)“Yes, my wife, 1 must go,” he replied, “wheu a man’s time has come he should not seek to avoid death, but meet it bravely.” Then turning to his sou William, a bright boy of thirteen years, he told him to go aud get the bible, and upon it he made him swear to kill the man who killedhis father.“Here comes Moses tio ward, father ; he will protect you,” remarked Mary, the eldest daughter, as she descried the youug man approaching.The youth who was a fine, power-tlchameasured back their steps to earthagain. O come out from among them,from all unholy men, however harm-* ¥less they may appear, and be ye separate ; at least so far as to have nointimacy witfi them. As your fellowship is witli the Father and his son Jesus Christ, so let it be with those and those only, who at least seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity.Paysou was a holy man aud au em- ^ iueully useful minister of Christ. In early life he renounced the world. He says: “After long doubting the propriety, and even the lawfulness of mixing at all in society, where duty does uot eali, aud after suffering a number of times lor indulging myselicohtlt;o44aiL1tin it, I am at ieugth taught to re-fI1i.Cuounoe it entirely; aud it is not a needless scrupulosity. It does appear a duLy to shuu all communication withthe world, wheu there is no well- \ grounded reason to hope to do good, j t There are to be sure, many very plaus- j ible reasons, but I doubt whether they will bear the test of scripture.”To one who urged him to go into society and to frequent public amusements he wrote: “Can a mau take ‘coals of fire in his bosom’ and his clothes be not burned ? If he can, he can mix freely with the world, and uot be contaminated. But I am notthe one that can do it. * * When i go into company, it it is pleasant and agreeable, it has a tendency only to fix my thoughts on earth, from which it is my duty aud my desire to turn them—to give me a distaste for serious duties, especially prayer and mediation. and to render desirous of theiapplause and approbation of those
Newspaper Details
Barton Orleans Independent Standard
Barton, Vermont, US
Tue, Aug 25, 1868
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 22 Sep 2022
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Barton Orleans Independent Standard
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