The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-09-12

mossv margins Of silver rils. Forever, L"
eternity, and whenever. the soft spell "i flrSl
love comes, il brings with II the bright Spr-
il cf tm'trr, scattering thick starred dreams
and divine visions oi beauty over all things
Even then they exchanged pledges. and dis
coursed in sweet sinlcss whispers OF their
future bridal.
| Ana thus lhev Hrew up into one delicious
identity of fancy and feeling. Their bias
for each others society, wh hile children 'cas-
ed no particular remark. Shch attachments
are common between the youth al "pp's''"
sexes in the country. and as usual tern'n'
ate 'aIrhp,lv, on arrival a, mature years.
Far different, hn&ever, was the case with
Nixon Curry and Lucy Gordon. Their
passion became so evident at fifteen, that all
further intercourse was forbidden by her
parcn,s.-amnng the wca'thIest arIstncracv
of Carolina. Then fnllnwcd st"IeE meetings
by starlight, irlner VOWS aud wilder love,
which ALWAYS increases in proportion L" ITS
grasses, and like the tree of Lebanon, sends
down lis deepest roots lnlo the heart The
mrre it is shaken by storms
Finally. al seventeen. when Lurys reia-
,vcs were endcav"ring to force her INT" The
aims ef another, she hc,l with The lover "t
her childhood. They were pursued d-"vtr-
rtker; and Nixon Curry shot his rival and
,tie df the proud Gnrdons de ID n The Sp"l,
and then escape with his bride. although
hollv chased hv more men. and i"und an
asylum in the Alrchany Mountains near
re snurccs nf the Caiawba. II ere, under
the plea nf necessity. he embraced tHc pro-
fcssi"n of rubber. and rendered his name
famous hv lhc number and astonishing hold.
ness of his exploits We may record it, not
as a matter Of merit, perhaps. bot tor The
sake M historical truth, that the youthful
bandit never was kro%n 10 perpelrale anv
deed OF mhi'der for the pupoSc OF plundesr'
though he did several tn AVOID arrest. III
lrnstf, tire rn4nnr of his daring fconles ccaS-
ed suddenly. and. notwithstanding reward
of five thousand dollars was offered t"r hIS
apprehension hv the Governor of the State,
he was heard III no more in N"rh Car"lra.
AT the first settlement nl the fertile dc'la,
bordering ON the ST. Francis. there came al
emigranl. who called himself john Hill. aud
who sonn succeeded in acquiring universal
popularity. Although of m'"lcra,e meanS'
he was sober, industrious. generous aud lr's
pl,abe; and such continued Ia bc his char.
acier, in The new country nfhs adoption.
for twelve successive years. During all that
period he never had IA personal difficulty or
quarrel with any human being; aud yet eve.
~ body was satisfied. that such peaceful
Ilfc-sircnIar fer that latitude. Xas not o"-
! 4 al
power to prrfrrm good service. in any sort
! ot battle field for of all bear rhunteis 'ha!
| ever prcrced the junglcs ri cane in 9TH" great
swamp" If Hrf;rrndrd hv toTchi9ll "Il"
lhc dark caves Of HE Ozark Mountains, F"'
was rcieb aIcd as lit: tIr'sl fearless.
lie was repeatedly elected /" The tern q.
RIA! Legislature, where ir dist lI'i'shcd iii''''
# bv a strong. inras<r'ncI eInq'i &C As Il
chicl leader IL, tive Democratic ranks. ii"
vas next, as We have ;.rta'y Src;', a mem
her of the convention that i',rm"d tie state
constitution. aud was eject at again the en-.
| sd NJ year to represent his country in the
Senate of Arkansas.
| A, i'iis period commenced his second sc.
ries Of miSlnrnhcS Hills nearest ncighh"rS
were the SirnngS.-Iuur brothers ct c"nSld-
! er bic wealth, more ambition, and, u we
may borrow The phrase ni the country, 'ii-
NOUS fighters" Notwithstanding their char
acicr was 50 dsSmllar from that nt the pa
cifc "bcar-hunlrr," close aud cordial ull-
macy grew up between them aud ll,Il III
| an ungardcd moment. made the eldest bro.
! thef, George. conlihanl as to the secrets ot
hs previous history. II happened that thus
same George conceived vnIlrnt desire tor
political distinction and requested HILL I"
resign his scat IN lhc Senate IN the liberal
friends favor Hill refused. and tho Str HIgs
c"nspircd Ehr n terrible revenge. Writing
back To Carolina, they procured copy OF
the reward offered for The arrc>, "t Nixon
Curry, the fariamcd rbhrr; and then col
nctny canv m' dozen drSVn. ate men.
they attempted To capture Hill IN his own
house. The letter had always gone ARMED,
with his en- ,rnnllS dnuhIe'barrrlrl shot gun.
two Irti rifle pistols, an n knife So heavy,
tha, few other hands besides his own could
wirlI II. The assault of the Slr"ngs proved
horrible to themselves. Hill killed Two ct
the brothers and dangerously y wounded i've
Of their friends. escaping unhnrt. although
more than twenty rounds of bali and buck
shut were aimed at his breast.
The excitement resulting from The affair
was bnuudIcss. A rcqnsI'idh came on from
the executive ni CaruIlna, demanding the
surrender of Nixon Curry. The govern.
or of Arkansas published an additional re.
ward for The arrest of john Hill and thus
bclwx, the two fires. the vIctlm's chance
seemed perfectly h"pces.
HTS conduct in the crSss was pr"np'
and fearless as ever. rarhn. up hastily,
he SET out with his wife and chillrrn. ~ a