The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-09-07

!
aud, as usual, terminate abruptly, on arri
val al mature Years. Far different, how.
ever, was the case with Nixon Curry and
Lucy Gordon. Their PASSION became so
evlden, a. fifteen. lha, all further inter.
course was forbidden by her parenis-a
mong the weslih.esl ars,ocIscy Of Caroli
ma. Then followed stolen meetings By star.
hight, fiimer VOWS and wilder love. Wbich
always increase 10 pfopotiIon TO It's crosses,
aud like the tree Of Lebanon, seuds dow n
lis deepes, roots ia:o the heart, the more i,
Is shaken by storms.
Finally, at seventeen, when Lucy's re.
lst'es we're endeavoring to force her nto
the arms OF anoiher, she fed With The low.
es OF her childhood. They we're pursued
overtaken; and Nixon Curry shot his ri. al
and enc Of the proud Gorduus dead on the
spot, aud then escaped with his bride, al.
though holly chased by more men, and
found au n:J lam IN the Allegheny Noun.
tains near he sources Of the Calawba -
Here, under the plea Of necessity, he EN-.
braced tho profession Of rcbber, ard rem.
deted bis nlu.e famous by the ruuber and
asouleAln. bo.duess Of his exploits We
msy record it, not as matter Of merit,
perhaps, but for he sake Of historical truth,
that the youthful bandit never Was known
TO perpelraIe any deed OF murder for the
purpose OF plumber. though he did several
TO AVOID aues,. 4, cng,h the rumor OF
his daring felonies ceased suddenly, and,
Notwithstanding a reward OF FIVE thousand
dollars was offered for his apprehension by
tie Governor Of iht Safe, he sts Leurd q
no more N North Carolina.
Al the first settlement, Of the fertile delta,
bordering on tie s.. ffsncis, there came
an emlsfsut, Who called himself John llIl,
aud aho soon succeeded IN acquiring un
vefsai popularity Although OF mode rate
means, he wss sober, industrious, generous
aud hosphable and such continued 10 be
his character, ~ tie nc~ country ot bis /.
dnpuon, for twelve successive years. DJ.
ring all that long period be never had Il
/ personal difficulty or quarrel wnh any hu
man being; and yet every body ives sans
he'd, that such a peaceful l,e-sngu ar for
that latitude, Was not owing TO a want OF
+ coursge, or deficiency N power to perform
good service, 10 any sort Of battle field 4; for
Of ell bear huaicts hat ever pierced the
i Jangles Of cane 10 The great ssamp,' OF
descended By torch hight INTO the dark
caves OF the Ozark MoIuains, he Was eel.
ehfaied as the most feat less
4 H. vGa repeatedly elected q he Tefi,o.
4 rial Legislature, whore he distinguished
/ himself by strong, lmpassl 1ned eloqaence,
rs 0 chef leader ~ the Democrats ranks.
/ tle was ueXt, as ~e have already seen, q
me Der OF The convention thst formed the
State constitution, aud was clccied aaain
lho ensuing year 10 represent his county 10
tho Senate Of Arkansas.
this period commenced his second Sc.
res OF mlsiortunes. Hills nearest neigh
bors we're the Slrongs four brothers o.
considerable wealth, more ambition, and if
we may borrow the phrase Of the country,
{" famous ,hters." Notwithstanding their
character was so diselmiar from that OF the
pac tic bear hunter q close and cordial
intimacy grew Up between them and Hill,
10 an uuguar5ed momen', made the eldest
brother George. couhIanI as TO the Sc
creis OF his previous history. II happened
that tins same Gco-ge conceived violent
desire lor political Distinction, and request
ed II Il to resign hrs scat IN the Senate IN
the il!bernl friends favor Hall refused,
and the Stongs consplred for q terrible re
venge. Whiting back 10 Carolina, they
procured a copy Of The reward offered for
the arrest Of Nixon Curry, the far famed
robber aud then collecting party OF do.
zen desperate men, they attempted TO cap
ture Hill IN his own house. The latter had
always gone armed, With his enormous
double biUcIled shot gun, two long rtls'
pistols, and knife so heavy, that few 9th.
er hands besides his own could WELD It,
The assault Of the Strongs proved horrible
to themselves. II / killed two of the bro
theirs and dangerously wounded FIVE OF thelr
friends. cscaplng himself unhuft, although
moro than tsen,y rounds OF ball and buck.
shot we're aimed at his breast.
The excllemen, resulting from the ehilr
was hV~ndless. 4 tequiston came on from
the executive - Carolina, demanding the
surrender Of Nixon ce-ry. The governor
Of Arkansas published an ada.,;an,l reward
for the arrest of John Hill; and Inv. be
,slx, the two fires, the vIc,Iui's chance
seem"d perfectly hopeless.
HIS conduct IN tho crisis vas prompt
and fearless as ever. Packing up hastily,
he set on, with his wife and children, IN a
common moving wagon, for Upper Arkan-
sns. where he knew OF band OF despora-
does that he believed would protect him.
lie vas overhauled at Conway Court house
by two hundred men 10 pursuit, all thor
oughly armed, and some Of them renowned
+" fighters" Hill saw their approach on
the distant prairie, aud with his dreadful
double barrel--that sure death dealer to
either man or beast within the range Ct
two hundred yards--lnstanlly marched to
meet his Toes. This incredible bravery,
loined 10 the fear before inspired by his
desperation, affected the advancing troops
with such an unaccounlabe panic, that the
whole two hundred sought safety IN dis.
gracefully rapid fight.
IL