Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-12-18

Among the trtest friends of the pco-
pie, of all in the present Convention, may
be named John Hill of ST. Francis. His
eloqucncc and courage fully entitlc him to
the proud place he holds, and as we trust,
will long rcmain-that of leader Of the Ar
kansas Democracy" L,tHc Roch Gazette
in the days of the Convention
"BLoopY AFFRAY.-A desperate rem
contrc occurred last week in st. Francis.
Two distinguished citizens wcrc killed and
three others dangerously wounded. The
difficulty resulted from an atte pit to arrest
John Hill, member of the last Legisla-
ture, and formerly of the State Convention,
who, as it is alleged, is the notorious rob
Der Nixon Curry, that committed such
atrocities fifteen years ago in the mountains
of Carolina. Lille Roch Gazette of May,
1910. ="
We have given the previous extracts
from the oldest and most respectable Jour
nal of Arkansas, in order to satisfy every
reader that the following narrative, extra
ordinary as some of its incidents may ap.
pear, is no tissue of fiction. Indeed, while
relating genuine events, and painting true
scenes, we have been especially careful to
avoid all vivid colors. Should this short
sketch by any chance, reach the forests of
Arkansas, the people there will deem it's
description tame in comparison with the
deeds of the man. The writer who has re-
sided long on the frontier, has no use for
fancy in portraying it's exciting life Sim
pie memory will serve him very we'll
About fifty years ago there lived in Ire
dell county, North Carolina, PRESBYTERIAN
minister by the name of Curry He was
man of easy circumstances, of irrcproacha-
BILE character, and had a large family of
promising sons and daughters Among
these the favoritc was Nixon, distinguish
ed when boy for his fearless courage and
the tenderness of his heart alike He seems
from several anecdotes of his early days, to
have been child of impulse and intense
oarnestncss and passion. When only six
years Of age, he had combat at school with
bully of the playground, nearly twice
his own weight, and after suffering dread
fully, at last achieved victory, due almost
entirely to the sheer power of his endurance.
From 'hc time he was six years old, that
is to say, from the first session he attended
IN the country school-house, had Nixon
Curry been in love. His idol was a little
girl the same age, and under the tuition
of the same master. The attachment ap-
pears to have been mutual from the com
mcnccmcnt. They stood up in one class,
and always managed to stand together
During the hours of recess, when the other
juveniles were amusing themselves with
bolstcrouss sports, the prccocous lovers would
wander amidst lcafy groves, or by the mos
&y margins of silver rills. Forever, to etcr-
nifty, and whenever the soft spell of first
love comes, it brings with it the bright spir-
1T of poetry, scattering thick starred dreams
and divine visions of beauty over all things
Even then they exchanged pledges, and
discourscd in sweet, sinleSs whispers of their
future bridal.
And thus they grew up into one delicious
identity of fancy and of feeling. Their
bias for the society of each other while
children, caused no particular remark
Such attachments are common among the
youth of opposite sexes in the country, and
as usual, terminate abruptly on arrival at
mature years. Far different, however, was
the case with Nixon Curry and Lucy Cor
don. Their passion became so evident at
fifteen, that all further intercourse was for
5idden by her parents-among the wealth
lest aristocracy of Carolina. Then follow
ed stolen meetings by star light, frmcr vows
and wilder love, which always increased in
proportion to IT'S crosses, and like the trees
of Lebanon, stnds down its deepest roots
into the heart the more it is shaken by
storms.
Finally, at seventeen, when Lucy's rela-
tives were endeavoring to force her into the
arms of another, she fled with the lover of
her childhood. They were pursued, over
taken, and Nixon Curry shot his rival and
one of the proud Gordons dead on the spot,
and then escaped with his BRIDE although
hotly chased by more men, and found an
asylum in the Allegheny Mountains, near
the source of the Catawba. Here under
the plea of necessity, he embraced the pro-
fcssion of robbcr, and rendered his name
famous by the number and astonishing
boldncss of his exploits. We may record
1T not as matter of merit, perhaps, but for
the sake of historical truth--that the youth
full bandit was never known to perpetrate
any deed Of murder for the sake of fplunder,
though he did several to avoid arrest. At
length the rumor Of his daring ceased sud
denly, and notwithstanding reward of five
thousand dollars was offered For his appre-