Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-22
From the Democratic Review.
JOHN HILL, ALIAS NIXON CURRY;
THE VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

Among the truest friends Of the people, of all in the
present Convention, may be named John Hil of st.
Francis His eoquerce and courage fully entitle him
to the proud place he holds and trust, will long
remaln-that of leader of the Arkansas Democracy
Little Rock Gdeette IN the days Of the Convention.
BLOODY AFFRAY.-A desperate rencontre occurred
last week IN St Francis Two distinguished citizens
were killed and three others dangerously wounded The
difficulty resulted from attempt to arrest John Hil
member of the last Legislature, and formerly of the
State Convention, who it is alleged is the notorious
robber, Nixon Curry that committed such atrocities
fifteen years ago in the mountains of Carona.-LttLe
Roek Gazette of May 1910.
We have given the previous extracts from the oldest
and most respectable journal Of Arkansas, in order to
satisfy every reader that the following narrative extra
ordinary some of its incidents may appear is It's
Sue OF fiction. Indeed while relating genuine events
and painting true scenes have been especially
full to avoid all vivid coOrs. Should this short SKETCH
by y chance reach the forests of Arkansas the people
there will deem its descriptions tame in comparison with
the deeds Of the man. The writer who has resided long
on the frontier, has for fancy in portrayng its
exciting life. Simple memory will serve him very well.
! About fifty years ago there lived in Irede county
North Carolina, Presbyterian minister by the name
of Curry. He man of easy circumstances, of If
reproachabe character and had large family of prom
Using sons and daughters. Among these the favorite
was Nixon, distinguished when boy for his fearless
courage and the tenderness of his heart alike He seems
from several anecdotes of his carly days. to have been
child of impulse and intense earnestness and passion
When only six years of age he had combat at school
with buIy of the playground nearly twice his own
weight and after suffering dreadfuy, at last achieved
victory due almost entirely to the sheer power of his
endurance.
From the time he was six years DID, that is to say,
from the first session he attended in the country school
house, had Nixon Curry been in love. His idol was
little girl OF the same age, and under the tuition of the
same master. The attachment appears to have been
mutual from the commencement They stood up in one
class and always managed to stand together During
the hours of recess when the other juveniles were anu
sing themselves with boisterous spirits, the precocous
lovers would wonder amidst eay groves, or by the
sy margins of silver rs Forever to eternity, and when
the soft spell of first love comes, it brings with it
the brghtspr of poetry scattering thick starred dreams
and divine visions of beauty all things. Even then
they exchanged pledges and discoursed in sweet snless
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 particular remark Such
attachments are common among the youth of opposite
sexes in the country, and as USUAL terminate abruptly
arrival at mature years Far different however
the case with Nixon Curry and Lucy Gordon. Their
passion became evident at Fifteen that all further in
tercourse forbidden by her parents-among the
Weathest aristocracy of Carolina. Then followed stolen
meetings by star light frmer VOWS and wilder love,
which always increased in proportion to its crosses and
like the trees of Lebanon sends down its deepest roots
into the heart the more it is shaken by storms
Finally, at seventeen when Lucys relatives were en-
deavOrng to force her into the Of another she fled
with the lover of her childhood They were persued
overaken, and Nixon Curry shot his rival and one of
the proud Gordons dead the spot and then escaped
with his bride although hotly chased Dy more men, and
found asylum in the Alleghany Mountains near the
sources of the CaaWba Here, under the plea of neces
sty he embraced the profession of robber and render
ed bis famous by the number and astonishing bold
ness of his exploits. We may record it not matter
of merit perhaps but for the sake of historical truth
that the youthful bandit known to perpetrate
any deed of murder for the sake of pnder, though he
did several to avoid arrest At length the rumor of his
daring lelonics ceased suddenly and Notwithstanding
reward OF five thousand dollars offered for his ap
prehenSOn by the Governor Of the State he heard
of no more in North Carolina.
At the first settlement of the fertile delta bordering
on the St. Francis, there emf grant who called
himself John Hill, and who soon succeeded in acquiring
universal popularity. Although of moderate means, he
SOBER INDUSTRIOUS generous and hosptabe and such
continued to be his character in the country of his
adoption, for twelve successive years. During all that
long period he had serious difficulty quarrel
with any human being and yet everybody was sattis
fled that such peaceful fe-sngular for that latitude
was not owing to want OF courage or deficiency in
power to perform good service in any sort Of battle
field for OF all bearhunters that pierced the jun
torchigh into the dark of the Ozark Mountains
he was celebrated as the most fearless.
He was repeatedly elected to the territorial Lcgisla
ture, where he distinguished himself by strong mpas
stoned eIoquence chief leader in the Democratic
ranks He next we have already seem mem
Der of the Convention that formed the State Constitu
ton and elected again the ensuing year to repre-
sent his county in the Senate of Arkansas.
At this period commenced his second series of msfor
tunes Hills nearest neghbOrs were the Strongs-four
brothers of considerable wealth, more ambition and,
we may borrow the phrase of the country, famous
/ fighters
Notwithstanding their character was so dissmilal
from that Of the pacific bearhuner close and cor
dial intimacy grew up between them and Hill, III al
unguarlCd moment made the eldest brother, George
contdant to the secrets OF his previous history Ii
happened that this George conceived violent de
sire for political distinction and requested Hill to resign
his seat in the Senate in the illiberal friends favor Hill
refused and the Strongs cospred for terrible
Writing back to Carolina they procured a copy o
reward offered for the arrest of Nixon Curry the far
famed robber ; and then collecting party Of dOzel
desperate men, they attempted to capture Hill i'll bis
own house The latter had always gone armed with bis
enormous double barreled shotgun, two long rifle ps
oIs, and knife so heavy that few other hands besides
his could WELD it. The assault OF the StrongS
proved horrible to them Hill killed two Of the brothers
and dangerously wounded five of their friends escaping
himself unhurt, athoug more than twenty rounds O
ball and buckshot were aimed at his breast.
The excitement resulting from the affair was bound
less. A requsition came from the Executive of Caro-
lina demanding the surrender of Nixon Curry. Tht
Governor of Arkansas published additional reward
for the arrest of John Hill and thus betwixt the two
fires, the victims chance seemed perfectly hopeless.
Hills conduct in the crisis prompt and fearless
ever. Packing up hastily, he set out with his wife
children, in a common moving wagon, for Upper Ar
Kansas where he knew Of band of desperadoes that
: believed would protect him. He overhaued a
. Conway Court House by two hundred men in pursuit
all thoroughly armed and some of them renowned fight
t ers' Hill saw their approach the distant prairie
and with his dreadful double barrel-that death
dealer to either man or beast within the range of tw
hundred yards-nstantly marched to meet his foes.
~ 4lofo L1co.