The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-08-14
THEOUTLAW.

In the year lS-there lived in lredell
county, North Carolina, Presbyterian
minister by the name OF Curry. He was
q man in comfortable circumstances, of
most excellent reputation, with large
family of SONS and daughters. Among
these was boy by the name of Nixon,
noted for his sprightliness, his activity,
and courage.
Many are the incidents recorded of
his early days, wherein he displayed his
bravery and won the respect and admit
ration of his schoOimates. he seemed
impulsive, generous, and the possessor OF
many noble qualities.
From childf God Nixon Curry was in
love. His fair one was a girl somewhat
Younger than himself, attending 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 ev-
er suffered to come between them.
Thus they grew up in delicious dream
of the future, and as their years increas-
ed, so apparently did their passion Tor
each other. AT fifteen this was so evil
dent that their parents forbade all inter
views between them. Her parents were
the yeryF. FPS of North Carolina, and
thew 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 prom
ised that whatever should occur she
would never wed any one else, and Nix
on vowed to stand by her so long as
breath of life remained in his body.
At length, at the age of Is, when
Lucys relatives were doing their utmost
to force her into the arms OF another, she
fed with her true and devoted love;
They were Immediately pursued ana
overtaken, when the enraged Nixon
Curry, brought to bay, turned and shot
his rival and one of the others, and re-
newed his flight.
The pursuit was hot, but he succeeded
in GLIDING them, and took refuge in the
Allegheny Mountains, near the sources
% the Catawba.
Here really begins the extraordinary
career of Nixon Curry. Under the plea
of necessity, he took up the profession
of robber, and speedily rendered his
name famous by the number and char
acter of his exploits. Without attempt
ing to give any of the minor incidents,
it should be stated that the young rob
Der never took life for the sake of plum
der, although he did it again and again
to avoid arrest.
The Governor of North Carolina offer
ed Sc 900 for his apprehension, and many
parties, tempted by the offer, engaged
in the pursuit. They frequently gained
sight of the notorious bandit; more
than once the crack OF his death dealing
rifle was heard from some adjoining
rock but never were they able to dis
cover his retreat or bring him to bay.
Suddenly all rumors of his daring con-
duct ceased, and although the search
was continued, he was seen no more in
North Carolina. 1t was judged that his
quarters were becoming too hot for
safety, and he had, therefore, prudently
removed them while the opportunity re-
manned to him.
During the first settlement of the fer
tile delta bordering ON the st. Francis,
now in the state of Arkansas, an emil
grant made his appea rance, calling him.
self John Hill. He rapidly became the
most popular man in the settlement.
Although of moderate means, he was
sober, industrious, generous, and of ex-
tended hospitality, and such continued
to be his character in the country which
he had adopted for a period extending
over about a dozen years.
During all this time, not quarrel
some word occurred between him and
any of his neighbors and yet all knew
that it was from no lack of courage 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 Noun.
tains, he had the reputation Of being the
most fearless. He was overwhelmingly
elected again and again to the Territor-
ial Legislature, and distinguished him
self by his powerful and impassioned