The Shasta courier., 1868-05-02
SHASTA COURIER.
THE OUTLAW.


a man in comfortable circumstances, oi
most excellent reputation. with large
family of sons and daughters. Among
these was boy by the name OF Nixon,
noted for his activity and courage.
MANY are the incidents recorded OF his
early days, wherein he displayed his bra
very and won the respect and admiration
of his sehoolmates. He seemed lmpul-
sive. generous and the possesser Of many
noble qualities.
From childhood Nixon, Curry was in
love. His fair one was girl somewhat
Younger than himself, attending the same
school with him. She returned his afec-
tion, and so ardently were they attached
to one another, that, what is rare in child
hood, no rival was suffered to come be-
tween them.
Thus they grew up in delicious dream
of the future, and as their years increased,
50 apparently did their passion for each
other. At fifteen this was so evident that
their parents forbade all interviews be.
tween them Her parents were the very
F F.'s OF North Carolina, and they 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 promised that whatever should
occur she never would wed anyone else
and Nixon vowed to stand by her as long
as breath of live remained in his body.
At length, at the age of eighteen, when
LucSy's 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 and
overtaken, when the enraged Nixon Curry
brough. to bay, turned and shot his rival
and one of the others, and renewed his
fight.
The pursuit was hot, but he succeeded
in eluding them, and took refuge among
the Allegheny Mountains, near the sources
of the Catawba.
Here really begins the extraordinary
career of Nixon Gordon. Under the plea
of necessity, he took up the profession
of robber, and speedily rendered his name
famous by the number and character Of
his exploits.
Without attempting to give any of these
minor incidents it should be stated that
the young robber never took life for the
sake of plunder, although he did it agair
and again to avoid arrest.
The Governor ofNorth Carolina Offered
five thousand dollars for his apprehension
and many parties, tempted by the offer
engaged in tile pursuit. They frequent
ly gained sight of the notorious bandit
and more than once the crack of his death
dealing rife was heard from some adjoin
ing rock but never were they able tt
discover his sretreat, or to bring him to bay
Suddenly all rumors of his daring con
duct ceased, and although the search wa
continued, he was seen no more in Nortl
Carolina 1t was judged that his quarter
we're becoming too hot for safety, and h
had, therefore, prudently removed then
while the opportunity remained to him.
During the FIRST settlement of the fertil
delta bordering on the St. Francis, an emi
grant made his appearance, calling himsel
John Hill. He rapidly became the mos
popular man in the settlement Although
of moderate means, he was sober, industri
Gus, generous and of large hospitality, anc
such continued to be his character in tn
country that he had adopted extending owe
dozen years.
During all this time not quarrelsom
word occurred between him and any of hi
neigbbors; and yet all knew that it wa
from no lack of courage on the part o
Hill, for of all the hunters that ever pierced
the jungles of cane in the +" Great Swamp,
or descended by torchlight into the bowel
of the Ozark Mountains, he had the repu
tation of being the most fearless.
He was overwhelmingly elected agai
and again to the Territorial Legislature
where he distinguished himself by hi
powerful, impassioned eloquence, an
speedily became leader in the ranks @
his own party. He was member of tn
Conve which formed the State Cor
stitation, and was reelected the ensuin
year to represent his country in the Senat
of Arkansas
And now began his second series O
misfortunes. Hills most intimate neigh
bors were the Strongs, four brothers G
considerable wealth, great deal of ambi
tion, and, in the phrase of the country
" famous fighters" A close and cordia
intimacy grew up between them and Hill
and the latter, most unfortunately an,
uuguardedly made George the elder, con
tidant to his previous history.
1t so happened that this self sam
George had most ambitious desire fo
political hoaors, and made request 0
Hill tnat he should resign his seat in tn
Senate in his favor. Hill refused, an,
the brothers coEspired for revenge.
Sending to North Carolina, they pro
cured copy of the reward offered 70
Nixon Curry, the notorious robber. Th
four, powerful and determined as the
were, dared not attempt his capture alone
but secured the services of nearly dozel
men, and made the attempt to captur
Hill in his own house
The latter never forgot his daily peril
He always carried an enormus double
barrelled shotgun, two long rife pistols
and knife so heavy and formidable tha
few besides himself himself could handI
it.
Arkansas has never been noted as
remarkably peacefully inclined State, an,