Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-08-15
H.. m.y immed;s,clv per,u.d

catawbs.
Hero really begin. the extraordinary ca
rssr Of Nixon Curry. Under the plea OF
necessity, he took up the profession CT
sobber, and speedily rendered his nnme r.
nous by the number and character Of his
exploits.
The Governor Of Moth Carolina offered
81, 300 for bis apprehension, and many
parties, tempted by tho ofcr, engaged In
! pursuit. Taev frequently gained s.gat of
the notorious bandit. More than once the
crack of his rihs was heard FROM some
adj dining rock but never wera they abe
to discover his retreat or bring him 10
| bay. IN.
During the first settlement al the ier'iie
| delta bordering on the St. Francis NJ"
the state Of Arksnsa, an em,s1an n, Hi.
his appearance, calling himself Jonu I'M
us -spidlv became the most popular man
in the settlement. l..
Although of moderate means, ne was
sober industrious, generous, and oil ex-
,end, ~ hospitality, and such contieued to
s. HE character in the country whica he
ID adopted for a period extending about
dozen wears.
Daring all this time not c guArrelsome
word occurred between him ara any Of his
ne ghbors End yet all knew that 1t vas
fran no lack Il courage On the part OF
Iii !, for OF al. the hunters tnat pie; ced the
lungles in the "Great swamp, or de-
scended by torchlight into the bowels Of
the Ox,rk Mountains. he bad the feputs-
ton Of being the most fearless. lie was
overwhelmingly elected again and sgsin TO
the territorial Legislat urs, and distinguish
ci himself by his powerful and inpass on
cd eloqusnce, and speedily became leader
in the ranks Of his own party. He vas
member Of the esovsn,iou which formed
tho State Constitution, aud wac re elected
to represent his coun in the Senate Of
Arkansas.
And now began his second series o. mis-
fortunes. Hili's most intimate nsighbors
were the Strsngs, four brothers Of consid-
cradle wealth, great deal u ambition, and
in the phrase Of the country, famous
fighters" A close and cordial intimacy
grew up between them and Hill, and the
latter, most unfortunately and unguardcdly
made George. the eldest, confident Of mis-
previous history. 1t 90 happened thai
George had most ambitious desire for po
litical distinction, and made request O
Hill that no should resign his ssst in th,
Senate in his favor. Hill refused, and III,
brothers conspirsd 70 revenge.
Sending to. North Carolina, they procure,
. copy Of the reward offered for Nixon Cur
ry. The notorious Yobber. The four, pow
erful and determined 40 they we're, dare,
c not attempt his capture alone, but secure,
G the assistance Of . dozen mon, and mad
l the attempt TO capture Hill in HE CIV
house. The latter never forgot his dali
, peril. lle always carried an enormou
e double barreled shot gun, two long rin
;, pistols. and formidable knife. Arkansa
has never Sesn noted IS n psac.ably incllr
81 State, and in those days its populate
numbcIed a greater per cent Of despsr,
. does and lawless mtn than it does at tn
% present.
h The attack Of the Sirongs proved
dreadful one for themselves. Two OF til
brothers we're shot dead, while aix Of IN
clhors were be ~ wounded, several I
them norially, when the rest Of them wei
4 glad to withdraw for tho time. This ada
/, caused the most undounded excisemc,
throughout Arkansas. The ,though, III
the chivalrous and highly Popular Jo
A iiill could be identical with the notorio,
robbcr Nixon Curry was staggering to hu
~ drcds. Many for \ time refused TO believe
"a Perhaps the state OF public feeling c:
~ hest be shown bv the two following eItrac
y lscn the Little Rock Gazette The first n
pc-rea when IIil became SO popular duri,
no ~ days of the Convention:
Among the trucst friends Of the poor
" Of all in the present Convention may
mt named John Hill. Of 81. Francis. His cnc
nd ~. e'oquencc aud courage fully cntitle hi
1, to The place lie holds, and. as We trust, "
|. long retain-that Of tho leader Of tho A
= kansas Democracy
The second extract 10 taken from Il
Mt same paper Of May, 1870
n. "BLooDY ATrRAY.-A dssI sfats rencou
ter occurred in ST. Francis last week. IL
:! distinguished citizens were killed, a, i TIN
no otheis dangerously wounded. The diff ul
or resulted from an altainpi to arrest .Iul
liill, a mcmher Of the las, Legislature. A.
), torn { " Of the State eoDven,.on. who as
nlescc, |. 80 nototieus robter Nixon Gu
TO- -, .sho committed sach atrocities li1,,
NeAFs $50 "a the mountains of North car
4. lima"
=. Artquifi.ien n sen, by the Governor
Nnrth taroliun demanding the surrender
at Nixon Curry. TAe Governor If Arkans
he published nn additional reward Tor the ;
~ rest Of John fiiil, aud thus between =
tive, ! seemed As IL il was about IN vi
The victim.
IN Hill packed mp hastily md set out vi
I'd his wife and children for Upper Arkan.a
mr. where lie knew Of the existence of band
de-pcradee, that he hal reason TO belle
world pr tert i'm He was pnrsne,
Nv over a hundred o. the cit Z ms, many ofthe
;" ursfmrd. aud attending only ior the IN
pose Of witnessing the sport and securin4
a psr, ~ the muniticcnt reward that was ,
tered Tor his apple hsnsion. Hill was owe
- taken at Conway Court House by the
st men, and hating his wagon and admonIs
90 ing his vito and children to keep the
=, places, he marched forth with his deaf
dealing gun.
y The railan.ry of the action, and Hin's
credible bravery operated in his favor.
. Many we're unwilling 10 hurt 90 intrepid
hs character others were afraid . pani, y
created, and Hill pursued his way unm
NJ Tested
", Subsequent. attempts were made to ARE
Of BIN, but all resulted tragically or luderou
- " to .hese attempting it. II was know
a that Hin could never Be taken alive. a,
many began TO believe that he could n
ne when dead
The constant puruit and hunting hi
changed his nature He became more
no and sour, and unable to folo~ any regul
. business He resor,ed to the eambli,
Al table for the support OF his family He
:, cameo drinker, too. and vas speed,
~ transformed into mcst bitter and qua
m relsoms opponent
10 IT Hin had bssn famous among a q mon
:. tains Of North Carolina, be now BEGAN
doubly %. Excepting, perhaps. u
- prince OF dusllials, james Bowie. H.
g never vas = man who inspired more e
10 ror. Men who had acquired . wide rem
in tatisn !os deeds Of daring turned pale vhs
they encountered John Hill. Bulle. vi
ecesht quarssls On the slightest prets,
y accepted oil manner of insults from hin
i without Asingls word Of remembrance.
a One day in September, 1916, while
was seated q. the breakfast table. Iii
:" burst into tears
~ "wha. is the matter dearw INQUIRE
y | lis vile.
q IL have had dreadful Grasm. T.is
r warning know shall die before So,
Get. Together We have encountered psri
ana hardship; you abandoned wealth an
position FOR my sake, and YOU have nsya