Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-21
SeIsftea Miseellauy.
THE OUTLAW.

In the year 1S- there lived in Iredell
county, North Carolina, Presbyterian
minister by the name of Curry. He was
a 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 admira-
ton of his schoolmates. He seemed i'm
pulsive, generous, and the possessor 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 affec-
ton, and SO ardently were they attached
to one another that, what is most rare in
childhood, no rival was ever suffered to
come between them.
Thus they grew up in delicious dream
of the future, and as their years increased,
so 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 pros
poets 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 would
never wed any one else, and Nixon vowed
to stand by her so long as a breath OF life
remained in his body.
AT length, at the age of eighteen, when
Lucy's relatives were doing their utmost
to force her into the arms of another, she
fled with her true and devoted love. They
were Immediately pursued and overtaken,
when the enraged Nixon Curry, brought
to bay, turned and shot his rival and one
of the others, and renewed his flight.
The pursuit was hot, but he succeeded
in eluding them, and took refuge in the
Allegheny Mountains, near the sources of
the Catawba.
Here really begins the extraordinary ca
necessity, he took up the profession of rob-
Der, and speedily rendered his name ia
nous by the number and character of his
exploits. Without attempting to give any
of the minor incidents, it should be stated
that the young robber never took a life for
the sake of plunder, although he did it
again and again to avoid arrest.
The Governor of North Carolina offered
$4,000 for his apprehension, and many
parties, tempted by the offer. engaged in
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 discover 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, removed them while the
opportunity remained to him.
During the first settlement of the fertile
delta bordering on the St Francis, now in
the State Of Arkansas, an emigrant made
his appearance, calling himself John Hill.
He rapidly became the most popular man
in the settlement Although of moderate
means, he was sober, industrious, generous,
and of extended hospitality, and such con-
tinued to be his character in the country
which he had adopted for period extend
ing over about a dozen years.
r. During all this time, not quarrelsome
= 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 jun
giles of cane in the Great Swamp" or de-
scended by torchlight into the bowels of
the Ozark Mountains, he had the reputa-
ton of being the most fearless. He was
overwhelming elected again and again
to the Territorial Legislature, and distin-
guished himself by his powerful and i'm
passioned eloquence, and speedily became
.,xf &c ,,oy.fxy II
was member of the Convention which
formed the State Constitution, and was re.
elected to represent his county in the Sen
ate of Arkansas.
And now began his second series of mis-
+ fortunes. Hills most intimate neighbors
were the Strongs, four brothers of consid
cradle wealth, great deal Of 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 unguarded
ly, made George, the eldest, conhdant Of
his previous history. 1t so happened thai
George had a most ambitious desire fol
political distinction, and made request o.
Hill that he should resign his seat in the
Senate in his favor. Hill refused, and thu
brothers conspired for revenge.
Sending to North Carolina, they pro
cured copy of the reward offered fol
Nixon Curry, the notorious robber. Th'
four, powerful and determined as they
were, dared not attempt his capture alone
but secured the assistance of a dozen men
and made the attempt to capture Hill il
his own house. The latter never forgo
his daily peril. He always carried al
enormous double -barrelled shot gun, TIVE
long rifle pistols, and formidable knife
The attack of the Strongs proved |
dreadful one for themselves Two of th'
brothers were shot dead, while six of tn,
others were badly wounded, several o
them mortally, when the rest of them wer
glad to withdraw for the time This affai
caused the most unbounded excitemen
throughout Arkansas. The thought tina
the chiyalrous and highly popular JohI
Hin could be identical with the notoriou
robher Nixon Curry was staggering