Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-08-07

any OF his nelgnDOrS ana YET all KNEW
that IL was from no lack of courage on
the part of Hill, for of all the hunters
that pierced the iungles 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 Terlitor-
ial Legislature and distinguished him.
self by his powerful and impassloncd
eloquence, and speedily became lead
er lin the ranks of his own party. He
was member of the Convention which
formed the state Constitution, and was
reelected to represent his county in the
Senate of Arkansas.
And now began his second series of
misfortunes. Hills mostintimatc nigh
bors were the Strongs, four brothers of
considerable wealth, q great deal of am
bton, and in the phrase ofthe country
famous fighters close ana CORDIAL
intimacy grew up between them and
Hill. and the latter, most unfortunately
and unguardedly, made George, the cid
est, Il confident of his previous history
1t so happened that George had Il most
ambitious desire for political distinction,
and made request of Hill that he should
resign his seat i'll the Senate in his favor
Hill refused, and the brothers conspircd
to revenge.
Nenu1ll9 10 NcGlh NdIOlllld liitN IiV-
cured Il copy of the reward offered for
Nixon Curry the notorious robber The
four, powerful and determined rs they
were dared not attempt his capture
alone. but secured the assistance of q
dozen men. and made the attempt to
capture Hill in his own house. The
latter never forgot his daily peril. He
always carried an enormous doublo-bar-
relied shot gun, two long rifle pistols
i = I, l., II Arlyo hna.
never been noted as a peaceably inclined
State, and in those days its population
numbered greater per cent. of desper-
ADDE'S and lawlcss men than it does at
the present.
The attack of the Strongs proved
dreadful one for themselves Two OF
the brothers were shot dead, while six
of the others were badly wounded, sew
eral of them MORALLY, when the rest OF
them were glad to Withdraw for the
tlme This affair caused the most I'M
bounded excitement throughout Arllan-
sas. The thought that the chivalrous
and highly popular John Hill could be
identical with the notorious robber Nix
on Curry was staggering to hundreds
Many for a time refused to believe it.
Perhaps the state of puplic feeling can
best be shown by the two following eX-
tracts from the Little Rock gazette.
popular during the days of the Convcn-
ton.
among the truest friends Of the peo-
pie of all in the present Convention may
be named John Hill, of st. Francis.
His energy, cloquence and courage fully
cntitle him to the place he holds, and,
as we trust, will long retain-'hat of the
leader of the. Arkansas Democracy
The second extract is taken from the
same paper for May, 1910:
BLOODY AFFRAY.-A desperate rem
counter occurred in st. Francis last
week. Two distinguished citizens were
killed, and three others dangerously
wounded. The difficulty resulted from
an attempt to arrest John Hill, a mem
Der of the last Legislature, and formerly
of the State Convention, who, as il is
alleged, is the notorious robber, Nixon
Curry, who committed such atrocities
fifteen years ago in the mountains OF
North Carolina
A requisition was sent by the Gov
ernOr of North Carolina demanding the
surrender of Nixon Curry. The Gov
ernor of Arkansas published an additi-
onal reward for the arrest of John Hill
and thus between the two it seemed as
if it was about up with the victim.
Hill packed up hastily, and set out
with his wife and children for Upper
"A
ence of band of desperadoes that he
had reason to believe would protect him.
He was pursued by over a hundred OF
the citizens, many of them unarmed,
and attending only for the purpose OF
witnessing the sport and securing
part of the munificent reward that was
offered for his apprehension. Hill was
overtaken at Conway Court House by
these men, and haltng his wagon, and
I'll la Ia al 70
keep their places, he marched forth
with his death-dealing gun.
The gallantry of the action, and Hills
incredible bravery, operated i'll his IA
vor. Many were unwilling to hurt so
intrepid character; others were afraid;
a panic was created, and Hill pursued
his way unmolested.
Subsequent attempts were made to
arrest him, but all resulted tragically or
ludicrously to those attempting it. 1t
was known that Hill could never be
taken alive, and many began to believe
that he could not when dead also.
The constant pursuit and hunting him
changed his nature. He became morose
and sour, and unable to follow any regu-
lar business. He resorted to the gambl-
ing table for the support of his family.
He became a drinker, too, and was
speedily transformed into most bitter
and quarrelsome opponent
If Hill had been famous among the
mountains of North Carolina, he now
became doubly so. Excepting, perhaps,
that prince of duelists, James Bowie,
there never was a man who inspired
more terror Men who had acquired a
wide reputation for deeds of daring,
turned pale when they encountered
John Hill. Bullies who sought quar-
rels on the slightest preteXt accepted all
manner of insults from him, without II
simple word of remOnstrance.