Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-08-20

Of necessity, he took up the profession Of
robber. and specify rendered his maine ia
nous by the number and character Of his
exploits. Without attempting to give
any of the minor Incidents. it should be
S ,ated that the young robber never took
life for the sake of plumber. although he
did ii again and again to avoid arrest
The Governor of North Carolina offered
| SIS GOO 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 dead dealing rife was
heard f.om sou'e adjoining rock; but nev-
err were they able to discover his retreat
or bring him t" bay.
Suddenly all rumors of his daring con-
duet ceased and although the search was
continued, he was seen no more in North
Carolina. It was Judged that his quarters
were becoming too hot for safety, and he
had therefore, prudently removed them
while the opportunity remained to him.
During the first se:tlem ent Of the fertile
delta bordering on the St. Francis, now
in the State of Arkansas, an emigrant
made his appearance. called himself John
Hill. He rapidly became the most popu
lar man in the settlement Although of
moderate means, he was sober. indnstri-
Gus. generous and of extended hospitality
and such continued to be his character in
the country which he had adopted for a
period extended over about duzen years
During all this time. hot a quarrelsome
word occurred between him and any of
his neighbors and yet all knew that it
was from no lack Of courage OF the part
of Hill, for Of all the hunters that pierced
the jungles of cane in the Great Swamp"
or descended by torcblight into the bowels
of the Ozark Mountains. he had the repu-
tation of being the most fearless. He
was overwhelmingly elected again and
again to the Territorial Legislature, and
distinguished himself by his powerful and
impassioned cloquence, and speedily be-
! came 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
misfortunes. Hills most intimate neigh
bcrs were the Strongs, four brothers OF
considerable wealth. great deal of ambi
ton. 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
uneuardedly, made George, the eldest,
COMPLIANT Of his previous history. 1t SO
happened that George had. most a"hi-
tics desire for political distinction. aud
made request Of Hill that he should re-
sign his scat in the Senate in his favor
Hill refused. and the brothers conspired
to revenge.
Sending to North Carolina, they proc!i-
red copy OF the reward offered for Nix
on Curry the notorious robber. The four
powerful and determined us they were.
dared not attempt his capture alone, but
secured the assistance of dozen men,
and made the attempt to capture H'll IN
his own house. The latter never forgot
his daily peril. He always carried an en-
or,nous double -larrelled shot gun, two
long rife pistols. and Formidable knife.
Arkans;, has never been noted as peace
aLle inclined State, and in those days its
population numbered a greater per cent.
of desperadoes and lawless men than
it does at 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. several Of
them morsaly. when the rest of Them
were glad to with raw for the time This
affair caused the most unbouhded excite
ment throughout Arkansas. The thought
that the chiyalrous ard highly popua ar
John Hill could be identical with the no.
torious robber Nixon Curry was stagger
ing to hundreds. Many for time rcius.
ed TO believe it.
Perhaps the state of public feeling eau
best he shown by the two following extracts
from the Little Rock Gazete. The first
appearance when Hill became SO popular
during the days Of the Convention
Among the truest friends OF the peo-
Of all III tue present Convention may be
named John HILL, Of St. Francis. His
enersy, el"qucnce, aud courage FULLY emit
tie HIM to the place he holds, anu, as We
trust, will long retain-that OF the leader
OF the ARKANSAS Democracy
The second extract is taken from the
same paper May. lo4O'
"bLoopY AFEkAY.-A desperate rem
counter occurred III st. Francis last week.