The Republican journal., 1871-11-09

to citizen, and stipulated that the latter
might arrest him and lodge him in the
county jail at Lumberton on condition
that he would share the reward equally
with him in two weeks from the date of
arrest The citizen agreed, and the out
law was delivered to the Sheriff, who had
him manacled and shackled in the most
approved manner, and then chained to
the floor. In addition to these precau-
tons, bolts. bars and the most ponderous
sort of locks were placed upon not only
the doors of the cell in which the outlaw
was secured, but also upon the outer
doors of the jail, 50 that there was no
possibility of escape. He remained quiet
ly incarcerated until the expiration OF the
stipulated two weeks, and a few days at
ter; but the share Of the reward $4,000
being not forthcoming, he disappeared
one bright moonlight night. Into the
very midst of the town of Lumberton the
gang came from the swamps, broke open
the blacksmith shop, and, after supplying
themselves with tools, went to the Jail,
made short work of the locks and bars and
bolts, and liberated their fellow outlaw.
| Soon afterward the citizen who made the
arrest left the county.
Every one Of the numerous expedi-
lions by the citizens against the Lowreys,
| usually gotten up during the excitement
attendant upon one of their murders or
outrages, signallv failed, and generally
resulted fatally to some, and always I'M
successfully 10 the would-be captors. At
length the country was becoming depopu
lated owing to the fear and insecurity
;alD +l,,> ~ no
time the I.owreys We're becoming more
daring, and. if possible, more atrocious
and open in the commission of their out
RACES. Under these circumstances Unit
ed States troops We're sent to Robson to
afford that protection to life and property
which the State authorities had failed in
doing. The troops remained there during
the entire year of 1870, during which
time the Lowreys were as active as ever,
and to show how little they cared for
troops, they shot and killed in broad day
| light man within 200 yards of the SOL
diers camp. Soon after these troops were
withdrawn the community were again
startled by the announcement Of another
horrible murder by the Lowreys, and
again an expedition for the twentieth
time, was started against the outlaws.
/
zens referred to above were killed by the
Lowreys in ambush. In face Of such open
defiance of the county authorities and
such wholesale sacrifice OF life and prop
erty by the outlaws, Governor Caldwell
ordered out the militia of the county, sup
piled them with arms and ammunition, and
placed them on war footing. under the
command of Adjutant General German,
| n tat ,l,a,, mt
| United States troops being then in the
State for the arrest and suppression of the
/ Ku-klux Khan, the Governor applied for
two companies to assist in capturing Low
rev and his gang. These were furnished,
ordered to Robson. and, with the militia
were placed in the field some months ago,
with the full determination of either cap
turing or annihilating the outlaws. Since
then the exploits Of the Lowreys have
been characterized by greater novelty, if
! been heard of, but the outlaws have re-
peatedly shown themselves in the most
public places, and once they fired upon a
train on the Wilmington, Charlotte and
| Rutherford Railroad. Again, Lowrev
himself invaded the militia camp in the
night time, cut his name on the stock OF a
for General German, stating that his in
| spection of the camp was most satisfac-
tory, and the discipline excellent. At
another time he was met by a squad of
! United States soldiers on a road They
We're unarmed, but Lowrey, besides a
double barreled shot gun, had several
loaded revolvers in his belt. He passed
| the soldiers, who stared at him in amaze
/ ,,,apt and ha COON 6i,onpoarod in tb,,
woods. His next appearance was in Il
bateau in Lumber river, witnessed by a
detachment of United States troops, who
fired at him. The outlaw laid down in
! the boat, careened it so that the bottom
protected his body until out of danger,
! and then he padded away without even
50 much as returning the fire. These
were the only glimpses obtained of owrey
/ by the military forces sent to capture him
| during their campaign OF three months,
| and like the Seminole Indians in Florida,
| the outlaws still remain unconquered and
masters of the situation. Finding the OPP
erations of the military-a glorious mac
tivity-were rather too expensive, while
they but afforded amusement for the out
laws, they were withdrawn; but prior to
| their removal LOwrey, through q messen-
ger, proposed flag of truce and per-
sonal meeting with General German, the
commander-in -chief This proposition
was duly considered; but us there was
nothing to be feared from meeting with
Lowrey it was agreed to, on the terms and
conditions mentioned by Lowrey. Ac-
| cordingly, at the stated time, General
German repaired to the appointed rendez-
vous, where punctual to the moment, he
met the noted chief of the gang of negro
outlaws, murderers and incendiaries. To
the present there has been no detailed re-
report or statement of the interview made
by the Adjutant General, but it is known
on official authority that Lowrey proposed
a treaty Of peace with the State of North
| Carolina and the United States, on the
condition that he and his gang be allowed
/ peaceably to leave the United States for
ever This was the result of the interview
under the flag Of truce, near Scutfletown,
where the wives and families of the out
laws reside; but, SO far, no action has
been taken upon it. 1t is a sad common
tary upon the administration of the gov
ernment of North Carolina gang of
negro desperadoes openly defying its au
thority, not for months or a year but now
for over a Deriod of al pht vaarS