The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-12
A Famous Band Of Old Tar
MarauderS.
Interesting Description of Their
Stronghold at ScuffletOwn.
The Dismal Swamp of Death and
Destruction.
LUMBERToN, Robson County, N. O.. /


son are common among their lawless acts, and 80
widespread was the terror created In the com.
munlty here at the close OF the late war that tho
Executive OF the State found 1t incumbent upon
him to declare each and every one OF them outlaws,
setting price on their heads for their capture,
dead or alive. On the occasion OF many Of the
bloody deeds committed by this gang during the last
three years Associated rress dispatches were sent
North from Wilmington briefly detailing the facts.
Which the radical organ at New York invariably
tortured into ku Klux outrages, when these very
acts were OF the class which tho Ku Klux In
their lawless way undertook to punish. Hence 1t Is
that visited this section investigate the nature
OF the crimes committed to ascertain the history OF
the outlaws and to lay before the public through the
columns OF the HERALD strict and impartial
account OF AFFAIRS rs they exist here AS far as
nave been able to ascerain-and have consulted
the most orthodox republicans here-there never
has been seen In this county
DISCUSSED NAN
or other individual whose acts appearance or
manner would indicate that he was Ku Klux. Nor
have In an extensive tour, embracing great
many oil the southern counties OF this State during
which conversed freely with oil classes, been
able to find any positive evidence OF either Of
the organizations known as the White Brother.
hood, the Constitutional Union Guards or
the Invisible Empire, which are said to constitute
the Ku Klux klan Is ir existed In Alamance county
previous TO the impeachment trial Of Governor
Holden. All or the Outrages-whipping and sCOurg-
ings-recently committed at midnight are the re-
suits of personal feuds, private animosites, aud
often are administered to punish parties living In
state or
GROSS IMMORTALITY
and depravity which Is only too frequent In various
portions OF the State. THIS has been peculiarly tue
case In Alamance Casweli Chatham, Harnett, ana
even Cleveland and Rutherford, the counties 80
recently enblaZOned through the radical press as
the theatre OF ku klux outrages. In this county all
the awless acts that have been perpetrated are the
work OF the outlaws, and these men are an inter-
mixture OF the white the Indian aud the negro. They
combine the intelligence OF the whKe man, the
savage ferocily OF the red man and the brutal In.
sllncts OF negro, ana their lawless deeds bear
the impress OF all the wOrst cnaract erlsLcs Ut the
three The country IL peculiarly adapted TO their
operations, which are committed at all hours, day
OF night, as opportunity Affords vast swamp. eight
by niteen miles ia extent. winch ID lmpenenable to
ali but the outlaws, shelters them from pursuit aud
enables them to fire upon their pursuers, unseen.
from The thlckets and underground with which they
have become so familiar In u desperate experience
OF fifteen years. This swamp Is partly traversed by
the Wilmington Charlotte ana Rutherford Railroad,
which passes through portions OF II over treste
works. IL Is covered by water of greenish color,
out OF which The trees stand erect; the whole country
sent season. chorus that is almost deaening to tue
visitor from higher and more healthy country. in
the western portion Of the county, bordering on the
swamp, the
or the present Danu vi outlaws ana robbers, under
various names, lived IN u section now known 10y
the classic name oil scuietown town snip. Here, for
generations dating from colonial times, the family
| wealthy farmers, but afterwards US bushwhack rs,
robbers and murderers, exercising their peaceful
| anu lawes5 av0cali0n5 alternately, the times
warranted. Ihev were originally Portuguese, and,
prior to the Revolution were respected and
teemed as honest ana Industrious ci Izes by their
neighuorS; but wnen the war for independence
broke out the Lowlys OF whom there were several
brothers, uan1Oned the peaceful pursuits Of inuus-
Try, and, being shrewd ana Intelligent, became
mldaole as daring, desperate and lawless men.
While protesting 10 be tories In the Revolutionary
struggle tney deprecated alike upon sOtn parties,
without making any inydious distinction ac-
count OF politics. by systematic course OF plumber
DURING TIE ENTIRE WAR
the Lowrys became rich, ana at Its close, owing to
lner desperate Characters they were never inter-
fered with, ana were left TO enjoy Their li-gotten
wealth. but this, ike all property accumulated by
dishonest means. gradually dwindled away aud the
DIssOLuTE AND ExTRAvAGANr
habits, again became poor ana were once more
Obliged 10 resort to the bush and to plumber to
tam their reckless ana expensive mode OF living. II
not to obtain subsistence In this way tney again
became a terror TO their honest and peaceaDle
neghbors, few Of whom would undertake 10 engage
In any personal rencOnire with any one OF them on
account OF their Doster0us quarreisome and violent
cha, acers. Unti their riches were entirely squan-
their wealth great that even with their habits
It lasted them until ABOUT the third generation,
when 1t became exhausted In the constant litigation
In W hich they were involved with Their nelgnoors.
1t was alter this, ana when they had resoried TO
that they intcrmiXed with
INDIANS AND NEGROES,
and thus from generation 70 generation they lived
In the swamps or about Scuiletown until not
OF the possessed drop OF unAduiterated white
blood. Allan Lowry, the rather ol the present band
oil Lowrys was genuine combination or all three
races-the lndlan, perhaps, predominating. The
names OF his sons In the order OF their ages
Bill, Tom Purdle, Sinclair, Stephen and Henry
Berry. The latter Is the
LEADER OF THE GANG
now inspiring SuCn terror In this, and indeed tho
surf OuuunQ counties. About ulneuCeluent
OF the late war, following In the footsteps Oh their
OF muiatto cousins bearing the same name, and
family or hal-Dreeds by the name OF Oxendnes,
again began an indiscrimnate system OF pillage
county. During this crusade they captured
Ksd amss a1ay Of ,n' 0ek mo h me
confederate authorities In urgent need OF all
the they could obtain to work yn the iortRca
river aelence, and 1t was at once conceded by oil
the cizens that TO effect the capture Of the Lowrys
command at Wilmington, would be most happy
radiance to the entire community. Bat this was no
the capture, seconded In his erorIs by man named
Bryant Harris, who had feud with tho Lowrys
abouta -
related to their family. Botn these men made
several but always unsuccessful attempts to arrest
the Lowrys and were only rewarded ny capturing
two mulattoes who bore the name OF Lowry. These
II Is said, were killed by Harris, whose personl
feelings toward the whole breed was exceedingly
pltler and revengelu This OUTRAGE upon the name
even OF Lowry could not be allowed to pass unpun-
isled. Revenge among them must be sweet, for
they nave never permitted an assault or indignty
against one or them to pass without lnnicting the
di, est vengeance. It was not long, therefore. until
Allan Lowry and his sons ha1 Killed both Barnes
and Harris, hch inspired fresh terror among toe
ciiizens Some time subsequent to this and about
the latter part OF 1858, or beginning OF 1851 the
Luwrys and their gang were Joined by q number OF
ESCAPED FEDERAL PRISONERS
from Florence, s. C., who were making their way
through the unfrequentcd and impenetrable swamps
to the nearest federal post. THIS was valuable ac-
cesson 10 the Lowry gang for the purpose or offence
and deeuce. The prisoners having Dut little nope
OF reaching a friendly post, and fearing
recapture In their way through an enc
my's country, were only too glad to join
this band OF outlaws, and they eagerly accepted
proposition made by Allan Lowry. TINS was, la
enscI 10 drill and instruct the gang In the use OF
firearms, until they became experts, for winch SER
vices the soldiers were to share alike with them
| their quarters, their Inequalities and
THEIR DANGERS.
with additions n the their