The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-26

had been no trouble between them ana any OF their
white neighbors except that some OF their sons had
ned from the Officers who wanted to take them TO
work In the rebel fortlcatons at Wilmington. Pat
rick and Sinclair had gone with the officers, but
Henry, Thomas ana william had evaded them.
Steve was fireman on the Wilmington Charlotte
and Rutherford Railroad. The Lowerys had also
been accused or assisting soldiers who had escaped
from the rebel prison at Florence, s. c., to the
federal lines. In 1864 party OF whites, commanded
Dy James Barnes came to the house ana TOOK the
old man and William away. at the same time
THEY ASKED FOR SPADES,
and took some along with them; some OF them re.
turned directly and carried old Mrs. L0wcry and her
two daughters 10 the house OF white man, Robert
Mckenzie, where they were locked up in smoke
house. While they were confined there they heard
Mckenzie propose that they burn them up In the
smoke-house, but this was opposed by others, VINO
said 1t would make 100 much talk; then Mckenzie
said there would be IN killing the men II the
women were allowed to live, because he could not
get the plantation II any were left alive. Mckenzie
| tken went away saying he was going up to see how
| the L0wery men were faring. After he mad gone,
some one outside wondered If they were going to
| XIII the old man and Bill, or only the old man, to
| which another answered -
"McKenzie's got to XIII both, and get the rest OF
the boys out Of the way before ne could get the plan
| tatiOn.n
THEY HEARD THE REPORT OF GUNS.
Towards morning, O little after daylight they
were released with the threat
IF you deny that your family has robbed from
US whites 1t win be mighty bad for you."
When they returned home In thicket, not far
| from the house, they found new made, shallow
grave, in which were the bodies Of Allen and VII.
| liam Lowery lying one above the other, riddlcd
| with musket balls.
|
into the woods, and said they were going to kill
me If didn't tell tnem where the Yankee prisoners
| were hid. didn'tknOw, ana told them 80, but
they would't believe me. Tney bllndfolded mo and
tied me to tree and said they were going to shoot
| me. heard them nring and then fainted When
tainted they united me aud sent the girls 10 bring
| me too"
| This was old Mrs. Lowery's story and all the
mnlattoes whom I met and questioned about 1t
| told me about the same thing. That Its truthful
ness is denied by the whites Is no more than is to be
expected, though several OF them told me they had
never heard OF Allen Lowery being accused or steal
ing. He was said to DO q consistent member OF the
| Methodist Church, IN which he was class leader.
| Mrs. Lowery is a member Of the same church and
SEEMS TO BE GENUINELY PIoUs.
She has family worship night and morning, in
which she leads herself, and always asks blessing
ct the table.
From the grave Of the Lowerys went straight
| to RhOdy's house. As entered the gate OF the
outer enclosure noticed man standing In the
doorway who stepped back within the house. AS I
reached the inner gate he again came to the door
and
| CONFESS TO SOME NERVOUSNESS
| as saw his equipments But 1t was no time to
stop now, and in moment was in Henry Berry
Lowery's house, In the presence OF Steve Lowery
and Andrew Strong, two OF the famous swamp out
avs. With as composed an air as the nature Of the
case would permit stepped forward.
| al believe these are the men, Il am not sure but
that said gentlemen) ~ wanted to see" and ex.
tended my hand to the one nearest me- who grasped
| 1t cordially as Rhody mentioned his name, Andrew
Strong, and mine, and then repeated the ceremony
with steve. Both Of them offered me chairs; but
accepted that from which Andrew had just arisen,
| 1t being nearer the fire, and Immediately
| EXPLAINED MY PURPOSE
in seeking them. / told them the great paper of
America had given some attention to them, and had
published their histories furnished by the white
| people Of Robson county; but that the people Of
the United etetes might have cleassnt down to see
them hear their stories and the circumstances that
had made them outlaws and see how they lived
told them further that
HAD NO WEAPON But SMALL REVOLVER,
| which they could nave Whine was with them, but
which they would obliae me by returning when
| left them.
Tney replied that Rhody had told them the ma
ture of my business that they were glad OF an Op.
portunily Of giving their story 10 the country for the
| "papers were telling many ID lies about
Them" that woula be perfectly safe with them,
and mat might keep my pistol.
THE MEN MET.
| Steve Lowery is i've feet ten inches high, thick
| set, with long arms and legs ana Is very strong;
| ne has very dark yellow complexion, nazel eyes,
hIo hosu
mustache and goatee. He was armed with
Spencer rine, two double. barrelled shot guns one
OF the latter and the rife being sung from his
shoulders, and three slx.barrecd reviewers IN his
| belt while two United States cartridge boxes hung
| from his shoulders.
Andrew Strong Is nearly white, about six feet
high, with rather mild eyes and reddish beard and
hair, the latter cut snort. He carried heavy rife
and the same number OF shot-Runs, revolvers and
cartridge boxes as steve Lowery, besides heavy
canvas haversack His t1npedt'nenta t'rurn," he
calls ~ weighs not less than hundred pounds He
ADJUSTED ALL lis EQUIPMENTS ON NE,
and could barely stagger across the floor with
them After o few general remarks, Andrew told
| me they would tell me all / wanted to know II 1
would question them. As the shooting OF Boss was
the chief topic had heard discussed after leaving
Wilmington, told them had seen James Mcqueen
or Donanoe, ct Shoe Heel, and mad taken down his
version Of the afrar, and would now like to know If
1t was correct Tread 10 them McQueen's story as
fol0ws:-
poNAHoE's STORY OF KILLING BOSS STRONG.
"Last Thursday night MAY ~ l reached the
house Of Andrew Strong, on the edge OF Scufiie-
town. about ten miles from here, at twelve O'Clock.
fixed good blind about 100 yards from the house,
and living down watched the rest Of the night and
all the next day, eating some PROVISIONS had
brought along About halr-past seven =. M. FRI
day Andrew came out OF the woods and after STOP
ping ana looking around him In all directions he
went into the house, and directly came out and gave
O low call, when Boss came out Of the woods to
the house; they were. each armed with two ri1es
and two or three revolvers. little after eight