Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-29

AN EXPEDITION no NORTH CAR.
OLINA,
A Proposition TO Capture Ghe LOwery
OutlaWs-Enterpri OF n New
Yorker.

/
an account of an interview with party
! named Abbott, in that city, into whose
| presence down i'll one of the dark basement
rooms of Chambers street, he was myste-
! riously introduced, day or two ago
! Omitting the manner introduction as de-
| scribed at length we publish the account Of
! his hu-klux aud war adventures in North
! Carolina. Much of it sounds like mere
/ stuff
''1 on have story to tel?" said the re-
porter inquiringly.
! eyes, sir,-' said the host !; ''do you know
! Barry Lowery's gang?"
/ 81 haven't the pleasure Of their ac-
| quaintance,' replied the reporter, in a tone
/ of regret.
| sWell, do. They are the North Caro-
/ lima outlaws of which so much has been
| said in the newspapers about" remarked
Abbott. ''I1dve'nt you read about them?"
! The reporter confessed that he had, but
| that the accounts had made but little i'm
| preston on his mind.
! "Well, | am down Oh them, and want
! to get square on the whole crew, and the
| ku-Klux, too" said Mr.. Abbott.
"What is the story?" said the reporter
coming to business at once.
| ''Well, it amt much, though it win
! make an item"
"Tll write it down as you tell it," said
the reporter"
''Take a seat at the table," said Mr.. Alb
bolt.
The chair was moved up to the table,
the guide was dispatched for a pitcher of
| ale, and the reporter took down the follow
ing brief statement from the lips of his en-
| tertainer.
| Mr.. George Abbot, the gentleman already
| described, is now in correspondence with
some of the most prominent citizens Of
North Carolina, in reference to the out
| RACES committed by the notorious Barry
Lowrey and his gang Of outlaws, who have
long been tenOrtO the respectable citizens
Of the State. The Governor of North
/ Carolina has offed reward of $50, 900 for
the body, dead or alive, of the leader of
/ this band or hOIse-thieves, robbers and
! murderers. Lowrey defies the authorities,
threatening to kill anybody who is sent to
apprehend him. Mr.. Abbot was in North
Carolina during the war, being present at
the taking Of Wilmington. He was also
! there in 1866 and 1867, under the name of
Jack Allen. lie was well known as a
Northern man and a Unionist, and was re-
garded by the natives with everything but
kindly feelings. He vas ordered to leave
i by the ku-kluX at that time, but remained
/ under prescription and in daily peril of his
/ life. Mr.. Abbot travelled through Robinson
| and Sampson counties, then infested by
Lowrey and the Ku-KluX, in the character
| of a travelling dealer in hosiery and Yankee
notions, though his travels were not con-
! fined to these sections of the State, nor his
business limited to selling merchandise.
He viSitel other counties and used his
! money i'll various speculatiOnS. He hid
/ shooting matches on several occasions with
4 LOWrey'S outlaws, on each occasion miracII-
lousy escaping death or serious wounds.
In 1866 he formed the acquaintance of
mulatO named Jack Livingston, to whom
Id 1e
of his in Sampson county. 1t was repre-
sentcd to him that Livingston was a friend
+ to Union people, and would be of service.
/ Livingston, however, betrayed Abbot to the
ku-kluX, and he was forced to take refuge
in the sWampS for two days to escape the
murdcrers who had been put upon his trail.
/ He Sworc vengeance on Livingstone, who,
i he alleges, has been secretly connected with
/ the kll-KluN. Abbott says he has often
talked with Barry LOWery, and at one
time he loaned him SO. In his intercourse
/ with the outlaw he was obliged to conceal
! his dislike to insure his personal safety
Abbott left North Carolina i'll 1867, but re-
turned to the State in the summer of 1859.
/ About midnight, OH the day he reached
/ Weldon, he was aCcOStCd by number of
men, who ordered him to leave town by
the bridge over the Roanoke river, i'll fifteen
/ minutes. Abbott sUlspcctng that he would
! allowed to wait until the next train, re-
cciving a favorable answer through the
interference of Nj. James GOOch, mer-
chant Of the city. Abbott has smaIted ever
since under the memory of his ill-treat-
ment in the State by the ku-kluX and the
LOWrSy outlaws, and his summary eject
ment from Weldon, in 1869. He wishes
! to go back to revenge his wrongs on his
enemies, and stimulated by the large re-
ward offered for Lowrry's capture. His
intimate knowledge of the haunts and
hiding places of he robber band, he be-
licyes, eminently fits him to lead an expe-
dtiOn against them.
IF tie respect able white people of y oIth
Carolina want to be rid Of Lowrey, I'm
the man can do it," he said at the conclu-
sion of his story.
Mr.. Abbntt was a member Of the 9th
| regiment, volunteers, in the rebellion, was
among the troops on Island No. 10, took
part i'll all the engagements of CoInmo-
dore Foote's fleet in the Mississippi river,
and was on the Mound City when she
blew up. He also took part in General
Ryan's ill-starcd expedition to Cuba.
From further investigation the reporter
ascertaincd that Abbott is now cnlisting
. small force Of determined men, and propo-
ses to start in few days for North Caro-
lima, when the proposed hunt for Lowreys
gang will at once commence.
CoUNTERFEITs.-From the fact that
number Of remittances lately received in
this city from South Carolina, especially
along the llne of the Wilmington, Column
bia and Augusta Railroad, have contained
several counterfeit notes, we are led to sus-
pect that some one has lately come into
possession of a box Of counterfeit money,
which is being scattered very lavishly
among the people.
Efforts should be made for the detection
and arrest Of such party, and great care
should be exercised in receiving greenbacks
said to be issued by the getty National
Bank" of Poughkeepsie, New York, as
most of the counterfeitsh alluded to as being
passed in that section are on that bank;
and, in fact, everyone should be careful in
receiving and passing all bills purporting
to be issued from that place, as there have
been several counterfeits issued on various
National Banks of Poughkeepsie. Mer-
chants and others of our own city and
section had best keep sharp lookout, as
we notice that $40 counterfeit notes on the
Farmers and Manufacturers National
Bank, Poughkeepsie, Y. Y, are af1oat in
Raleigh.
THE OUTIAWS.-Nir. 4. 3. Henderson,
the New Y orll Herald correspondent, who
has been OH 4 short visit to the LOwrey
oopu op1 who hoe mad fNY him