The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-03-06
THE LAST OF THE
LOWREYS.
HOW THE FAMOUS NORTH CAR
OLINA DESPERATE MET HIS
DEATH - A SCORE OF COLD
FLOODED MURDERS FEARFUL
I,Y AVENGED

DEE IL - n DUNE vi VIM
FLOODED MURDERS FEARFUL
LY AVENGED.
Wilmington N. CO star. February -.
A little after IL o'clock yesterday, our
community was startled by the anr ounce
ment that Steve Lowfey, the last survivor
of tho notorious band Of Robson county
outlaws, had been killed. The first intel
lgonce was brought in the following spe-
cial telegram to the Morning Star
"Steve Lowrey was instantly killed this
morning by Patterson, Sutton and Hol-
comb, in the upper part of Robson
county, while tuning his banjo to play FOR
some wagoners. Three shots were fired at
him, aud took chec. in his head. His body
is now in the court house at Lumberton."
The intelligence though barren of de-
tails, created unusual excitement; and
there was universal rejoicing to know
that the last Of the bloody bandits bad
met the fate that he so richly deserved.
On the arrival of tho Carolina Central
train we were enabled to gather the fol-
lowing particulars
Lowrey has for . long time abst' iued
from the use Of ardent spirits, and was,
therefore, very wary in his movements,
concealing himself ehectually from
several enterprising young men Of Rob-
inson county who were hunting for him.
Recently, however, he had severe At.
tack Of sickness and became very much
reduced in flesh and physical strength
Thus, feeling unwell and weak, the ap-
pearance, from Randolph county, with .
whisky wagon, induced Steve to try and
recuperste his debilitated system n little
by imbibing some of the exhilarating
fluid, and for that purpose appeared ut
Burns wagon, on Sunday evening, near
the residence of John McNair, ESQ, who
lives about sixteen miles west of Lumber
ton, and two miles south Of Red Banks sta
ton, on the Carolina Central railroad.
Steve, it would appear, remained all
night in the vicinity of Burns wagon,
but his movements we're closely watched
by Mac. Patterson, Thomas Sutton and
Donald Holcombe. All night these young
men watched tho wagon, and near day
break, when Burns kindled his re 10
cook breakfastt they beheld Lowery, who no
doubt had Just imbibed his morning dram,
bAnjo in hand and ready to engage in q
hilarious frolic. Near him was the driver
Of the wagon, colored man,
az young men felt at liberty 70
fire, SO much was he surrounded by the
parties belonging TO the wagon. At last,
when nearly eli had retired from the i'm
mediate vicinity of tho doomed man, ex-
cept the colored man, who seemed deter
mined 70 enjoy tho music OF the banjo
land even he ut last removed his head u
little out OF the line Of direction the three
guns simultaneously discharged their con-
tents in the face, head. aud breast Of
Stephen Lowry, killing him instantly.
Tho colored man Was slightly wounded In
the side OF the head ut tho same time, and
fell when Steve did, but quickly recovered
himself, expressing great gratitude that
no was alive.
And this 10 tho last of the Notorious rob-
Dor and outlaw, and we hope the last OF
the robbery and lswlessnoss in Robson
county. On the dead body of the outlaw
WAS found copy Of the weekly Whining
ton Post perforated with the bullets tina.
ended his lfo. There WAS also found on
him a bunch of skeleton keys, and keys Of
all descriptions adapted to opening any
kind Of lock. He WAS armed with long
sharp knife, three revolvers and Henry RI
fie. It's reported that the excitement Of the
people Of Robson, who are in Lumberton in
great numbers, attending the spring term |
OF the superior court, was very great on |
yesterday whom they saw the dead body |
of the murderer, but no one offered any |
insult TO the remains. There seems to be |
= deep gratitude, but no unseemly sxults-
lion.
The band whose extinction ia made
by the death of Steve Lowrey.
originally consisted Of five active mem.
bers, viz; Thomas Lowrey, Andrew
Strong, stephen Lowrey, Henry Berry
Lowrey and Ross Strong; and they were
sgsd as follows, At the time they were
killed Thomas Lowrey, 81; Andrew
Strong, 80; Stephen Lowrey, 81; Henry
Berry Lowrey, 30; Boss Strong, ~.
Stephen Lowery was about five feet ten
inches high, Of dark, swsrthy complexion,
Ind of mixed Indian and negro blood
ome Of his ancestors, it 10 said. having
,elonged TO the famed Tuscarora tribe.
10 was by all odds tho boldest of the
'utlaw band destitute of the moral cour-
ge and other elements of leadership
which characterized his younger brother.
Henry Berry, but notoriously his superior
n fierce determination and brute, bull
log courage. Fortunately for tho good
people Of Robson county, he 10 now dead.
md the sorrows of more than a score of
'esolate homes have been avenged.