Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-11-26
HiRhwaYniass Career.

Ga, DINA, respected Presbyterian
minister named Curry, the pride of
whose fe was an only son, Nixon by
name, j, whose training the good man
took peculiar delight
The young man won the affections
of a young girl attending the same
chool, aud SO ardent was their attach
ment that no rival was suffered to come
between them. When the girl reached
the age of fifteen, her devotion to
Young Curry bee me so manifest that
her parents, Wishing to secure for her
what they viewed as better alliance,
forbade further intercourse between
the two. As a natural consequence,
meetings were resorted to.
aud continued for three years.
At the expiration of that period the
hand of the young lady was sought 10y
the son of Southern statesman, and
her parents tried to compel her accept
ance, whereat she esoped with youig
Curry. The couple Were overtak' n
Then the young man turned and shot
his rival. who lead the pursuit, killing
him instantly. The young couple then
renewed their flight.
After long and heated chase Garry
took refuge in the Allegheny noun
tains near the headwaters of the Ca
tawba, and there, outlawed from soci
ETY., he became a highwayman and
speedily achieved dreaded 1otoriety
by the number aud character Of hi,
daring exploits The Governor of
North Carolina offered So, 900 for his
arrest, and many, lured by the tempt
ing offer, tried to hunt him down.
Suddenly be was missed from North
Carolina. It was supposed that he had
died, or that he changed his base of
operations.
One day, at the time of the first set
Element of the fertile delta OF the st.
Francis river, in what is now Ark .n-
sas, an emigrant appeared in the d's-
trict calling himself John Hill. He
was Handsome, amiable man, aud
though having only moderate means
extended a generous hospitality to all
who visited his beau Iful little home,
rendered doubly attractive by the pre-
sence of a lovely wife.
In short time he became the most
popular man III the settlement, and SO
he continued for ten OR twelve years.
He was repeatedly elected to the Leg
lsiatura, and there he was distinguished
for powerful aud iplpassioned elo-
qunnce He became a leader IN thu
ranks of his party, was member of
the convention that fran d the State
constitution; and represented his dis
trict in the Senate of Arkansas,
Hill's most intimate acquaintances
were the Strongs, four brothers, meu
of wealth and ambition. A close init
macy sprang up between them, and
u III in nr51arl Oh r1nn10nt rorHn
the eldest Strong conversaut with his
previous history, telling him that he
was the notorious Nixon Curry, of
North Carolina. Strong then request
ed Hill to resign his seat in the Senate
bnt Hill refused, and the brothers con-
spired to ruin him. Sending to North
Jorolina they procured requisition
for his arrest and copy Of the reward
offered Tor his capture.
The four brothers, powerful and de-
termined as they were, we'll knowing
the character of the man with whom
they were TO deal, secured the assis-
lance of dozen men, and surround
ing his house, attempted to effect his
capture. On approe ching the main
entrance and demanding his surIen-
der one of them was shot dead,
and three others were dangerously
wounded, and the attack was aban-
doned.
The Governor of Arkansas published
an additional reward for HilI's arrest,
and hastily packing a few articles he
set out with his wife and children for
Upper Kansas, where he knew of the
existence of band of desparadoes
whose members he had reason to be-
lieve would pro rect him. He was over
taken at Conway Courthouse, and
halting his wagon and ad monishing his
wife and children to keep their places
he stepped forth in the face of his pur-
suers, aud in few eloquent words
told them why he quit North Caroliua,
at the same time assuring his pursuers
thar ne would not be taken alive.
The gallantry of the act operated in
hls favor, aud the pursuit was abau-
doncd. Constant pursu had already
m ade him morose and quarrelsome and
he began to drink heavily ard resort
10 the gambling table IA a III ans of
import. One day in September. 1916,
whIie seat ID at breakfast he told his
Sife that he b ID promonition of
4 ,atb. and felt that he should be killed
that day before sunset. Calling his
son William, bright boy of fourteen,
no made hun swear TO kill the mAu who
should kill his father
The Circuit Court of Pop county
being in session, he attend, d it with Il
young man named Howard, who was
engaged to his oldest daughter. Hill
began to drink and exhibited an unu-
sual deposition TO quarrel He insulted
every one he met, and finally threat
eued to clean the Court-house; he
dashed into the Court room to the con-
sternation of judge, jury and lawyers.
Young Howard tried to restrain him,
but. glaring like tiger. he turned
npon the youth and felled him to the
floor; at the same time drawing a pis-
toll, he exclaimed: kill me, or I'll kill
You y The man. in a moment of tx
treme anguish. drew aknife and buried
it in the bowels of Hill. He died soon
after.
Howard quit Arkansas and several
Years later was heard of in San AntO-
lila, Texas, where he joined the Con
federate forces Under the command of
Col. Long. At the close of tho var
he was met by VIM. Hill, who, remem-
bering the oath he had taken at his
fathers's instance, shot the former and
fed to Europe,
He joined the F.ench army aud
served through the Franco Prussian
wal, buf was scbject to fits If tempo
rary Insanity. Finally his case became
hopeless; and he was placed by his
friends in an asylum near Glasgow,
SC otland, where he recently died.
''Jess Su.''
The negro Smythe, who is reported
to have been entertained in the parlor
and eat aud drank at the table of
prominent Rad c ii politician has final
~ written us note denying tina; he
was i'arited to the house, which has
lever been charged, and also stating
that he did not eat and ink there.
This latter We dohot believe, but are
sure rom our Information that the i'm
pudcnt fellow did go there without in
and did eat and drink thel Q.
And now we wish to know who were
here, and We intend to find out and