The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-12-05
A Queer North Carolina Race.

There live IN the sWamps OF RoDe-
son County, North Carolina, a strange
| race of people. Their manners, Gus
toms and personal appearance are un-
like those Of any other race on the
American continent. They live with
in themselves, and their intercourse
with their neighbors, both white and
colored, is limited to the extent which
necessity demands. Among the citi-
zens of the county they are called
Portuguese and mulattoes. They are
neither. Recent investigations by
antiquarians, who have closely stud
led their characteristics, incline to
the opinion that they are the descen-
dents of the Croatan Indians and the
lost colony Of Roanoke Island.
1t is historical fact that on the
arrival of the relief expedition fitted
out by Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir
Richard Grenvillc the colony planted
on Roanoke Island few months be-
fore had totally disappeared. Years
| afterward, when the country had be-
come sparsely settled by the English,
and when the Tuscarora Indians were
the dominant tribe, it was tradition
among them that in the interior there
were white men who were members Of
smaller tribe of Indians, and that
these men possessed many Of the gifts
of he English. 1t is generally
thought that when the English vessels
sailed to England for supplies for the
infant colony those left on Roanoke
Island were too weak to defend them
selves against the Croatan Indians,
their nearest neighbors, and that in
an incursion the men were killed and
the women and children carried away
into captivity.
A few years ago these people be-
came source of terror to their neigh
bors. One of their principal men,
Henry Berry Lowery, organized a
band of them and wrought as much
crime in Robson and the adjoining
counties as did the James gang in its
| more extensive field Of operation.
This man, on account of real oa fan
cied wrong, waylaid and murdered
wealthy and influential white man,
Mr.. Townsend. The horrors Of an
Indian war, except the scalping Of
the victims, followed. Women and
children were killed as well as able
bodied men. No race was exempt. 1t
was war of determination. Houses
were burned, stock destroyed and the
country laid waste. After commit
ting depredations, the band would re-
turn to the swamps, which are almost
as impenetrable as the jungles Of In
dia. They are covered with dense
underbrush, and only those familiar
with their depths are able to find the
hidden paths that lead into their
depths. Lowery possessed considera-
BILE intellect, and being familiar with
every inch Of the ground, showed him
self an adept in the warfare. His
second in command, Stephen Lowery,
his uncle, was capable lieutenant,
and was often sent on marauding ex-
pedition with part Of the command
while the chief would strike at dis
tapt point.
This was continued for several
years, and became SO disastrous to
that portion of the State that the
Legislature passed an Act granting
amnesty to all the desperadoes except
Henry Berry and Stephen Lowery,
for whose capture or death reward
Of $4,000 was offered. This action
Of the State had the desired effect and
the war came to an end. What be-
came of the leaders is not known.
They were never captured, and no one
ever claimed the reward for killing
them. They disappeared, and their
followers resumed the even tenor Of
their way.
These people are legal citizens Of
the United States, but seldom avail
themselves of their privileges. They
take no interest in either local or ma
tional affairs. They have fought
against all efforts for their improve
ment and live to-day the same lives
their ancestors did.