The Adair County news., 1908-11-18
AN INCIDENT OF
THE WAR.
The Killing of Capt. John R. Curry
By ". 5. Long, in this place,
September, 1864.
A DISPLAY OF GENUINE COURAGE

as large as 1T IS at this time, and not
withstanding the war of the rebellion
had not closed, its inhabitants were
quiet. law abiding citizens.
Capt. John r. Curry at that time was
stationed here with company of Fed
eral soldiers, and they were camped
back of the Presbyterian College, but
Curry boarded at the hotel which was
conducted by the late 1. C. Winfrey,
located on the corner and in the same
building the Citizens Bank is now doing
business.
Some time during the Summer
months of 1864 Mr. W. S. Long, a
young man % years old, reached Co.
lumbia, en- route for Clinton county,.
his home. He had been soldier in the
Confederate army and had been in a
Federal prison, having been taken a
prisoner, but who had been released
through the influence of Col. Thos. E.
Bramlette, who at that time was the
Governor of Kentucky and a relative
of Mr.. Long.
When Long reached Columbia Mr..
Alfred Gilmer, merchant here. doing
business on the corner now occupied bv
W. F. Jeffries & Sons, was needing a
salesman. He knew the Long family
and knew that the young man in ques-
ton had been brought up in a store.
He met him and an agreement was
reached whereby he was to remain in
Columbia and do business for him.
He had not been in the store but a
short time until Capt Curry took a dis
like to him, it was believed, because
Long had served in the Confederate
army, and he was often heard making
rough remarks about the young man.
In August, of that year, a young man
named Ryne. who lived in Burkesville,
and who served in the Confederate
army, rode into Columbia and went
direct to Mr.. Gilmer's store.
He and Long were together in the
army; ne was also captured, placed in
the same prison with Long, and through
Governor Bramlette's influence he was
also released
Capt. Curry on that day was very
much under the influence of liquor, and
seeing Ryne go into the store, he buck
led on his revolvers and went over He
Immediately commenced abusing Ryne
for being rebel, etc. Mr.. Long said
to Capt. Curry: ''Captian, 1 rather you
would not make any trouble in the
store. Thereupon Curry became furi-
Gus and wanted to kill Long. Lieut..
Huddleston and one or two soldiers
took hold of Curry, carried him to the
hotel and put him to bed. The next
morning he was sober, but he did not
renew the trouble.
Just one month to the day from that
time he got drunk, buckled on his re-
volvers and went to Gilmer's store.
Long was behind the counter. When
Curry entered he walked UP to the
counter, facing Long. and said:
"Mr. Long, have you anything against
me?"
Long dropped his head for a second
or two, raising it. and looking Curry
in the eye, said:
Captain, just one month ago you
acted scoundrel in this store
Curry's response was, ''get your
pistol; have come over to kill you -
Long reached in the money drawer.
picked up his revolver, pointing it at
Curry's head, said: Il have got it,
The writer was in the store at the
time and he is not certain whether it
was Mr. Sine Wheat, who was in the
store, or Mr. Gilmer who said: "Billy
don't shoot. By this time soldiers en-
tered, and again carried Curry to the
hotel.
In few minutes squad of soldiers
entered the store, arrested Long and
marched him to the corner where the
post office is now located, While there,
and under arrest, Curry was being held
by two soldiers, but making all man.
ner of threats. Finally, very large SOL
der, named Stuckey, who was from
Tennessee, put his arms around Curry,
drawing him close to his breast, and at
the same time telling Long to get out
of the way.
Long passed up the street until he
reached the place where Mclean Bros.
are doing business. At that time there
was vacant lot where the store house
now stands. cut off from the livery
stable lot by a low fence. When Long
had reached this vacant lot, Curry was
turned loose, and he started after Long.
pistol in hand. Long seeing him COM
ing, and being unarmed, he jumped
over the fence, intending to make his
escape through the stable. Curry in