The New York Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1872, Page 4

4 houses as muon as I pleased for a day or two, ant 4{ nothing occurred betore Imust go to Moss Neck on Wednesday. Inthe meantime they would be near me, aud look out for Donanoe, aud if they did not see him-before he would certatuly meet me be- fore reaching Moss Neck, and I was earnestly caus tioned to Look out for Donahoe continually. Sunday might L slept in Rhody Lowery’s cabin, and the next two in old Mrs. Lowery’s house, spending the days in writing, reading (an aluanac) and going out precious little, On Tuesday morning RHODY SENT A MESSENGER to me with the Information that her dogs had been barking savagely the mght before, and in the morn- ing in the sand near the house she lad fornd the track of a large boot ana the butt of a Henry rife, ‘and she advised that I remain close Iu the bouse all day. This advice Lobeyed, notwithstanding it was contrary to the spirit of the outiaws? order, On Wednesday moratng, March 20, | started for Moss Neck, which, alter wading two streams, one knee higa, Lreached about ten minutes after the outlaws, Who tuld me THEY HAD BEEN NEAR ME from the time Lleft Mrs, Low '¢ plantation, They Jiad thougut of showiug tuemselves to me and “iot- ang” me acioss ove of the streams, out a fear hat Donahoe migai be about prev i thent, hae Steve look me asite and asked me again wt 1 3 honest im the representauons | had made to jem, aud was indeed slinply a Correspondent, or WHEIHER | WAS A DETECILVE OR SPY. He said they had been informed by some inrellt- gent white men that was seut bere for the pur- pose of learaiog thelr paths and nding places, and Uhatin a few mouths L would return with some United States soiviers, when, Knowlug all the roads well, without assistance from the mhadttants of Scuiite- town, | could guide te lorces and give them more trouble than they had ever before wet with. He tola me further what TOM LOWERY WAS IN FAVOR OF KILLING atonce, as inat would be the safest plan; that Andrew Stroug had suggested that I be sent away J the next train, out that ne, Sleve, velteved me wo be honest ia my protessions, and that 1 shoud stay longer and safety u 1 meant no treaciery to them. In reply I toid him the truth and ne Seemed to reaize vu, for im the end he expressed Dimsell satisfed, 1 tien asked vis permission to yo down as far as Lumberion on the next trai, ubat coming back on the up train f might have time to ‘talk wit Captain Moriison, tne conductor, After @ litue hesitation he said, aller making me place amy hand on my heart, and ( SWEAR 1 WOULD COME BACK, fee Well, Ill trust you. You may go; but, by God, aa Bure as you live, 1 you don’t come back ill Kill the ext stranger that comes i jiere; so ti you don’t want any innocent blood on sour head you had Pwewter come back.’ AtLumberton I waa guzod ai enriously by both Yblacks and whites, a large number of the latter "being at the depot, where I awaued che arrival of ‘tne up train. but 1 was accosted, however, by no one A DISSIPATED LOOKING YOUNG MAN, ‘who wanted to know if I had any news for the People of Lumberton, and who said he nad been ‘onarged with being impiicaicd tu ine murder of Ben Beetra, who had been Ku Kluxed last suminer, ‘but that he wanted the UWeeatp to announce his perfect mnocence of the charwe. He gave me lis Dame as French McQueen, a name | had heard con- wected with the Lumberton sale robbery, where It ihad been aileged by the mulattoes (other than the Oullaws) that the Lowerys had received assistance in the town. 1came back to the outlaws, and, with Steve, re- ‘traced my way across the swamps, he carrying me over the siream on nis back, as he nad done once before, Andrew and Tom had gone from Moss Neck before { returned trom Lumberton, Aiter dinner, With Steve in his own cabin, by his permission, | returned to old Mrs. Lowery’s, where ‘Tremained tn peace untti the next day (Taursday), when, through Rhody, tie outiaws sent tor me. ‘They had received another suggestion irom some white people, they assured me, and that was nothing jess than that 1 migut either BEWITCH THEM OR CHLOROFORM THEM. Here was a dimma. It was easy to prove to them that I couid now administer chioroform w ‘them; but their superstition was so great that I Jeared my powers of argument would be insaficient W persuade them that 1 fad no compueity with the devil. Here for the drst time (we were in Rhody's cabin) they searched me, and a most thorough examination they made, very letter or scrap of writing about me-hey made me read to them. ‘To be sure they could not Kiow if J read correctly or not, but as I never hesitated nor jaltered, they expressed them- Belves savisiied. VARY TOOK MY REVOLVER AWAY trom me, suylg, nowever, they would return it delore Lieit. The letter from the HERALD directing mé Ww come here, in its envelope, with the engraving of the HixgxaLp building, made a favorable impres- sion upon them, and confirmed my story. asked their permission to go to Moss Ni the next day, to matl my letiers, which they at frst declined to give, saying they would take them them- geelves; but on my furiher representing that | ‘wanted to hear the news and get some papers from Captain Morrison, after a long consuitation, in which Tom Lowery appeared w be very much ex. cited, Steve told mel aight go, but that some of them would be there TO SBE THAT 1 DID NOL ESCAPE, most earnestly telling me that | need nave no fears trom them if | was what | represented myself to be. Andrew Strong has since told me Tom Lowery in- sisted on killing me there and tien. On the same afternoon Steve Lowery took me to the “Devil's Den,” about two mules from my head- quarters, He was unavie W give me any otner origin of the name than that Satan in propria persona once appeared ere, aad frightened the mulitia, Who were oui bunting the outiaws, so terri- bly that they imcontiuently took to their heels. ‘This is a diabolical jookiug spot enough, out | have been shown some drearier oues, [tis simply alow marsh, thickly grown with oushes and reeds, the latter being used by the natives as pipesvems, ‘The next morning, Friday, 1 went vo Moss Neck, without meeting any of the bandits on my Way except Steve, who addressed me tn a much more surly, morose manner (hav he had ever done before, He said | would fud Tom and Andrew at the station, aud added, “MIND YOU LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF Now.’? Just betore reaching Moss Neck I was hailed by {the two villains Irom a thicket by the roadside, and after @ short half lLour’s couversation with them ‘was permitted to go on. While with them my nerves received anovaer shock. Warning me not to take the train and escape, fom Lowery said— “You've got to see Hoss vefore you leave dis country."” As I feit satisfied that, their assertions to the con- trary notwithstanding, Boss Strong was actually dead, this promise did not inspire me with joytul feelings. Indeed this morning | was more alarmed than I nad been hitherto, and when Captain Mor- rison, on the up train, told me the HERALD had ‘Deen received at Wilmington stating that I nad A PLAN TO CAPICkE THe OUTLAWS, and that they would ve sure to hear It before night, ‘jumped on his train tocacape. But in the cars I saw a copy Of the HERALD rejerred to, and saw that at was Saunders’ plan to capture the gang that was spoken of. Two miles above Moss Neck, the Captain stopping the train, | returned to the outlaws, though swith some misgivings. When I returned to the jpoint where [had 1ef Andrew and Tom they were one, as I was informed by a light maiatto girl who ‘volunteered to guide me to them. Herecountenance was so smiling and her eyes s@ bright that I hastily declined her services. And here let me speak of THE MORALS OF SCUFFLETOWN. Its inbabitants are a strange people, an anomaly in North Oarolina, so near her Southern sister. Numbering trom seven bhundrea to a thousand souls, neither white nor black, beiore the war, non- Slaveholders, but looking With contempt upon the ‘hegroes—their white neighbors being nard, preju- diced Seolchmen, having an aiding faith in their own election ty saivation and that of all colored People to dampation-tnese mulattoes have grown ‘UD @ people by tuemse\ves, Amaigamaung since ‘with their neigubors, ine succeeding generations Seats toons vuun the precediag, and from (br lighteess Of tne (henry inquiry, the brightness female mulattu’s complexion 18 » Immense ratio to her code ot morals, AROPUME INO bmipilies” saa Steve to me om LoguPle And MIBK barre A fom CUPL DOWER, NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1872.—TRIPLE SHEET, this snbject, “the gals are all alike in ScumMetown,” to which Andrew Strong addea, “AND THE WIMMEN I3 DE S4MB,"’ and I believe they told the truth, “Is your sister Caroune married?” I asked Rhody Lowery. < “No, but she has four children,’ as if that were the same thing. At the house of one of the mulattoes, where I took dinuer with tie oullaws one day, & man who has a well-stocked plantation of (ity or sixty acres, the guest on whom MOST ATTENTION WAS BESTOWED was avery dark mulatto woman, of about thirty years of age. She was addressed “ma’am,” and to her all the conversation was directed, Upon suvse- quent inquiry | ascertamea she had just come trom Wilmington, where she had not been a paragon of virtue, She nad five illegitimate catidren, two of wnom were then with ner, ‘The morals of the outlaws themselves were not, Mf common report meant anythlug, any better than Viey might be, their reputed offspring beimg scat- tered far and wide. Rhody Lowery satd that her husband, Henry Berry, was very jealous about her. 1 was miormed that there were illegicimate children m almost every house, and that nobody thought very much about it, Sometimes the parents of the seduced (*) would be ‘powerful discouraged,” bul ma week or two it ceased to trouble them, It appears to be tne law here to arrest a female who has given birth to aa tlegitimate child, and to re- lease her upon her swearing to the paternity; the reputed father ts When arrested, but released M the injured iemale refuses to appear against him, which they generally retuse, for a consuieration, $25 being the usual sum. though often as low as $10 18 taken when the culprit 18 very poor. Wherever tne out- laws weut while L was with them they were hailed with deiught by tae dusky beauties of Scufictown, Who received vueir oftentines very coarse jokes and rough caresses with every manifestation of pleasure, I believe Le Lemale tumates of old Mrs. Lowery’s household to be strictly virtuous, and I saw noting in Rhody’s conauct that would induce me to doubt her cllasuty, Bub if phe mulattoes of both sexes are bad, the WHITE MBN IN THE NBIGHBORMOOD are far worse. Without taking tuto consideration the stories of tie people here as tw the associations between white men and colored women, the color of (he muiattoes themseives shows the result of much miscegenation. The general name mulatto 18 applied to all persons of mixed negro and white bigod, but the fact 4s that quadreous and octaroons abound here. But in my waaderigs to and {ro in and about Seuilletowa and Shoe Heel 1 found many cases of white men living openly with females of African biood; aod it 1s a most siguificant fact that while these white men are not ail of the class Known as “poor whites,’”” tuey are almost univer- saily active members of the political party that Opposes negro suffrage. When on tals afternoon I refused the proffered services of the mutatto girl who offered to guide me to the oullaws, I MADE A MISTAKE that might have given me some trouble. But being told by her that 1 would tind them near a potnt half @ mile distant from Moss Neck station, where two roads, one from Inman's and one from the New Bridge, meet, I started alone, and failing to meet them at that point pursued my way to Henry Berry Lowery’s cabin via Inman’s Bridge. Here I told Rhody of the suspicions expressed and apparently entertained by the outlaws and of my own mis- givings, and REMINDED HER OF A PROMISE mage before, that she would give iniormation of any unusual occurrence to the specia! messenger of the HeraLp who would be sent up the road by your correspondent at Wilmington, if tt were im- possible for me to convey it mysell. Apout two hours after my arrival at her cabin, and when I was flattering myself that the work of the day Was over, for the twelve miles walk to and from Moss Neck was calculated to fatigue a much more musoular person than your correspondent, Steve Lowery and Andrew Sirong entered the house with an abrupt;—“Here, you must go with us now, but WE'LL BLIND YOUR EYES,” and urged me to hurry up, for it was getting late. lmedtately after leaving the house, within the yard, taking my handkerchiel, they blndfolded me completely, and with the simple remark of steve to Roouy, “WE'VE PROVED HE'S A SPY," they ied me off, Steve taking my hand. The situa- tion was uupleasant, The questions of the outlaws as Wo my taking the cars in the morning, and their remarks on my failure to meet them where I had | been airected, were iil calculated to assure me that no harm was intended as they led me on, The fact that | was biindiolaed assisted more than any- thing else in keeping up my hopes, for it struck me that if I was to be killed they would have no réa- son to care Wnether | knew where they were taking me or not. But, notwithstanding this, there was a fearful dread creeping over me; a strauge, undefined fear that my life would be the pepalty for what now (for | the first time), SEEMED RASHNESS. And as I was led along, shut out from the light of day, all the horrible stories I had heard of the murderous deeds of the men who wore taking me I knew not whither, passed in quick succession through my mind, and I regrevted, how earnestly no one not similarly situated can inagine, that I had ever undertaken this dangerous work. How tong we waiked I had no means of deter- mining exaciy, though it seemed te me to be about two hours, My fears may have doubled the actual time we were on our journey, A JOURNEY OF HORROR. We trod every kind of ground what is to be found tm that region—oyer sand, mouid, swamp and creek; through cleared fleids, thickets and open pine woods; now doaging an overhanging branch at the word from Steve, now switched in the face by the bushes, and then siap into water ankle deep. We went op and on, as if we would never reach the end. An attempt by Steve to guide my steps across &@ foot-log, while he waded in the water beside, failed once, and after that I waded with tim. We had walked some distance on the dry land, when we stopped and the bandage was taken from my eyes. WE WERE IN PERFECT DARKNESS, but ina few minutes Andrew had @ bright fire on vhe hearth, Whether it was night or day 1 was unable to tell, for there were no windows in the habitation in which I found myself, and the door fitted so nicely that no light was admitted if it were still day. Before I had time to observe all my sur. roundings Steve again asked me if | were uot really apd truly in the EMPLOY OF THE UNITED STATES, telling me he had been so positively assured by all his iriends that I meant nothing but evil ‘towards them that he began to think he had been mistaken in his opinion of my motives, and that I might be other than a mere correspondent after all, notwith. standing he had been satisfied as to my intentions the day before. Now ensued again a long argument by your cor- respondent, In the midst of which he was toter- rupted by Andrew Strong:— “Mr. + you needn't waste your bref; it has been proved to us that you are a spy, and we would do right to kill you right off. But you can’t hurt us much yet, and if you'll admit you are a detecuve I am in favor of ing you go away safe, provided you leave in the first train and leave all your papers benind you. But if you deny what you are ALL [ HAVE TO SAY 18, REMEMBER SAUNDERS.” I had always before found Andrew the most un- suspicious and moderate of them all, and to say I Was surprised at the threats conveyed by his ad- dress but faintly conveys my feelings. However, I valked on and succeeded finally m satisfying them, and I was not troubled by any expressed suspiclons afterwards. THE OUTLAW'S DEN, When | again felt at sufficient ease to look about me | saw that 1 was in @ log cabin about fourteen leet square and not more than six leet high, the whole inside, except above tne fireplace, lined with sawed boards, A small fireplace, not larger than an ordinary coal grate, at one end, gave light and heat, while at the opposite end of the room there hung from the ceiling several pieces of bacon and dried venison. On either side of the fireplace there were, leaning against the wail, THIRTY OR FORTY SHOTAUNS, a some blankets, a bench, @ small table, two stools and @ few iron cooking utensils scattered avout made up the total of the cabin’s “furniture.” Was not permitted to open the door, which was secured by a ‘button,’ 7 A NICE CARD PARTY, Here, then, we spent the night, principally in con- versation and card playing, { teaching them euchre and Cauifornia jack, while they taught me ‘blind,’” “wnistting jack” avd “three up.’” Towards morning, with one blanket under and one over me, between the outlaws, with my feet to the fire, I went to sleep, but betore long was awakened by Steve, and after cutting me A COUPLE OF POUNDS OF VENISON from one of the dried quarters haaging up, and tying up my e)es, we started out, ana regched Rhody’s cabin at about nine o'clock, they said, Notwithstanding my mind was not troubled on our return tramp as it had been going over, the ime we were walking seemed twice as long, I am cer- tain we did not return over the same ground we went out on. Upon reaching Rhody's house we found tnat, filled with apprehensions as to my fate, SHE HAD GONE TO MOS3 NECK and communicated her tmtormation to the HERALD’S special messenger. Nothing particularly interesting occurrsd on Sat- urday, but on Sunday Steve returned my revolver to me and Rhody ‘took me to the grave and place of execution of Saunders. LEAVING THE OUTLAWS. On Monday morning, March 25, 1 started alone for the New Bridge (where 1 was to mect Andrew and Steve) in @ drenching rain, which in fifteen minutes wet me to the skin, To add to my discom- fiture I lost my way, for I had never gone on this road alone berore, and fears that | could not arrive at Moss Neck in time for the morning train increas- lang my perturbation, I made a mis-step on one of the numerous foot-loga 1 was obliged to cross, and stepped into the muday water of Turkey branch’ above my Knees, Aiter 1 had been wandering about the paths and roads that are so numerous in that vicinity for over an hour, I heard a shot perhaps a quarter of a mile distant. I answered with one Irom my revolver, and a reply told me the road to take, The watk from the New Bridge to Moss Neck was a rapid one, and nothing worthy of record was sald but the advice from Steve that I should never return; “for,” said he, “if your report is hurd on us we won't see you, while if it 13 m our favor THE WHITE PEOPLE WILL KILL YOU.’ At Moss Neck | received an invitation from a gen- Ueman of Shoe Heel to revisit that village before my departure. As J was fearful of the feeling that might have been produced among the whites ‘by the strong denunciations of my course In the Robe- sonian declined going, and for the same reason determined not to stop in Lumberton, At Moss Neck the two outlaws, Steve and An- drew, presented me with AN OLD DOUBLE BARRELLED SHOTGUN, which, they assured me, was one of the three used by Henry Berry Lowery at Wiregrass Landing, Where alone he dispersed a body of militia, They also gave me a few pieces of silver coln as memen- toes of my sojourn among them. And now, the train approaching. with a cordial shake of the hand, they bade me “go in peace.’” THE OUTLAWS ON THEMSELVES. In all my intercourse with the outlaws and their mulatto friends I found a strong desire to have their justification of thelr course given tu the country. From full notes of the many conversations lhad with them, submitted to and approved by them before my departure, 1 am enabied to give the defences of the three surviving outlaws, Steve ana ‘Tom Lowery and AndreW strong. PREFATORY. Prior to the murder of Sheriff King the outlaws of Robeson county were Henry Berry Lowery, Boss Strong, George Applewhite, John Dial, Hen- derson Oxendine and Zach McLaughlin. All of these, save George Applewhite, Who was a pure negro, and Zach McLaughlin, a white man, were of the mixed race that make up the settlement of ScuMetown. ‘The circumstances that drove these men to the swamps for refuge—the murder of old Allen Lowery and his son William, by whites led by James Barnes, the murder of H. B, Lowery’s three cousins by Brant Harris, and the punishment of Barnes and | Harris by the incensed mulattoes—have already been fully shown in your columns, as also We cause of the enmity of the whites against those people— viz., the assistance they extended to escaped fed- eral prisoners. A year or two after the close of the war, when the outlawry of Lowery’s gang prevented thelr main- taining themselves by labor, ex-Sherif! Reuben King was wounded while defending his property from the robbers, who had broken into his nouse, from which wéund he died some six months after- wards. Upon a charge of being concerned in this mur- der John Dial and Henderson Oxendine were ar- rested, HOW STEVE BECAME AN OUTLAW. Dial, turning State’s evidence, testified’ that Steve Lowery was one of the band at whose hands King met his death, and soon afterwards Steve was ai rested, he offering no resistance to the officers of the law. Steve had until this time been unmolested by the State or county officials, To escape trom work on ihe rebel fortifications during the war he had sougnt and found a situation that would exempt him from military duty, and was for three years a fireman on the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad, ‘To be sure he was one of the hated Lowerys, but peacefully working tn the woods getting out mate. rial forthe manufacture of turpentine, he had until now avoided all trouble, Atter he was arrested and imprisoned and before his trial all his fellow prisoners escaped from jail, he going to the outer door, but refusing to accom- pany them, ‘for’ saia he, “God knows I ain inno- cent of the charge brought against me, and if I should be unjustly convicted He will assist me to escape.” STEVE LOWERY’S TRIAL, Soon after this general jail delivery Steve was called up for trial in Lumberton, and was avly de- fended by Colonel French. There was no testimony whatever on the part of the State but that of John * Dial, who, however, swore positively that Steve was one of the party who attacked King’s house the night ne was killed, Upon cross-examination, Dial declared he had never said to any one that his Iie bad been threatened in case he did not testify that Steve and Tom Lowery were among the rob- vers. In defence it was shown by three colored persons that on the night of the robbery, half an hour pe- fore its occurrence, Steve was seen alone BIGHT MILES PROM KING'S HOUSE. Four or five negroes also testified that in their pre- sence Steve had charged John Dial, in jati, with maving perjured himself in swoartng to bis com- plicity with the King robbers, and that in repiy Dial had said it was trae, but that he had been com- pelied to do it; that he had been visited tn jail after ‘is arrest by @ party of white men, who had told him that he would be KILLED UNLESS HE WOULD TESTIFY against Steve and Tom Lowery, ,and that if he ‘would, he would receive a reward of $2,500 and ve sent North, where the state of North Carolina would pay for @ two years’ vourse of instruction at @ gooa school, These witnesses farther testified that Dial- said he was sorry he had sworn before that Steve and Tom were parties to this murder, but that he would make it all right at the trial, where he would testity to the truth and Steve would be acquitted. Judge Russell charged the jury that an alibi was ollen the last desperate resort of a guilty man to escape deserved punishment, and that they should examine the evidence of the witnesses for the de fence suspi¢igusly, for they were all of the same race with tue prisoner and were undisguisedly hia friends, ‘The jury, atter an absence of fifteen minutes, re turned @ verdict of “guilty,” and Steve Lowery was SENTENCED TO BE HANGED by the neck until ve was dead. His counsel imme- diately moved an arrest of Judgment and fora new trial, which was refused, He then carried the ease to the Superior Court. Pending a hearing of his case in the Superior Court STEVE RSCAPED FROM JAIL, and Joingd the baud of Heute Berry Lowery, was immediately outlawed, a price set upon his head, and he has ever since been a fugitive from the justice which ts to be foend in Robeson county, North Carolina, ANDREW STRONG IN THE SWAMPS. Andrew Strong worked on the rebel fortifications t Wilmington, N. C., waenever he was calied upon i todoso. The work was of the hardest description, and was performed under fear of tne lash, which was not spared, At the close of the war he married Flora Samp- son, aud building himself a log cavin about a mile and a hall irom Henry Berry Lowery, he commenced to work 1 turpentine ana rosin, but soon left this to engage in cutting trees for the manulacture of jumper. In the latter part of January, or peginning of February, 1570, some meat was stolen irom @ while maa living near where he was operating, and tt was shortly atterwards found in the possession of two negro employés of Andrew’s, upon. a raft he had | Sent down the river. The negroes escaped, and shortly afterwards, when Andrew was at bis own house, he was visited by a deputy sheriff, who, alter @ short conversation on general subjects, told nim he must accompany him to Lumberton, Upon An- drew’s asking him fora sight of his warrant he presented his revolver, saying that was his warrant. Andrew immediately drew his revolver, and, after An interchange of shots, in which he receive! a siight wound tn the shoulder, the deputy steriff flea. At the next term of Court, in August, Andrew SURRENDERED HIMSELF to the authorities to answer the charge of the theft of the meat, and at the first week of Court was re- leased upon bis own recognizance in the sum of $200 to appear for trial at the next term, Upon the next Sunday he was arrested upon a charge of being concerned in the King robbery and murder, and for safe keeping was taken to the jail at Wilmington, While in this jail ne was ap- proached by the District Attorney of Robeson couaty and assured that if tried ue would certainly be convicted, but tnatif he would testify against Henry Berry and Steve Lowery he would not only be released, but handsomely rewarded, Relusing to perjure himself he was detained at Wilmington until the August term of Court In Robeson county, when he was (akea there, tried for the theft of the meat and acquitied. At the same term of Court ne was TRIED FOR ASSAULT AND BATTERY in resisting the Deputy Sheriff and convicted, but not sentenced, A bench warrant was issued by the Court, however, for his detention until next term anda bond in the sum of $1,500 required for his appearance for sentence, Not being able to furnish Unis he was kept in jail until the latter part of Sep- tember, when, by order of the Court, he ‘was re- leased upon gtving his own bond for his good be- havior in the sum of $200, and a bond or the same amount to appear at February term, 1871.- At tnis Court he appeared and was discharged, At the same term Henderson Oxendine, who had been re- arrested, was tried and convicted of the King murder upon the evidence of John Dial, and after his con- Viction made a confession, in which he said that Andrew strong TOOK PART IN THE K{LLING OF SAUNDERS. Andrew was then declared an outlaw and $5,000 offered for his body dead or alive, and he has ever since been resisting the efforts of the authoriues to capture him. HOW ANDREW STRONG BURIED SAUNDERS. Andrew’s connection with the death of Saunders was this. The Monday morning the mulattoes haa seized Saunders at his illicit whiskey still they were taking lim to the spot where they proposed killing him when they overtook Andrew Strong with nis sister Ruody Lowery, Henry Berry’s wife, whose child he was “toting” for her. They made no effort to avoid him, but told him that now he must accompany and assist them in their work of ven- geance, as he had seen who composed the party. Notwithstanding his remonstrances he was com- pelled to go with them, but on their arrival at the place of execution he absolutely reused to take part With them in drawing lots for an executioner. On the contrary he BEGGED THEM TO SPARE SAUNDERS’ life if he (Saunders) would swear to leave the coun- try. This, however, Saunders refused to do, saying he would rather jola the band. Andrew then asked that Saunders might be permitted to take his own life, which gracious permission was accorded him, aud SAUNDERS TOOK SOME ARSENIC which he had in is pocket; but that not having the desired effect, for some reason to ‘the outlaws un- known, he (Saunders) opened one of the veins of his arm with a penknife, but had not sufficient courage to see hisdife ebbing away, ana BEGGED TO BE KILLED INSTANTLY, when, the lot having flalen to Steve, he shot him at close range, Andrew Strong and Tom Lowery turning away from the frightiul scene. Tne other persons present were Henry Berry Lowery, Boss Strong and Henderson Oxendine, Andrew was then airected to bury Saunders, which he did as de- cently as he could. He wrapped him in his own blanket, and clasped in his bands, folded on his breast, THE PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS WIFR, which he found in his pocket, and the next day mailed to the wife a letter Saunders had been per- mitted to write to her. Sanuders appeared very grateful to Andrew for his efforts in his behalf, and begged him to accept his penknife, which Andrew at first declinea to take; but, on being urged by the unfortunate man, he took it with the remark:— “God knows I pity you, for I have been in the very presence of death myself when Make Sander- son was killed, and I can understand your feel- ings.” WHY TOM LOWERY WAS OUTLAWED. Murdoch McClain (who with his brother Hector was afterwards slain by the outlaws) was one of the party of five wno attacked the swamp robbers, when Steve Davis, one cf the attacking party, was kuled, As avery complete and correct account of this engagement has been given by a former correspondent I will mot repeat it here, It is sufficient to say that Henry Berry Lowery, Boss Strong, George Applewhite, Zach, McLaughlin and Henderson Oxendine were attacked by a party of flve, who approached them in the rear and fired upon them before they were aware of their presence. Steve Davis was killed, and another of the attacking party, andBoss Strong wounded in this encounter, Murdoch McClain suv- sequently swore that TOM LOWERY WAS ONE OF THE PARTY of outlaws attacked, and upon his iniormation Tom was arrested and imprisoned in Lumberton with Pop Oxendine. 1n May, 1871, Henry Berry Lowery, with four of bis followers, entered Lumberton, and, breaking open the prison doors and tearing up from the floor the shackles that confined them, bore Tom Lowery and Yop Oxendine of in triumph. Of course Tom Lowery was immediately outlawed by the county authorities. He 1s the only one of the living band who has been seriously wounded in the many engagements between them and the forces sent against them, though Steve and Andrew have received slight injuries. ‘tom once received twenty or twenty-five buckshot in bis body, which laid him on his back for over three months. GENERAL INCIDENTS, It ts not, pernaps, my province to detail the ac- counts given me by these Tamous bandits of occur- rences, engagements @nd incidents that hay already been mentioned or described in the HERALD. The contest at Wiregrass Landing, where Henry Berry Lowery, swimming along in the Lumber River upon one side of nis boat, which he made his rampart, put to fight TWENTY-THREE MILITIAMEN, after severely wounding two of them; the engage- ment within four hundred yards of H. B. Lowery’s house, where five outlaws drove away a Sheritt's posse of seventy, killing two and wounding seven; the shooting and dispersal of the soldiers who were carrying to prigon the wives of the outiaws, and the killing of James Barnes, Bront Harris, Giles Inman and others who have fallen in this savage conflict, have been presenicd to your readers already, But there are some incidents of this war recallea to me by the outiaws that have not been pub- lished. ‘The outlaws bribed to Kill Steve told me that the outlaws were frequently solicited to commit crimes by men not under the ban of Justice, Every out- rage perpetrated in or near Scuffletown was laid at the outlaws’ door, and since 1865, with ordinary oautlom OU mauRer of ove camd bedono aud (nel ny we Ku Bie outlaws receive the blame, But there are many persons 1n Robeson and the adjoining counties who, turning away from the actual commission of crime themselves, have caught agents in the swamps of SenMetown., Within six months I was assured by Steve he and Henry Berry met by appointment a white merchant of the county, who offered them FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS TO KILL his business partner, whom he agreed to bring’ within their reach, ‘They declined the offer, and tt required some self-control to prevent them from slaying the man who so misunderstood their po- sition. Steve often said he took no pleasure in killing, and that he could not tatk Ightly or joke about the taking of @ human life; only in self-defence or in the administration of the justice denied them by the whites would he be induced to kill. BIGGS DESIRES TO RETURN TO SCUFFLETOWN, Henry Biggs was a young man, who, according to his story, pressed in the outiaws service by Jack McLaughlin, the white member of the gang, at the frst convenient opportunity shot bis capior dead with his own revolver. He received a reward of $400 for his action, and immediately sett the country, A short time before my visit to ScufMfetown the following letter was received from him: “ “Jan une 22 1572 “Mr H B Lowery 1 will rite you a few Lines to let you know that 1am not a going to vother you nor the Rest 1 wont to Know if you ar the same by me 1 have bin forsed out atter you but if tat time Roles Kound again 1 will leave the country Arst 1 ‘want you Co answer this so 1 can come back. “HENRY Bi A BRAVE MULATTO WOMAN. Atthe timg James Barnes led the company that shot old Allen Lowery and nis son Wiliam to death and wanted to burn Mrs. Lowery and her daugh- ters, in Robert McKenzie's smoxehouse, they cap- tured four or five escaped federal prisoners, One of the party of prisoners, who were hiding in the Scumetown swamps, had been taken seriously ill, and at the time of Barnes’ raid was sufering with @ feverish delirium 1a the hospitable cabin of Amanda Nash, @ middle-aged, single mulatto wo- man, who lived by herself, When tne Barnes party learned of this they went tothe cabin and demanded the prisoner, saying they would hurry mim on to hell; that, in short, they Wouid kill him on the spot. Amanda took the sick soldicr’s revolver, and, standing in the doorway, defled them to come in, saying they must FIRST PASS OVER HER DEAD BODY, for while she lived the poor man, uaconscious of his peril, should not be murdered. For some reason she was not killed by the Barnes party, who, in- stead, parleyed with her for some minutes, at the end of which time @ compromise was effecved, she to give up her patient upon their promising not to kill, but to send tim to Lumberton, He was taken ina cart to McKenzte’s smakchouse, and was one of its immates when the proposition was made to burn it, The next day he was taken to Lumberton, where he rematued until Sherman’s soldiers re- leased him. GENERAL GORMAN'S STRATEGY, As related by Steve Lowery, the campaign of Ad- jutant General Gorman was unique, In the spring of 1871 the Goveruor of North Varolina visited Lumberton to consult with the prominent men of Robeson county as to the best means to rid the county of its pest. It was unanimously agreed by the citizens that if tne Governor would send a de- mocratic oficer to head a body of determined men, the bandits would be Killed or captured with little trouble. The Governor then directed this demo- cratic adjutant, appointed for the purpose, to pro- ceed witha company of United States troops, fur- nished for the purpose, and a body of one hundred and fifty militia (to be mustered by the county and to be renewed or changed weekly), to the bead- quarters of the outlaws and kill or capture them, ‘The military were stationed along the raitroad by General Gorman, who, immediately upon his arrival, made efforts to have an interview with the villains, After a month’s exertions, during which time the soldiery wére periectly passive, Gorman succeeded in meeting with Henry Berry and steve Lowery. To them he made the extraordinary announcement that the gas." GOVERNOR WAS THRIR FRIEND and intended them no harm; that as he was a re- publican he had a strong desire to save to the coun- try the lives of such staunch fighting republicans as the Lowery gang of bandits, ‘wnd that he had author. ‘zed him, Gorman, to promise them a guard and a SAVE CONDUCT OUT OF THE STATE if they would give up their arms and leave the State with their tamillea. To this proposition the outiaw leader replied that he would readily accept the terms offered wnen he was assurea they were made in good falth, but he required @ written offer from the Governor himself. This General Gorman agreed to furnish, and, after an absence of a week from the scene of bis military duties,‘returned to the outlaws with a paper bearing the name of Gov- nd the GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE, and which contained the offer before mentioned, ‘The outiaws refused to accept the terms, declining to lay down their arms, but told General Gorman to say tothe Governor they would leave the State ‘with their families, and defend themselves on the Journey, if he would witndraw the reward offered for their capture, General Gorman departed with this message, and, after an absence of but two days, re- turned and sent & message to H. B. Lowery, ask- ing him, with his band, to meet him at Inman’s Bridge the next morning at daylight, saying fur- ther go (Gorman) would bealone. The ofiicer tatied to meet the robbers at the place appointed, for they ascertained long before the hour appointed for the meeting that Gorman’s full force of soldiery was AMBUSHED NEAR THE BRIDGE, General Gorman then sent another message to the men ne was attempting to capture to meet him near Buies’ store on the raliroad upon a Monday morning, and the night before planted his men along the road for half a mile two miles below the rendezvous, while he hi If was seen ata safe distance from the scene of the expected engage- ment sweeping the road witn a spy glass. : He never met the outlaws again, greatly to their regret, for this second treachery fearfully enraged them. At his first interview with them he asked them, ‘for a joke,” to FIRE INTO BIS FORCE WITH FINE SHOT, but not to hurt them, saying they would be driven off, and the campaign would be ended. The out- laws declined, as they believed his object was to exaggerate tne dificulttés with which he was sur- rounded, that he might get a stronger force of ‘United States troops and briag the general govern- ment to the assistance of the State. THE OUTLAWS AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT, ‘These men profess to have an unbounded respect for the United States authorities, ‘They frequently said to m «we will fight the State or county authorities as often as they are sent against us; but we must be hard pressed before we whl engage with United States soldiers, for we have no war with them.” Again they saia:;—“We will not interfere with the railroad because it carries the mails for tne govern- ment, althongh we know large sums of money are often to be found in the express oar.” “Bat,” they would add, “the railroad must not be used against us, for we mast take care of ourseives.”” WHY THEY DON’T BSCAPB, hard life, said Steve Lowery to me one ; “1 would give all the money in the world if 1 had It to be allowed to lead an honest, peaceful life; no man who has not experienced it can know what itis to be hiding in the swamp, searched for contin- ually, @ price upon his head, and nothing in the future to look forward to but a violent death. We men could easily leave the county and State if we would go without our families, but we wort do thai, We would rather die and ‘we will die nere. I know ! will be killed, and per- haps goon, but 1 will defend my life as long as 1 cap, and none of us will ever be taken alive to be hung up like dogs for doing what we were forced into, If the Governor would withdraw the reward we could get away, but he will never do that. And tnen 1t wili be hard for the colored people here when we go away or are Killed. THE KU KLUX ARB APRAID OF U8 now, but Iam afraid it will be worse than evor when we are put out of the Way, unless others like us ride up to defend tuemselves. They call us murderers and ronbers; 1 have never killed one man in cold blood but Saunders, and if you were @ colored man and would see the list he had of mnocent men who were to ve killed you would dq the, game, If 1 wore to mest a man here now that I knew w be one of the Ku Kiux I weuld kill bim tn an instant; bat I nave no tanocent blood Ww answer for. All that I have killed Were men whe had injured us or who were alter our heads, I want you to say through the papers that we have been driven’ to this life—the hardest that can be—througm no fauit of our own; and, as we are not allowed to work for @ living, we ace compeiled to steal, and! that, while we have the use of our bodies we with never be taken."” STEVE LOWERY’S REASONING Ignorant, superstitious, unable to read or write these men have had thei minds sharpened by ne- cessity, and they undoubtediy have an exceilent Knowledge of human nature. Shortly before my departure Steve Lowery said to me:— “You are the fourth man we've trusted. The other three—Jonn C, Saunders, General Gorman and Colonel Frank Wishert—were treacherous; and you may be here for some other purpose than that you pretend, but I think you are honest, The day you first met us, you may remember, I did not talk 1 was studying you, and at last £ came to the conclusion that you were just what you said you were; and as the eRALp had PUBLISHED A FAIRER ACCOUNT OF US than we had ever seen, as read to us by you, Lt was for giving you all the imformation we could, As C said to Andrew, it wasn’t that you cared anything for us, buiit was for the money you would make @nd the help it would give your paper that you came, If you had come here and said, ‘Men, I have been reading or heartog about you, and, beilevmg you have been badly treated, I waut to join you, or 1 want to help you to get away from here, | would Nave safd, ‘Mister, the quicker you can leave this country tie heatthier it will be for you.’ But your story seemed reasonable, and you 100ked honest, and we have trusted you as we have never done any oue before, anu as we never wiil any one again. 1 waat you to say there will be no use in anybody else ever attempting to come ameng us as you have done, When your report of us appears in print there are hundreds of men who will think they cam disguise themselves as correspondeats and come among us to get a shot at one of usor effect our capture, And YOU MUST NRVER COME BACK here either.’ You would be safe in coming if we find you nave written the truth about us, but even then you could not see us again, for you have had frequent Opportanities of killing one of us, and whiie I believe now no idea of the kind has ever en- tered your mind while you have been with us, not- withstanding I was suspicious at times, yet when you retura to your home and think how easily you Could have mage over $5,000 you might be tempted tocome again for another purpose, so mind Low [ tell you there 13 no use in your ever coming back.’! RHODY LOWERY’S ADVENTURES. Few persons of either sex have been exposed to the dangers that have beset the path of the pretty “Queen of Scuflctown."’ That she has not been outlawed 13 one of the omissions of the Robeson county magistrates that fills me with surprise; for if any person in that mulatto scttiement has ever given “ald and comfort to the enemy’ that person has been Rhody Lowery. ‘That she has remained In & house that was pert- Odically surrounded and riddied with rifle balls would show her to be a woman of uncommon cour- age, without mention of particular iustances in which her bravery was displayed. Upon one occasion, when Henry Berry was in his home, from which he had then been absent for several weeks, tne striking of a horse shoe notified him of danger, and a peep through a crevice show- ing nim a party of forty or more HORSEMEN WITH BLACKENED FACES dismounting. He opened the pack door and rushed for the swamp, while Rhody, opening the front door next the invaders, stood there with her children, while the bullets of the enraged and alsappointed hunters hurtled about her. ‘This body of disguised men was commanded by Colonel Frank Wishert, who had always professed @ sympathy for the outlaws, AN ATTEMPT TO BRIBE RHODY. Colonel Wishert made an effort last summer to persuade Rhody to betray her husband into the hands of his enemies. He wanted her togive a powder, which he represented was a sleeping potion, to her husband the next time ne returned, and notify him when it had taken effect. The con- sideration to be paid to Rnody for this work was the entire reward, AMOUNTING TO OVER TZN THOUSAND DOLLARS, then offered for the capture of Henry berry Lowery, and a comfortable home in another State, The offer was rejected. Again, McQueen, or Donahoe (who afterwards killed Boss Strong), in One of the visits of the militia to the bandit’s head- quarters, asked Rhody to poison her husband with some corn bread he then and there offered her, for which she should have one-half the reward offered and Donahoe’s protection for life, SAVING HENRY BERRY’S REVOLVERS. Upon one occasion, when Henry Berry Lowery was quietly spending the evening in the bosom of his family, his belt of revolvers unciasped, an@ lying on the,bed and his guns standing in the cor- ner, @ slight noise attracting his attention to the front door, he saw abouta dozen men within tem yards of the house. Hastily seizing his rife he rushed out of the opposite door amid a perfect hail- storm of bullets from an equal number of men on that side of the house, through their ranks and es- caped into the swamps. Just as the front party entered the door Rhody succeeded in depositing in her pockets two of her husband’s Coit’s revolvers, and, as she Was not searched, they were saved. Rhody has almost invariably been treated with respect by the numerous bodies that Dave enterea her castle, and she has never been the recipient of personal rudeness, Upon this occasion her has- band’s shotguns were carried of by the “invaders.” STEALING A MARCH ON THE SOLDIERS. When for nearly two months soldiers and mili. tia were stationed about and around the cabins of the outlaws, in pursuance of some vague pian theory of the State officiais, the female inmates their houses were permitted to go and come as th pleased, Scarcely a aay passed by without an in- terview between Rhody Lowery and her husband, when the actions of the enemy would be compared, and information was easily gleaned from some enamored soldiers by the fascinating Raody and communicated tothe hunted bandit, “1 am going to see Henry,” she woutd say to the guards about her house; ‘follow me if you want tosee him;” and upon her return, ‘Henry sent his respects to you, and wants to know how long you will stay,” &c.; ana yet no attempt was ever made to foilow her; there was too much peril in tt, IMPRISONMENT OF THE ROBBERS’ WIVES. When that brilliant piece of strategy, the arrest of the wives of the outlaws, was determined upon, and Rhody Lowery asked to accompany the militia only to the store at Kureka, Henry Berry Lowery ‘Was within 200 yards of his house, and quickly tm- parted news to his comrades, After the wives of Steve and Tom Lowery and Andrew Strong had been captured on the way to the store they passed close beside the band of outlaws, who gave @ signal seen py Rhody. Be- cause H. B. Lowery was not absolutely certain the Women were to be imprisoned the soldiers were permitted to pass through the swamps unmolested to the store at the railroad, where they for the first time told their prisoners they were to be taken to Lumberton, and marched them auwn the railroad toward Moss Nec! One of the militia, Bert McClain, @ mulatto him- self, but “pressed” into this campaign, nad been so considerate of Rhouy’s comfort as to “tote” her child, six months old, for her through the woods, and he received his reward, for soon alter jeaving the store Rnody, knowing there would be a conflict, called McClain to her and asked him to carry the child agam, and he had scarcely complied with her request when ‘THE GUNS OF THR OUTRAGED OUTLAWS from the aide of the railroad ktlled two and woanded several df the militia, whlle the rest took fight, jeaving the Women and McClain alone upon the track. At Lumberton, the captives going to Moss Neck by the advice of their husbands, alone, they ‘were confined in the Court House, where every ate tention that coald be desired was shown them. At the end of a week, H. B. Lowry sent a message de- manding their release and threatening retaliation, It 19 neediese to say they were not detained an howe after the message was receiyed. IN CONCLUSION. have now givén the Bek4suy a plain gatemens a \ a