The Wilmingtonian., 1824-05-06


most wilderness, and the vigilance ofthe iIarpe's
lor time ensured inpunity. Mounted on fine
horses they plunged into the forest, el,ded pur-
suit by changing their course, and appeared un-
sApectediy to perpetrate new horrors, at points
distant from those where they were supposed to
inrk. On these occasions, they sometimes left
their wives and children behind them; and is a
iact honorable to the community, that vengeance
FOR these bloodv Deeds was not wreaked on the
helpless, but in some degree guilty companions
ot the perpetrators. Justice, hnwever. was not
Tong delayed. A man named Leiptr, in revenge
Tor a murder committed on Mrs. Siegai, the wife
at neis shbor, pursued and discovered the a,sas-
sins. The llarpe's had only time to mount their
horses and fly in different directions Accident
aided the pursucrs One. of the IIarpe's wa, O
large, the other small man the first usually
,ode strong powerful horse, the other fleet
but much smaller animal, and in the hurry OF the
flight they had exchanged horses The chase
Mas long and hot the smaller IIarpe escaped by
the superior powers of his horse, but the less
nervous animal who bure his brother, being over
burthcned, began to inil at the end of about SO
miles. Still the mscreant pressed forward for
although none of his pursners were near but Lei'
per, who had outrtden his companions, he was
unwilling 10 risk combat with man as strong,
and perhaps bolder than himself, and who was
animated with \ noble spirit ofiuaignation against
-
'eaping a ravine, Harpe's horse sprained limb,
and Iriper, as the phrase is. gathered HIN. 4. c.
HAT is overlook hiin.) both were armed with
rifles. Leiper fred and wounded Hprpe through
the body the latter, turning in his saddle. level
cd his piece, which missed fire, and he dashed i,
TO the ground, swearing that it was the first time
It had ever failed him. lie then drew y toma
hawk, and waited the approach OF Leipcr, Who,
nothing da;lnted, unsheatled his long hunting
knife and rushed upon his desperate foe, crap
pied with him, dashed him to the ground, and
xrcsted hi. only remaining weapon from his grasp.
The PROSTATE wretch. exhausted with the loss OF
blood, conquered, but uns,ibdncd in spirit, nov
lay passive at the feet ct his adversary. Expect.
ing every moment the arrival of the rest OF his
pursuers, he enquired it S,egal was Of the party,
and being answered in the affirmative, lie cX-
claimed, "thenl am dead man. "1hat would
raake no difference" replied Leiper, calmly "you
must die at any rate--l do not wish to kill you
myself but if nobody else will do it, | must. He
ihen questioned him as to the motives of his lae
atrocities. The murderer attempted not to pal
late or deny them, and confessed that he had
been actuated by no induccment but settled hs
tred to bis species, whom he said he had sworn
to destroy without distinction, for some fancied
injury. He expressed no regret for any OF his
bloody deeds, except that which he confessed he
had committed upon one of his otcn children. "lt
Cried" said he, Sand kliled it--l had always
told the women; would have no CRYING about
me" He acknowledged that he had amassed
large sums OF money, and described the place of
concealmcpt, but as none ever was discovered, it
IS presumed he did not tell the truth. Leper
had fired several times at Harpe during the chase,
and wounded him; and when the latter was ask
ed why, when he found Leiper pursuing him a.
lone, he did not dismonpt and take a tree, from
behind which he could have shot him, he replied
that he did not suppose there horse in the
country equal 10 the one which he rode, and that
he was confident ofmaking his escape. He thought
also that the pursuit would be less eager so long
as he abstansd from shedding The blood of any Of
ms pursuers On the arrival of the rest Of the
party they despatched the wretch; he died AS he
had lived, in remorseless guilt. His head was
severed from his body, and placed in the fork Of
"a tree, where it long remained revolving object
ofhorror. The spot is still called Harpe's Head,
;lifd public road which pssscs it is called the
Harpe's Head Road. The chase commenced near
the Highland Lick in Union (then Henderson,
county, and ended short distance from Green
vile in Muhlenburgh county. The distance be-
tween these two points on straight line is from
thirty TO forty miles.
The other Harpc made his way 10 the neigh
horhood OF Natchez, where he joined band OF
robbers, headed by named Miller, whose
villainies were so notorious that reward was Of.
fered for his head. Harpe took an opportunity,
Whcn the rest OF ms companions were absent tn
say Miller, and putting bis head in bag, he car
ried it forward and claimed the reward The
clsm admitted, the head of Miller was re-
cognzed-but so also was the face Of Harpe, who
~as arrested and executed.
In collecting oral testimony with regard to cir
cumstanccs long past, a considerable variety will
often be found in the sta erncnts Of df1ercn per
sons. In this case have found none except as tc
the fact Of the two Harpe's having exchanged
horses, A day or two beture the fatal deno3,e
ment, they had murdered gentleman named
Love. and had taken his horse. remarkably fin,
animal, which "Big Hstpe." undoubtedly rod,
when he was overtaken. 1t is said that 'i Littl,
hape" escaped on foot, and not on his brother
horse.
After Harpe's DEATH the women came in, an,
claimed protection. Two of them were the wive
at the larger farpe, the other one, of his brother
The latter was decent female, OF delicate pre-
possessing appearance, who stated that she ha
married her husband withon, any knowledge c
his real character, shortly before they set out tt
'hc west--that she was so much shocked at til
tirst murder which they committed, that she a
tempted to escape from them, but was preven
ed, that she had since made similar attempt
She Immediately wrote to her father in yireini
who came for her and took her home. The othe
women were in no way remarkable They atte
Yards married in Muhlt nburg county.
GENERAL BOLIVAR.