The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-13
MISCELLAN Y.
THE HARPEs. -Br Jvnes HALL.

.Many years ago, two men, named
Harpe appeared in Kentucky, spreading
destb and terror wherever they went. Lit
Tie else was known Of them but that they
nassad for brothers, and came from the bor.
ders of Virginia. They had three women
with them, who were treated as their wivee
Al several children with whom they trav-
ersed the mountains and thlnly settled parts
OF Virginia into Kentucky, marking their
course with blood. Their history is won.
derful, as we'll from the number and varie.
ty. as the incredible atrocity, Of their ad
ventures and as it has never appeared in
print, shall compress within this letter a
few of its prominent facts.
SIN the autumn of the year l799,a young
gentleman, named Langford, Of a respect.
able family in Virginia. set out from this
state for kentucky, with the intention OF
passing through the Wlaerness, as it was
then called. by the route generally known
as Boon's Trace. On reaching the vicini.
ty Of the wilderness, a mountainous and
uninhabited tract, which at that time sep
arated the settled parts Of Kentucky from
those Of Virginia, he stopped To breakfast
at public house near Big Rock castle
River. Travellers Of this descrip,lon-any
other indeed than hardy woodsmen ere
un ,vailng to pass singly gly'tbrough this lone
ly region and they generally wnlted on its
confines for others, and travelled through
in parties. Mr.. Langford, either not dread
ing danger, nor not choosing 10 delay, dc
termined to proceed alone. While break
fast was preparing, the iIarpes' and their
women came up Their appearance denot.
cd poverty, with but little regard to clean
illness two very Indifferent horses, with
some bags swung across them, and rifle
gun or two, composed nearly their whole
equipage. Squalid and mise erablc, they
seemed objects Of pity rather than of fear
aud their feroclous glanccs were attributed
moro to hunger than 10 guilty passion
They were entire strangers in that neigh
borhood, and, like Mr.. LaRgford, were
bout to cross thewillarness. When break
fast was served up, the landlord, as was
customary at such places, in those times, in
vted all persons who were assembled in
the common. perhaps the only room of his
little inn, TO sit down bot the Iarpes dc
clued, alleging their want Of money as the
reason. Langford, who was Of lively,
generous disposition, on hearing this, inVit-
ed them to partake of the meal at his c2
pcnsc; they accepted of tho invitation, nd
ate voracionsly. When they had thus re.
freshcd themselves. aud were about to re
new their journey, Mr.. Lnngford called for
the bill, and in the act Of dscharCing it,
imprudently displayed handful Of silver
They thcn set out together.
GA few days after, some men who were
conducting a drove Of cattle to Virginia,
by the same road which had been travelled
by Mr.. LaDgford and the Harpes. had ar
rived within few miles Of the Big Rock
castle river, when their cattle took fright
and aui,tinu the r0ad. rusiiud down "A hill
into tho woods. In collecting them, the
drovors discovered the dead body of man
concealed behind log, and covered with
brush aud leaves IL was now evident that
the-cat,lc had been alarmed by the smell oi
blood in the road, and a. the body exhibit
ed marks Of violence, it was at once sus
pected that, murder had been pcrpetrated
but recently. The corpse was taken to the
same house where the liarpes had break
flstoh and recognized 10 be that OF Mr.
Iunnford, whose name was marked upou
several parts Of his dress. Suspicion fell
upon the Darpes, who were pursued ant
apprehended near the Crab Orchard The 8
were taken TO Stouford, the seat OF justlc a
for Lincoln county, where they were exam
incd and committed by an examining court
sent 10 Danvillc for safe kceping,and prob
ably for trial, "a the district courts were
then in operation ~ Ks' turIv Prer'' IL
TO the time trial they made their escape
and proceeded TO Henderson county which
at that time was just beginning to be set
tied.
"ITere they soon acquired a dreadful ce
lebacy. Neither avarice, want, nor any OF
the usual inducements TO the commission
of crime, seemed To govern their conduct
A savage thirst for blood, deep rooted
mslgnity against human nature, could n.
lone be discovered in their actions. They
mrrdcred every Jelcnceess being who fell
in their way without distinction OF fage,scx
or col v. In the night they stole secretly
in the cabin, slaughtered its Inhabitants ont
burned their dwelling; while tho farmer
who left his house by day, rcturncdto wit
ness tho dying agonies Of his wife onC
children, and the conha.ration OF his pos
sessions. Plumber was not their object
travellers they robbed and murdered, bu
from the inhabitants they took only wha
would have been freely given TO them,an,
10 more than was immediately nccessar,
TO supply the wants of nature they de
stroycd without the prospect OF gain. 4
negro boy, riding 10 q mill, with bag o
corn, was seized by them, and his brain
dashed out against tree; but the hors
which he rode and the grain were left un
molested. Females, s,children and servants
no longer dared to stir abroad unarme
men feared to encounter Harpe and tn
solitary hunter, as no trod the forest, look
ed around him with q watcbful eye, an
when he saw a stranger, picked his fir
and stood OH the defensive.
alt seems incredible that such atrocitie
ae.Ll kauc hncn alicn snnnaind In n cani