The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-13

in some degree guilty companions OF the
perpetrators. Justice, however, was mol
long delayed.
"A frontier is often the retreat OF loose
individuals, who, if not familiar with crime,
have very blunt perceptions OF virtue
The genuine woodsmen, the real pioneers,
are independent, brave and upright; but
az the jackal pursues the lion to devour his
lcavings, the footsteps Of the sturdy hunter
are closely pursued by the miscreants des'
titute Of his noble qualities. These are
the poorest and the idlest Of the human
i Irace-averse 10 labor, and impatient OF the
restraints of law, and the courtesles OF CIV
ilized society. Without the ardor, the &C.
tivity, the love Of sport, and patience OF
fatigue, which distinguished the bold back
woodsman, these are doomed TO the forest
by sheer laziness, and hunt for a bare sub
sistence; they are the 'cankefs OF calm
world and long peace the helpless no
bodies, who,in country where none starve
and few beg, sleep until hunger pnches,
then stroll in the woods for a meal, and re-
turn TO their slumber. They are some
times mere wax in the hands ofthe design
ling, and become the accessories Of that
guilt which they have not the courage nor
the industry to perpetrate. With such men
The Haipos are supposed TO have lurked-.
None are known 10 have participated in
their deeds Of blood, nor suspected Of shar
ing their counses: but they sometimes
crept to the miserable cabins Of those who
feared or were not inclined to betray
him.
"Two travellers came one night to the
house Of man named Stegal and for want
IL La, lnl, clo 10 lf n
roof that hospitality which in q new coun.
Try is ."und at every habitation. Shortly
after, the fIarpes arrived. II was not, it
seems, their first visit for Mrs. Stcg0l had
received instructions from them which she
Jared not disobey, never to address them
by their real names in the presence OF third
persons. On this occasion they contriyed
TO inform her that they intended to person
ate methodist preachers, and ordered her to
arrange matters so that one of them should
sleep with each of the strangers, whom
they intended to murder. Stcgal was ab
sent, and the woman was obliged 10 obey.
The strangers were completely deceived
as TO the character Of the newly arrived
guests and when it was announced tho,
the house contained but two beds, they
cheerfully assented to the proposed ar.
rangement one crept into bed on the
lower floor with one ruflian, while the 9th
er retired to the loft with the other. Both
the strangers became their viclimsi but
those bloody ruilians, who seemed neither
to feel shame, nor dread punishment. de-
termined TO leave behind them no evidence
of their crime. and consummated the lonl
tragedy by numbering their hostess and set
ting ffe to tho dwelling.
"From this scene Of arson, robbery and
murder, the perpetrators fled recipitately
favored by heavy fall Of rain, which, as
they believed, ,effaced their footsteps They
did not cease their flight until late the en-.
suing day, when they halted at spnt
which they supposed to ee.far Irom'any hu
and were drying their clothes, when an
emgrant, who had pitched his tent hard by
stroIled iowa rds their camp. tie was il
search Of his horses, which had strayed, and
civilly asked If they had seen them. Thi,
unsuspecting wosdsman they slew, and con
| 'nued their retreat.
"In the meanwhile, the outrages of these
nurdercrs had not escaped notce,nor were
hey tamely submitted to. The Governoi
1f Kentucky had offered O reward for their
| eads and parties of volunteers had pur'
,ued them; they had been so fortunate n:
. escape punishment by their cunning ,bu
lad not the prudence to dessi, or TO flee
'be country.
"A man named Lcipcr, in revenge fo
| 10 murder Of Mrs. Ste0al, raised party
! ned, and discovered the assassins, OF
The day succeeding that atrocious deed
They came-so suddenly on the liarpes thai
they had only time to fls in different direc
tons. Accident aided the pursuers. On'
of the iIarpes was large, and the other {
small man the first usually rode strong
! powerful horse, the other fleet, but mucl
smaller animal, und in the hurry OF illgh
they had exchanged horses. The chase
| was long and hot the smaller Harpe es
capcd unnoticed; but the other, who wa
kent in view, spurred on the noble anlma
which be rode, and which already jaded
began to fail at the end Of five or six mIlcs
Still the misc creant pressed forward for
although none of his pursuers were nea
but I.cipcr,w had outridden his compan
ions. he was not willing to risk comba
with a man as strong, and perhaps bolde
. than himself, who was animated with no
4: BILE spirit Of Indignation against shockin!
I and unmanly outrage. Leiper was mount
| ed on morse oi Ccleofotcu po"Nis, "hl.i
/ he had borrowed from a neighbor for thi
' occasion. At the beginning Of the cbas
:. he had pressed his charger to the heigh
\ Of his speed, carefully keeping on tn
f track of Harpe. Of whom he sometime
8 caught glimpse as he ascended the hills
e and again los, sight in the vallies and tn
!. brush. But as he gained on the foe, an
.. became sure Of his victim,he slackened hi
d pace, cooked his rife, and deliberately pur
e sued, sometimes calling upon the outlaw
: surrender. At length, in leaping Q ravine
4 IIarnes horse strained limb. and Leipe