Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-20
THE IARPES.
BY THE HON. JUDGE HALL.

Macy years ago, two men named Harpe; APP
peared in Krniucky spread"g dearh and terror
Wherein they went. Little else was known Of
them but that thev passed fni brothers, and
came from the borders Of Virginia. Taey had
three " omen with tuem, who were treated as
heir wives, and several children, with whom
they lra,ersed 'hr mo"n'ains and hiniy seuled
paris of vi. ginia inro Kentu, XIV, marking their
course with blood. Their history is wonle: full,
as wei from the numb,r and variety, as the in
credible atrooity Of their ad,entur,s; and IS it
has rever vet appeared IN print, / sail com
pre,s within dis letter few OF It's prominent
facts.
" In the autumn Of the year 1899, young
sa n, -nan.A I-anuCard- a. --1>.S n.l. al.
Ken lucky, with the Intention ot pa sing through
the Wilderness, as il was hen Il d, by he
rouie generally known a. Boon's Trace On
reaching the vicini yof the wilderness, moun-
famous and uninhabilyd Irac', which at rha,
time separated he settled parts Of Kentucky
from those Of Firg ina, hr stopped 10 break
fas, at pubic house near Big Rock castle
RIVER Travellers Of This description--anv
other indeed than hardy woods mtn-were un-
wiling 20 pass singly through this LONELY re-
81 n; and they generally waited on it's confines
for others, and rAvrled through in parics.-
no. choosing 10 delay, determined 10 proceed
alone. Whila bre kfAs, was preparing, the
iarpcs and their women came Up. Their an,
pearsnce denoted po,erty, with but little re-
gard to cleanl'ness; 'wo very indifltr,n, horses,
WITH some bags swung across them. and
riff gun or two, mrnsed nearly their whole
eq4ipa5e Sqoai3 and miserahl they seemed
OBJECTS ui piy ra,hrr han OF fear, and their
frrocious lances wei attributed more TO hun.
ger than 70 guilty. passion. They were entire
strangers In ha, neg hbnihood, and like NJ.
Lansfnrd, W re about to ross he Wilderness
When breakfast wa, served up, the landlord, as
wa, customary al such places, in hose times,
invited ali persons W h" were bed Ia he
common, prrhaDs he only loom iu his little !
inn, 10 sit down. but The larpes decline d, a!lep.
glng their want OF money as the reason Lang
tord, who was If lively, generous, DISPOSE ion.
on Gearing this Invited hem to par'ake IF the
meal AT his expense; hey accepted Of the invi- |
ia ion, and ate voraciousy. When thew had
rrfresh, d themselves. AID we've about To renew |
their journey, Mr Langf"rd called for the bill. |
and in the &C, Of discharging it mpruden "
displayed handful Of silver. They then set
out together.
g A few days after, some men VIII, were con
aac'ing drove Of calle to Vugiuia,, by the
same road which had been travelled hy MIR.
L 'nsford and the Hsrpe sshsd arrivd within
few miles Of The Big Rock-castleSRiv when,
heir canle took fright, and Quitting the road,
rushed down the hill into lhShyoods. In col.
ecting them, the drovers discovered he dead
body OF a man concealed beinG a log, and GOV.
:red with crush and leaves. 1t was now pyi
lent that the cattle had been alarmed by the
smell OF blood in The road, and as he BODY tx.
,biIed marks Of violence, il was at once sus-
'eotsd tha, murder had been perpeira,ed but
'ecen'ly. The corpse was taken 10 the same
'ous where the Harpes had breskfastcd. and
recognised 10 be that OF Mr.. LangfSrd. who's
'ame was marked upon several paffs Of his e
lress. Suspicion fell upon the Haroes. who
we're pursued and apprehended near Sht Cr. b
Orchard. They were taken to STAFFORD. the
eat Of justice for Lincoln county where thew
we're examined and committed by an mourning ,
ourl, sent TO Dansille for safe keeping, and
'robably for Trial, IS the system If dis,ric,
ourls VS. then in operation in K nrucky.- {
devious 10 The time of trial they made their ;
scape, and procrtded TO Henderson COUNTY a
'hieh al .ha, time was just beginning to BE-
rttled. ,