Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-20

Inducements to the commission OF crime, see m
ed TO govern ihrir conduct. savage thirst
for bood--a deep rooted malignIly against hn-
man nature could alone be discovered In their
actions. Thew murdered every defenceless be
ing who fell in their way, without disunction
OF age, sex color. In the night they Stole
secretly to the Cabin, slaughtered It's 'nhao'-
ants, and burned their dwelling the taf-
mrr who left his house by day returned to Wit
ness the dying agonies OF his wife and children,
and The conflagralion of his possessions Plum
der was not their object: travellers they rob-
bed and murdered, bu, from the Inhabitants
they took only what would have been freely
given 10 them, and no more than was imme-
dia,ely necessary 10 supply the wants OF nature;
they destroyed without, having suffered injury,
and without the prospect Of gain. negro
boy, riding TO mill with bag OF corn, was
| seized by them, and his brains dashed Out
against tree bur the horse which ne rode
and the grain were left unmoles ed. Females,
children, and servants, no longer cared 10 star
abroad unarmed men feared 10 encounter
HaIpe; and the solitary hunter, as he trod me
foresr, looked around him with watchtul eye,
and when he saw stranger, picked his tIn'
and stood On the Offensive.
81, seems Incredible that such atrocities
could have been often repeated in country
famed for the lardhood and gal'an'ry OF is
people; in Kentucky, the cradle OF courage,
and the nurse OF warriors But that part OF
Kentucky which was the scene OF these barba-
rites was then almos, Wilderness, and he vi
gilanoe Of The llarpes Tor time insured lmpu>
nifty The spoils Of their dreadful warfare fur-
nished Them with the means OF violence and OF
escape. Mounted on fine horses, they plunged
into he forest, eluded pursuit by frequently
changing their COURSE, s appeared, Unexpected
w, 10 perpe,rate new enorml,ies, al points dis
TAM from those where they were supposed 10
Turk. On these occasions, ,hey often Left their
wives and children behind them; and 1t is
fact, honorable to the community, thai VEN
geance for these bloody deeds was not wreak'
cd on the helpless, but in some degree guilty,
companions Of The perpe ra'ors. Justice, how
ever, WAS not long delayed.
"a frontier is often The relrea, of loose in
dividuals, who, if not familiar with crime, have
very blunt perceptions Of virtue. The genuine
woodsmen the real pioneers, are independent,
brave and upright; but as The Jackal puraues
the lion 10 deyour his leavings, the footsteps OF
the sturdy hunter are closely pursued by mis-
crcan,s destitute Of his noble quslitie, These
are the poorest and the idlest Of the human
race--ave,Ge TO labour, and impatient OF the re-
slraints Of law, and the eoul lesies Ut civilized
society. WITHOUT the ardpI, the activity, the
love f sport, and patience Of farigue, which
distinguish The bold backwondsman, these are
doomed to the foresr by sheer leziness, and
bun, for bare subsistence; they are the 'tan>
kels Of calm world and long peace,' The
helplC S. no5odiss, who, in country where none
starve ard few beg, sle' . until hunger pinch's,
then STROLL INTO the woods for meal, and re
mere wox in The hands Of the designing, aid
become the atcessarics Of that guilt which
they have not The courage OF The industry to
perperrale. With such men the lIarpes are
supposed to have sometimes lurked. None
are known TO lave par Icipa,rd in their deeds
of blood nor suspected Of sharing their coun-
sells; but they sometimes crept 10 the msera-
bile cabins OF those who f,ared or were no in
clined 10 berray them.
Two travellers Came ore nigh, 10 the house
of Man named S,ceai, aud for want Of better
lodgings, claimed under his liz II roof that hos
piiaity which in a new country is found at eve
nv hablaion. Shortly aflrr, the IIarpos arr
veal. |, was not, IL seems their first visit for
Mrs Stegal had received instructions from
them, which she dare not dsobey, never o ad
d. ss them by their real names in The presence
OF third persons, On his occasion they con
tri' ed to lnfrm her Mat 4 ey intended 10 per- ,
SOhait WtIHootSt p'tQCHe'S, anu oIuC'' neF 10 |
arrange matters that one IF 'hrm should |
sleep with each of'hc strangers, whom they in
tended 10 murder. S:egal wa, abs n, and he |
woman was obliged to obey. The strangers
were completely deceived as 10 The charac:er
OF the newly arrived guests; and when il w,s
announced hat The house con aimed but Two
bids, 'ney cheeriuily assenled to the proposed
ar angement one crrpt into bed on the low
er floor with ere uaian, while he other re,,-
red 10 tic loft with the other Both the stran>
gero became their victims but these bloody
ruffiAns, who seemed neither 10 feel shame,
nor dread punishm"!9, determined 10 leave
be hind them no cv'dcace OF their crime and !
con summased the foul tragedy by Wandering
their hostess and setting fire = The dwelling
It From this scene of al son, robbery and mur.
der, The perpetrators He'd precipi ately. favored
by heavy fall Of rain which as they believed,
etfaced their footsteps. They did not cease
lheil High, until late the ensuing day, when
hey hal ed al spo' which they supposed TO
be far from any human habitaiion Here hey
Sindled fire. and were driving their clothes