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

long K hot; the smaller Harpe escaped unnstic-
ed; bur the other who was kept in view, spurred
on he noble animal which he rode, aud which
already faded, began to fail at the end Of i've or
six miles. Sill the miscrean' pressed Tor
ward; for although none Of his pursuers were
near but Leiper, who had oulriddrn his com
paniens, he was not willing 10 RISK d combat
with a man a. strong, and perhaps bolhcr than
himself, who WIS animated with noble spir-
it Of indignation agains, shocking and un-
manly outrage: L.iper was mounted on horse
Of celebrated powers, which he had borrowed
from neighbor for this occasion. Al The be-
ginning Of The chase he had pressed hischarger
to the heigh, Of his speed, carefully keeping on
the track of Harp, Of whom he sometimes
caugh, glimpse as he assembled the hills, and
again lost sight in the vallies and The Brush
But as he gained on the foe, and became sure
of his victim, he slackened his pace, cooked his
rife, aud deliberately pursued, sometimes cal
ling upon The outlaw to surrender At length
in trapping ravine, Harp's horse strained a
limb, and Leiper overlook him. Both were
armed with rifles. Leiper fired and wounded
Harper through the body; the latter, turning IL
his seat, leveIrd his piece, which missed fire
and he dashed tito the ground, swearing il wa:
The first time it had ever deceived him. Tic
them drew tomahawk, and waited the aP-
proach Of Leiper, who, rothing dauuted, uh'
sheathed his long hunting knif- and rushed up
on his desperate foe, grapp!ed with him, hull
ed him 10 The ground, and wresled his only re-
manning weapon from his grasp. The pros
trale wretch-"xhau>cd with the loss OF blood
conquered, but uusuhdued in spirit-aow lay
passive al the feet Of his adversary Expect
ing every moment the arrival of the rest Of his
pursuers, he inquired if S,cgal was OF the parry
and being answered in the affi nstive, he ex-
claimed, Then / am dead man.
"That would make no difference, replied
Lriper, calmly; you mus:die al any rate. do
MOI wish TO kill you myself, bot # oIody else
will do i, I must Leper wasa humane m an
easy, slow.spoken, and not qui ky excited, but
a thorough soldier when reused. Without III
sul,ing the expiring criminal, he questioned
him as 10 the motives Of MS late atrotitles.-
The murderer attempted not 10 palliate or de-
nv hem, and confessed that he had bren actu
aled by no induceme MT but Sc, I'D haired oil
his species, whom he had sworn to destroy
wirhour distinction, in retaliation for some fan
cied injury He expressed no regret for his
bloody deeds, except that which he confessed
he had perpetra.ed upon one Of his o,cn children
1T c,ied,' said he, sand killed j.; had always
,old the woman would have TO crying abcnl
me- He acknowledged 'ha he had amassed
large sums of money, and described the places
Of conceaIment, but as none was ever discover
en-, il is presumed he did not declare the ruth
Lriper had fled several times al Harpe during
the chase, and wounded h!m;a and when the lat
ter was asked why, when he found Leipcr pnr'
suing him alone, he did not dism0unt and taxi
10 q Tree, from behind winch he could inevitably
have shot him as he approached, he replied
tba, he supposed there wa nat horse III the
country equal To the one which he rode, ADD
Hf hh6ugh s ssd he Il pursuit. would be les.
eager, SO long as he abstained from shedding
The blood Of any Of MS pursuers. On the arri
val OF he rest Of the party. The wretch was dis
patched, and he dieG IS he had lived, in re.
morsel-ss guilt
"Tne other Harpe msde his way to the
neghborhood Of Natchez, where he Joined a
gang Of robbers, headed BY man Of The name
OF NJ asoD, whose viilanrs were so notorious
that reward was off'red FIR his head. At ua'
period, vast regions alotg The shores Of the
OHIO and Mississippi were sill unsettled, thro'
which boats na,ig ting those rivers must lie
cessa lily pass; aud the traders who, after sell
ing 'hr'r carg"es at New Orleans, attempted
10 return by land, had 10 Cross immense wilder
nrsses totally destitute Of inhabi'anls. Mea
or, who w.s mau "a Ter above the ordinary
stamp, infested these deserts, seldom commits
ting MURDER but robbing all who fell in his
way. Sometimes he plundsrrd tic descending
o"a's; bu; more frequently be allowed these to
BASS, preitrr,ng 10 rob the owner, OF thciI mo.
rry as they returned, pleasantly observing, "that
those people were taking produce 10 ma ket for
aim" Harpe took an opportunity, when The
rst Of his companions were abs-nt, 10 .lay
Mrsson, aud putting his head IN b &, carried
il TO Natchrz, and claimed the reward. The
lain was Admired; the head o! Measoa wa,
recognized; but so also was the face Of Harpr,
who was arrested, condemned and exrcuIrd.
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
Protection against lightning. -Withn a few