Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-12-31
A Frontier Scene,

About seven miles north of Hopkinsyille
Kentucky, Is very rem arkable spot A SOL
itary post oak stands In the barrens, in the
forks OF the roads and has obtained, univer-
sally, the name Of the . Lonesome Post Oak !"
In the early settlement Of the country-more
then bait century ago, this was the only
tree to be seen tof many miles round, and
hence its name 1t was then tall, green and
fourissiDg it is now, however, if it yet
stands. a leafess, branchless, thuuderriven
shattered trunk, sending up its shafts as
straight as the mainmast of ship of war =
Superstition has long guarded the spot The
tree is looked upon with something ike the
same veneration with which the Egyptian
regards his pyramids, those grim sentinels of
antiquity. The place is remarkable for very
severe battle, fought by Big Harpe and Da-
Wis. The Big Harpe and Little Harpe, his
brother, were the terror of the surrounding
country, in those early times. Two more
eXecrable monsters never disgraced humanity.
They lived with two women as bad as them
selves, in a cave about twenty miles from this
tree Blood and massacre were their delight.
1t was their custom to sally forth, and with
out any reason, to murder without distinc-
ton, all the men, women and children thew
could find As the country flied up, the
people could no longer submit to their horrid
depredations. Men and dogs collected, and
took the pursuit They came on the two
Harpes in a narrow valley, at about two miles
from this tree. They Immediately mounted
their horses, and dashed off in the direction
of their cave. In going about five miles,
Davis whose horse was very fleet, had left his
companions, and caught up with Big Harpe,
he having previously separated from his broth
er, the Little Harpe. Here were two power
ful men, armed with rifles, butcher knives
aud tomahawks, by themselves, far from help,
aud bent on death. Davis vel knew, that If
overpowered he would certainly be killed
and Harpe had determined to die, rather then
be taken alive They passed and repassed
each other, frequently making blows without
effect, each dreading to fire for fear of mis-
sing, of his antagonist. Finally, the horse of
Big Harpe fell. and threw his rider, then rose
and galloped of. Harpe sprang to his feet,
and fred at Davis horse, which reared and
fell, They were now not more then ten yards
apart. Harpe, whose sagacity was equal to his
courage and villainy, kept lodging and
springing from side to side, approaching Da-
Wis however, by imperptble degrees. Davis.
discovering he would soon lose the benefit of
his gun, now fired in his turn, but without
effect Each man now drew his knife, and
tuNy StoSeu III iioELal StiuSSIe very soon
they fell, side by side; but, at this juncture,
large wolf dog of Davis came to his mas
ter's assistance, aud seized Harpe by the
throat. This produced diversion in favor
of Davis, who Immediately recovered himself
and stabbed Harpe to the heart The hid
eous yell which the wretch sent up. is said
still to be heard on dark nights, ringing Wild
ly along the heath Some of Davis friends
soou joined him; they dug hole and buried
Harpe at the foot of the Lonesome Post Oak.
Little Harpe escaped. went down the Mis-
sissiPPi and joined the celebrated Mason and
his gang, at Stack Island. Soon after Harpe
joined him, Mason attacked fat boat from
Cincinnati aud killed all the hands. For this
large reward was offered for Mason to OBJ
tain which little Harpe was decoyed to Nat
chez, and there inform against hirn and be-
trayed his friend. On Mason's trial, Harpe
himself was recognized, was tried and found
guilty; and, on the same day that Mason was
hung, he also cxpiated his crimes on the gal
lows. Mason q very remarkable and
extraordinary man. lie was distinguished
by strong double row Of under and upper
teeth, that clcnched together With the energy
and tenacity of a steel trap.