Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-19
A FRONTIER SCENE.

About seven miles north of Hopkinsville,
Kentucky, is very remarkable spot. a
solitary post oak stands in the barrens, in the
forks of the roads, and has obtained univer-
sally the name of the "Jloncsomo Post
Oak" In the early settlement of the coun-
try-more than half century ago-this
was the only tree to be seen for many miles
round, and hence obtained its name 1t was
then tall, green and fourishing; it is now,
however, if it yet stands, leahess, branch
less, thuudcr-riven, shattered trunk, send
ing up its shafts as straight as the main
mast of a ship of war. Superstition has
long guarded the spot. The tree is looked
upon with something like the same renera-
tion with which the Egyptian regards his
pyramids, those grim sentinels of antiquity.
The place is remarkable for very severe
battle fought by Harpe and Davis. The
Big Harpc, and little Harpe, his brother,
were the terror of the surrounding country
in those early times. Two more exccrable
monsters never disgraced humanity. They
lived with two women as bad as themselves,
in cave about twenty miles from this tree.
Blood and massacre were their delight 1t
was their custom to sally forth, and, without
any reason, to murder, without distinction,
all the men, women and children they could
fud As the country filled up, the people
could no longer submit to their hcrrid DIP
relations. Men and dogs collected and
took the pursuit. They came on the two
Harpesin narrow valley, at about two miles
from this tree. They Immediately noun
ted their horses and dashed off in the dircc-
tion of their cave. In going about five
miles. Davis, whose horse was very fleet, had
left his companions and caught up with Big
IIarpe, he having previously separated from
his brother, the little Harpe
Here were two powerful men, armed with
rifles, butcher knives and tamahawks, by
themselves, far from help, and bent on death.
Davis we'll knew that if ovcrpowered he
would certainly be killed; and Harpe had
determined to die rather than be taken alive.
They passed and rcpassed each other, fire.
quently making, blows without effect, each
dreading to fire for fear of missing, and
thereby placing himself at the mercy of his
antagonist. Finally, the horse of Big Harpc
fell and threw his rider, then rose and gal
Topped off. Harpe sprang to lis feet, and
fired at Davis horse, which reared and fell.
They were now not more than ten yards
apart. Harpe, whose sagacity was equal to
his courage and villainy, kept lodging and
sprinsing from side to side, approaching
Davis, however, by imperccptible 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 they closed in mortal struggle.
Very soon they fell side by side, but, at
this juncturc, large wolf deg of Davis
came to his masters assistance, and seized
Harpe by the throat This produced di-
version in favor of Davis, who Immediately
recovered himself and stabbed Harpe to the
heart. The hideous yell which the wretch
sent up is said still to be heard on dark
nights ringing widely alongthe heath. Some
of Davis's friends soon 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 a fiat
boat from Cincinnati and killed all the hands.
For this large reward was offered for Ma
son, to obtain which Harpe decoyed him to
Natchez, and there informed against and be-
trayed him. On Mason's trial Harpe him
self was recognized, was tried and found
guilty; and, on the same day that Mason
was hung, he also ezpiated his crimes on
the gallows. Mason was very remarkable
and extraordinary man. He was distin-
guished by strong double row of under and
upper teeth that clenched together with the
energy and tenacity of steel trap .
T..