The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-19
A FRONTIER SCENE.

About seven miles north Of Hopkinsville,
Kentucky, is remarkable spot. A solitary
post oak stands in the barrens, in the forks Of
the roads, and has obtained universally, the
name Of the +" Lonesome Post Oak" In the
early settlement Of the country--this was the
only tree to be seen for many miles round, and
hence obtained its name. 1t was then tall,
green, and fourishiag it is now, however, il
| it yet stands, leafless, branchless, thunder
riven, shattered trunk, sending up its shafts a.
straigh. as the mainmast of a ship of war
Superstition has long guarded the spot The
tree is looked upon with something like the
same veneration with which the Egyptian re-
CARDS his pyramids, those grim sentinels Of
antiquity. ......
The place Is remarkable for very severe
battle fought by Harpe and Davis. The Big
Harp, and Little Harp, his brother, were the
terror of the surrounding country in those ear
ly times. Two more execrable monsters new
ef disgraced humanity. They lived with two
! women as bad as themselves, in a cave about
twenty miles from this tree. Blood and mass
acre were their delight. 1t was their custom
to sally forth, and, without any reason, to mur-
der, without distinction. all the men, women
and children they could find. AS the country
filled up, the people could no longer submit to
their horrid depredations. Men and dogs COL
lected, and took the pursuit. They came on
the two Harpes in narrow valley, at about
two miles from this tree. They Immediately
mounted their horses and dashed off in the di-
rection of their cave. In going about five
miles, Davis, whose horse was very fleet, had
left his companions. and caught up with Big
Hsrpe, he having previousIy- separated from
MS brother, the Little Harp.
Here were two powerful men, armed with
rifles, butcher knives and tomahawks, by them
selves, far from help, and bent on death. Da.
Wis well knew that if ovsrpowered he would
certainly be killed; anG Harpe had determin-
ed to die rather than be taken alive. They
passed and re-passed each other, frequently
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 Harpe foil, and threw his r.
der, then rose and galloppes off. Harp sprang
to his feet, and fired at Davis horse, which
reared and fell. They were now not more
than ten yards apart. Harpe, W hose sagacity
was equal to his courage and villainy, kept
lodging and springing from side to side, ap-
preaching Davis, however, by imperceptible
degrees. Davis, discovering he would soon
loose 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
iuncture large wolf dog of Davis came to-
his masters assistance, and seized Harpe by
the throat. This produced diversion in ia
vor of Davis, who Immediately rec covered him.
self 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 wildly along
the heath. Some Of Davis friends soon join
ed him they dug hole and buried Harpe at
the foot of the Lonesome Post Oak.
Little Harpe escaped went down the Mis-
sissipi, and joined the celebrated Mason and
his gang at Stack Island. Soon after Harps
joined him, Mason attacked flat boat from
Cincinnati, and killed all the hands. For this
a large reward was offered for Mason, to OBJ
tain which little Harpe decoyed him to Nat
chez, and there informed against and betray-
ed him. On Mason's trial, Harpe himself was
recognized, was tried and found guilty; and
on the same day that Mason was hung, he al
so expiated his crimes on the gallows. Mason
was very remarkable and extraordinary man.
He was distinguished by strong double row
Of under and upper teeth that clenched togeth-
er with the energy and tenacity of steel trap.