Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-05-16
A Frontier Scene.

About seven miles north of Hopkins
vile, Kentucky, is very remarkable
spot. A solitary post oak stands in the
barrens, in the forks of the roads, anc
has obtained, universally, the name o.
the Lonesome Post OAK In the ear
ly settlemen, ofthe country, more than
halt a century ago, this was the only
tree to be Sem for many miles around
aud hence obtained it name. 1t was
then tall, green, and flourishing; if is
now, however, if it yet stands, a leaf
less b:anch'ess, thunder-riven, shat
tered trunk, sending up its shafts as
straight as til" mainnast of ship Of
war Superstition has long guarded
the spot. The tree is looked upon
with something like the same venera-
ton with which the Egypti.n IN regards
Lis pyramids, those grim se"tinels ol
antiquity.
The place is rmarkable for severe
battle fought by Harpe and Davis
The Big Harp, and Little Harpe, his
brother, were the terror of the sur
rounding country in those early times
Two more execrabls monsters never
disgrac d humanity They lissd with
two women as bad as themselves, in a
cave about twenty miles from this tree.
Blood and mass acre were their delight
Il was their custom to sally forth, and
without any reason, to murder, with
out distinction, all the men, women
and children they could find As the
country filed up, the people could nc
longer submit to their horrId dcpreda
tions. Men and dogs collected, and
took the pursuit. They come on the
two Harpes in narrow valley, a. about
two miles from this tree. They imme.
diately mounted their horses and dash
ID off in the direction of their cave In
gong about FIVE miles, Davis, whose
horse was very fleet, had left his COM
panions, and caught up with Big Har-
Pc, he having previously separated
from his brother, the Little Harpe.
Here were two powerful men, armed
with rifles, butcher knives and toma,
hawks, by themselves, far from help
and bent on death. Davis well knew
that if overpowerod, he would certain
ly be killed, and Harpe had determin-
ed to die rather than be taken alive
they passed and re-passed each other,
frequently making blows without effect,
each dreadlng to fire for fear of mis-
sing, and thereby placing himself al
the mercy Of his antagonist. Finally,
the horse Of Big Harpe fell, and threw
his rider, thea rose and galloped eff.
Harpe sprapg to his feet, and fred al
DAVIS horse, which reared and fell.
They were now not more than ten
yards apart Harpe. who's sagacity
was equal to his courage and villlany
kept lodging and springIng from side
to side, approaching D.vis- however
by, impercep,ible degrees. Davis, dis
covering he would soon lose the bene-
fit Of his gun, now fred 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 juncture ii large vol
dog of Davis came to his masters as
sistance, and seized Harpe by the throat
This produced diversion IN favor OF
Davis, who Immediately recovered him.
self snd stabbed Harpe to the heart
The hideous yell whicn the wretch sent
up, is said still to be heard ON dark
nights, ringing wildly along the heath
Some af Davis friends ,oon joined hin,
they dug a hole ani buried Harpe at
the foot of the Lonesome Post Oak.
Little Harpe escaped, went down
the Mississippi, and joined the c'lebra-
ted Mason and his gang, at Stack Is
land. Soon after Harpe joined him,
Mason attacked fat boat IRON C.n-
cinnati, and killed all hands. For thiz
large reward was offered for Mason
to obtain which Little Harpe was de
coyed to Natches, and there informed
against him and betrayed his friead
On Mason's trial, Harpe himself was
recognized, was tried and fond gui ty.
nd on the zane day that Mason wa,
hung, he also expiated his crimes on
the gallows. Mason was a very re.
narkable and extraordinary man. He
was distinguished by strong double
row of under and upper teeth, tha
clenehed together with the energy an,
ltenacity Of a steel trap.