Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-13

,bopt seven miles north of liopknsve. Kentucky,
is very remarkable spot. A solitary postoak stanas
in the barrens in the forks OF the roads, ana mas On
tanned universally, the OF the " Lonesome fos'
Oak" Ia the ear ly settlement of the country-nore
than half century ago-ths wHs the only tree To be
seen Tor many miles round and hence obtaiheu i.e
name II was then tall. green, and hourishing II
now however, If yet stands, lea1essi prah9"es,
thunder -ryen shattered trunk, sending up us Sha'
Us straight the mninmast OF ship OF war. super
stiton has long guarded the spot The tree i ooAea
upon with something like the same rerefhtloh WIN
which the Egyptian regards his pyramids, those grim
sentnclS OF antiquity.
The place is remarkable for II very severe battle
fought hy Harpe aud Davis. The Big lidrpe, aud Lit
tic IIarpe his BROTHER the terror OF the sur
rounding country in those early times Tive more eA-
ccrlIe monster. never disgraccd humanity lhey
lived with two worsen rs bad as Themselves IN cave
ubOnt twenty miles from this tree. Blood ana ihaSsa
ere were their delight. Ii their custom to sally
forth, and, without any reason, to murder Wi'hont
distinction, all the men, women and children thcy
could lind. As the country filled up, the people couid
no longer submit to their horrd depredationS. Men
and dogs collected, and took the pursuit. They came
The two larpes in narrow valley, about two
miles from this tree. They iumc ately 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, aud caught
up with Big larpe. he having previously separated
from his brother the Little llupc.
Here were Two powerful men, armed with rlhe',
butcher knives and tonIahnwks, by themselves Tar
from help, aud bent death. Davis well knew that
il o,erowerel he woull certainly be killed and
IIarpe had determined to die rather than be taken
alive. They passed and passed each other, fire.
queutly making blows without effect, each dreadIng
fire for fear of missing and thereby placing himself
at tho mercy of his antagonist. Finally, the horse OF
b. llarpe fell, and threw his rider, then rose and
gallopped oil. arpe sprang to his feet and tired ut
Davis horse, which reared and fell They were now
not more chan ten yards apart. llarpc, whose saga
city equal to his 9ennd villainy kept dodg-
ing and springng from side side, approaching Da
yis however by impereeptble degrees. Davis, dis
covering he would soon l,se the benefit of his gun,
now fired in his turn but without effect. Each man
drew his knife, and they closed in mortal strug-
gle Very soon they fell side by side but, at this
jnncture n large wolf dog of Davis came to his mas
crs assistance, and seized Iarpe by the throat. This
produced diversion in favor of Davis who immedi-
ntcly recovered himself and stabbed Harpe to the
heart. The hideons yell which the wretch sent up,
is said still to be heard on dark nights, ringing Wild
~ along the heath. Some of Davis friends soon
joined him; they dug hole and buried larpe at the
foot OF the Lonesome Post Oak.
Little IIarpe escaped went down the Mississippi,
and joined the celebrated Mason aud his gang at
Stack Island Soon after Harpe joined him, Mason
attacked Hat boat from Cincinnati, and killed all the
hands. For this II large reward offered for Ma
son, to obtain Which little Ilarpe decoycd him to Nat
chez. and there informed against and betrayed him.
On Masons trial, liarpe himself was recognized, was
tried and found guilty; and, the same day that
Mason was hung, he also expatcd his crimes on the
galIoWS Mason WAS very remarkable and extraor-
binary lie WINS distng uishc by strong double
of under and upper teeth that cenched together
with the ehergy and enacity OF Il steel trap.