The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-02-05
THE DAILY GAZETTE,
WlSeEI1AKEODS.
FRONTIER SCENE.

About seven miles north of Hop
kinsville, Kentucky, is very remark
able spot. A.solitary ..post.oak stands
In the harrena, in the forks Of the roads
and has obtained, universally, the
name of the Lonesome Post Oak" !"
In the early settlement OF the county
more than half o 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 nov, however, ifit
yet stands, leaaess, ,bianchless, thun
der.riven, shattered trunk, sending
up it's shafts as straight as the main
mast Of a ship Of war, Superstition
has long guarded the spot. The tree
is looked upon with son ething like
the same yeneration with which the
Egyptian regards his pyramids, thoss
grim sentinels Of antiquity.
The place is remarkable for very
severe battle fought by Harpe and
Davis. The Big Harpe, and little
Harpe, his brother, were the terror Of
The surrounding country in those ear
" times. Two more execrabie mon
sters never disgraced humanity -
They lived with two women as bad
a. themselves, in cave about twenty
miles from this tree. Blood and mas
sscre were their delight. 1t was their
custom to sally forth, and, without
any reason, to murder, without dis
tinction, all the men, women and
children they could find. As the
country filled up, the people could not
submit to their horrid depredatit ns.--
Men and dogs collected and took the
pursuit. They came on the two
Harpes in narrow valley, at about
two miles from this tree. They =
med'ately mounted their horses and
dashed of in the direct on Of their
cave. In going about five miles.
Davis, whose horse was very feet,
left his companions, and caught up
with Big Harpe, he having provious-
ly separated from his brother, the Lit
tie Harle.
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
ifoverpowered he would certainly be
killed, and Harpe had determined to
die rather than be taken alive. They
passed and re-passed each OF er fire.
quently making blows without effect,
each dreading to fire for fear Of miss
ing, and thereby placing himself at
the mercy of his antagonist, linally,
the horse of Big Harpe fell, and threw
his rider, then rose and gallored off.
Harpe sprang to his feet and fred at
Davis h ,rse, which reared and fell
They were now not more than ten
yards apart. Harpe, whose sagacity
Wus eea,lto his courage and villainy,
ke,.t lodging and springing from side
to side, approaching Davis, however,
by imperceptible degrees. Davis dis
covering he would soon lose the bene-
tit Of bis gun, now fire! 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, a
large wolf dog Of Davis came to his
masters assist ance and seized Harpe
BY the throat This produced YER
siou IN favor OF Davis, who immedi'
ately recovered himself and stabbed
Harpe to the heart. The hideous yell
which the wretch sent up, is said still
10 be heard on dark nights, ringing
wildly aloneaathe heath Some o.
Davis friends soon ioinod him, they
dug hole and buried Harpe at the
foot of the Lonesome Post Oak.
Little llarpe escaped, went down
the Mississippi, and joined the cele
bsated Mason ard his gang at Stack
Island. Soon after Harpe joined him
Mason attacked fiat boat from Gin
cinnati, and killed all the hands
For this large reward was offered
for Mason, to obtain which little
Harpe decoyed him to Natchez, anc
there informed against and betrayed
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 expiatec
his crimes ON the gallows. Masor
was very remarkable and extraordin
ary man. He was distinguished by
strong double row of under
and upper teeth that clenched togeth,
sr with the energy and tenacity OF 1