Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-27

wilderness resolved to capture them. A
company was formed to hunt the murder
ers, consisting of John Leeper, James
Tompkins. Silas Alagby, Nevil Lindsey,
Matthew Cristy, Robert Robertson
and the infatuated Moses Stigall.
If there were any others, Mr.. Ruby /
had forgotten their names. These men,
armed with their rifles, got on the trail of |
the Harps and overlook them at their camp
ON the waters of Pond river; but whether
in the present boundary of Hopkins or
Muhlenburg county, have not satisfactory
" ascertained. About quarter of mile
from the camp, the party saw the Little |
Harm, and a man named Smith, hunting |
horses in the range, conversing near or at |
a branch of water. This word Grange" |
was used by the early settlers of Kentucky |
to designate the natural pasturage of |
cane-break, wild pea-vine and grass on |
which their live stock grazed. The |
Little Harp charged Smith with being a
Unconstitutional blew in his charger. Charger
is a small implement with which the hunter
measures his powder in loading his
gun. The shrill sound thereby pro-
duced. soon brought the Big Harp to the
branch to see what was the matter. The
pursuing party and the Big Harp arrived at
the branch, coming in opposite directions,
| nearly at the same time. The Big Harp
came mounted ON fine, large gray mare,
the property of the murdered Love and
which he had appropriated. The pursuers,
| not doubling the guilt of those whom they
had overtaken, without notice fired upon
them, badly wounding Smith, but not hitting
either ofthe Harps. The big Harp as in the
act of shooting Smith as those in front among
| the pursuers fired. He had cooked his gun,
and told Smith he must die. But, surprised
| by the yohey he received and the rushing up
of the persons, he reserved his fire, whirled
| Loves mare, and galloped off to his camp.
| The Little Harp ran off on foot into
| thicket, and was not seen afterward. On
reaching Smith the pursuers were detained
a short time, listening to his explanation.
| He was regarded as an accomplish Of the
Harps, but soon demonstrated his inno-
cence, and his life was spared. As soon as
satisfied by Smiths explanation, the pur-
suers hastened to the camp. As they reached
it by sight, they saw the Big Harp hastily
saddling the horses, and preparing to take
off the women with him. As soon as he saw
the rapid approach of his pursuers, he again
mounted Loves mare, armed with rifle and
pistols, and darted off, leaving the women
and children to provide for themselves.
They were soon made prisoners, and Magby,
who was large, fat man, untitled for the
chase, and one other were left behind to
guard them. Loves mare was large and
strong, and seemed to carry the two hum
bred pounds weight Of her rider, the Big
Harp, with much ease, and he seemed de-
termined to call on his powerful and
finely formed gray to expend all her
] u 4 g, aIolf rofh
small man, rode a thoroughbred, full
blooded bay mare of the best Virginia stock,
about fifteen hands high, and he led i'll the
pursuit. He had chased thieves before, and
when he came back the only account he
ever gave of one Of them was, as Mr.. Ruby
said. .'that he would never steal another
horse Nance was the name of his mare,
and she exhibited both speed and bottom
in this race of life or death. The other
horses of the pursuing party were nothing
: like equal to Nance, or Loves mare, and
their riders being large men, the Big Harr
. might entertain hopes of escape. In the
? first two or three miles of the race he kept
/ far ahead, no one trailing him in sight
: except Tompkins. There was no diff
f Guilty in following with speed, through
4 the rich mellow soil of the wilderness
/ the tracks made by the horses of Harl
/ and TOmpkinS. Leeper was second IL
2 the chase, and the rest followed at intervals
/. as rapidly as possible. Upon the river ant
e creek bottoms the trees Of the forest grew
very large. In passing out into more ele
4 waited land the trees become sparse, and
o high crop of prairie grass grew among them
e As the race progressed, the Big Harp drov
into a thick forest of large trees upon cree
S bottom. lie approached the stream, intend
: ing to cross it. As he got near the bank h
r encountered large poplar tree, four or tiy
= feet in diameter, and about one hundre
r, feet in length, which had been blown dOwr
r its roots being at the perpendicular bank {
II the creek, and the top extending back from
/ the creek, so as to make an angle bt
It tween the creek and body of the tire
.e of about forty degrees. He passed dow
d between the creek and the tree and tn
r. point of the angle, reaching which he di'
It covered that the bank was so high and pc
% pendicular that it was impossible to d.
Of scend and cross the creek with safety, an
IS that it was alike dangerous to attemp
id jumping over the tree. lie paused to col
H. template the situation, and concluded it W.
ly best to back out and go around the head {
ID the tree and hunt another crossing plac
4. He retraced his steps to the head
ID the tree, and there he met Tom
e. kins face to face, with only some thirty {
n. forty Hsteps between them. Each reint
ut up his fOaming steed and stopped. Neith'
D. attempted to fire ON the other. Tompkil
he told Harp that his escape was impOssibl
on and that he had better surrender. "Never
a was Harp's brief reply, and at that nome
er Leeper wasin sight, hasteningIforward as IA
ashis horse could bring him. Harp immec
a ately dashed OFF at full speed, while Tom
as kins tarTied for the arrival of Leeper. !
or soon as he got up to TOmpkins he sal
to 'why didn't you shoot" TOmpkins
nd Piled s'that his mare was so fiery he cou
eft not make safe shot upon her, and
ev would not fire unless he was sure OF exec
ey ton"
ms Leeper had fired upon the Harps a
by Smith at the Branch, and found, IN prep;
ne. ing to reload his gun, the rImrod could
rat be drawn in consequence Of its having
ey wet and swelled. He therefore told Ton
I'm kins that he could not reload. and that
ras horse was fast failing, and that Harp wot
he escape unless Nance could catch him. Ton
no kins replied, ''she can run over him up
res snv part OF the ground" Leper said, .
MI us exchange horses, and let me have "
Isl gun and shot-pouch, and I'll bring h
II.
1at kins consented. They dismounted,
les changed horses and arms, and Lee
va mounted Nance and dashed forward at
de- the Big Harp. The noble mare proved
i'd ability to srun over him upon any part
ere the ground"
ing Leeper crossed the creek where Harp d
up and after passing through the thick
md trees growing in the bottom, came in 81
iii, of the fleeing Harp as he reached hig
ON ground, with prairie grass and seattle
? of trees. The gray mare was (nOt) the
: in ter horse" Nance gradually gained III
on her. When Leeper got within thirty
the forty yards, Harp told him ''tostrad otf,or
ON would kill him. Lceper answered, Il
He of us has to die, and the hardest fend o
not When the woods had become quite o.
and and interposed but few distractions to
5 TO sight. Leeper said he thought he had''a g
ling chance" He suddenly put Nance to her
lie speed and rushed up within ten steps
get Harp, threw his leg over the IN
,ese and the bride rein over Nan
the head, jumped to the ground, t
and aim and fired. Harp refined up, turn
aid. presented his gun, and it snapped. He
tied this without dismountinS. Leeper s
} in ..if Halps gun had not snapped, the
the would not have passed within twenty W
r = L., CO hadlv ,vaS II aimed = Harm (