The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-04
BILL MDCABE,s PAIR OF PISTOLS
A story of the Life of One of the
Worst Frontier OutIavs
From the Phlladelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
These weapons said the professor.
producing pair of old-fashioned holster
pistols. were once the property of one of
the worst demons that ever infested our
frontier, Bill McCabe. He was an asso-
eiate of the famous outlaws, Murrel Ma
son and the Harpes. They came into pos
session of my grandfather by means that
fifty illustrate the condition of Kentucky
in the early part of the century. and
their history will interest you. My grand
fathers came to Kentucky in 1850. and
were all noted Indian fighters. No less
than twenty-one of our name laid down
their lives in the Struggle, five alone being
cut off at the Bluelicks fighting in com
pany with Boone and McCullagh. The
family were noted for their strength and
hardwood and when you look at me Won
can realize modern degeneracy (the pro-
feSsor weighs about 90 pounds) NV
grandfather was sheriff of Jessa mine
county, and had dangerous duties to per
form, as the law was weak and organized
bands OF outlaws ranged through the
country. In those days the Ell Dorado of
the United States was in popular belief
south OF the Ohio. Men with money in
NOS'Su III 1hlSslssipM land, while the
poorer class pushed due west: i'm fact
most of our early statesmen looked on the
southwest as the seat of empire So much
Tor the opinions of the wise. A well de-
fined road crossed the state of Kentucky
known as the Wilderness Trace and This
was crowded through the summer months
by the wagons of emigrants, many of
them having droves of slaves, all on the
way to the new lands. But the road was
fun OF perils, robbers and murderers Turk
ed in the woods and attacked the trains
and such ruftians as the Harpes were ON
the lookout for single travellers. and Ken
lucky sun retained its Indian fame as
the Dark and Bloody Ground
THE Harpes were types Of the criminals
of the times. At every cross road a nroc-
lamation nailed to a tree could be seen Of
tering $500 reward for either Of the broth
ers, dead or alive Big Harpe soon met
his fate riding on the road In Boyle conn
ty. He met a lad named Gerard coming
from mill Harpe tried to take the bows
meal, and was resisted, when he coollv
stabbed the boy TO death and rode off 4
neighbor found him soon after, and PVT
ing the tracks put after the assassin %
Harpe was watering his horse at a stream
and heard Scrymer coming He was inst
raising his rife when his pursuer fired
and broke the ruhians back While
writing on the ground Gerard's father
rode up. Scrymer pointed to Harpe. ana
horrible 10 tell the enraged parent drew
his knife and began to skin Harpe alive
and the rufiian died under the torture His
head was cut off, placed in the crotch Of
an oak tree and was for years we'll
known Landmark and afterwards post
Office the name is in the old map. Such
were the good old times in Kentucky.
Adult 1917 the governors of Mississippi.
Kentucky and Tennessee met In confer
ence. Something must be done. for the
outlaws were organizing TO elect sherinfs
ana prosecuting officers, and emigration
was interrupted, trade declining and no
mans life or property was safe. So
$4,000 was appropriated TO be suent in re-