The record., 1911-01-26

We believe no apology is needed from
us when we give history of the
Ilarpc's in this issue of the GRAPHIC.
While it is an old story, yet it is one
that is always new and interesting To
the people of this section of the coun-
try. The llarpe's in their travels il is
supposed passed through what is now
Madisonvillc. the belief is that they
often stopped at the spring which is
now Mrs. Goochie AShby's in town.
Stcubcn's Lick, is what is now known
as Manitou. The Ruby'S of Madison
Vile are descendants of j. Il. Ruby
mentioned below. DIR. =. NJ. Lcepcr
formerly of Dawson, but now of Ere
donia, is related To the Leeper to whom
reference is made There are many
people in this county, who. while not
living at that time. have heard old
people years ago tell of the terrible
deeds of the Ilarpe's. The history of
the lIarpc's is about as follows:
About twenty miles from the town
of Henderson, at point just within
the line of Hopkins county, where the
road from Henderson, Morganfield and
IIopkinsville intcrScct. there is a wild
and lonely spot called ''ilarpe's Head.
The place derived its name from a
tragical circumstance which occurred
there in the early part of the present
century. The bloody legend connect
ed with il has been made the founda-
ton of thrilling border romance by
Judge Hall, of Cincinnati. one of the
most pleasing writer's of the west. The
narrative which follows, however, may
be relied on for its strict historical
truth and accuracy, the facts having
been derived from one who was con
temporary with the event. and person
ally cognizant of most of the circum-
stances.
During visit To Bowling Green, KY,
in the summer of 1874, an old citizen
inquired the authority for this sketch,
observing that i'm several particulars it
was different from the commonly re-
ceived version i'm that region, and
omitted some matters of considerable
interest. Upon the earnest solicitation
of friends the Hon. Josep Il. Under
wood then in his slst year, but as
eloquent and vigorous a practitioner
one of the judges of the Court of APP
peals, nearly forty years before-wrote
the following statement OF the start
ling tragedy. as he learned its details
on the very scene of its bloodiest chap
ter. We publish it in his own language
soRewhat abriged;
"In October. 1888, ] called on John
R. Ruby, a surveyor living in Hopkins
county, Ky, TO engage his services in
surveying lands. On the way, and not
more than a mile from his residence, |
passed the farm on which had lived
and died John Leeper. celebrated as
the cupturer of the famous outlaw.
Big Ilarpe. Wishing TO learn all
could of the matter, I inquired of Mr..
Ruby how long he and Leeper had
lived neighbors, whether they had
lived intimate as friends, and whether
Lecpcr had frequently told him the
particulars attending the capture and
death of llarpe.
My excitement and anxiety grew
out of the following facts: When a
small boy my home was with my ma
ternal uncle, Edmond Rogers. near Ed
munton, in Metcalf county. When my
uncle brought me fiom Virginia was
informed that a little mill boy, named
Trabue, had been met on his mill path
by the IIarpes and murdered, and that
a man named Dooley had been murder
ed by them, few miles above my
uncle's residence ON the creek upon
which his residence was situated
These things made n deep impression
on my young mind and heart. Not
long after was put TO school in Dan
vile, Ky. apd there was informed OF
the murder of Lankford on this side oi
Cumberland Gap, in what was ther
called the Wilderness, by the Harpes
their arrest and imprisonment in Dan
vile; their breaking Jail and flight
through the Green river country, mur
derineas they went. had previously
heard of the murder of Love and Stig
alrs family, and burning the hous,
over their own dead bodies.
''Mr Ruby informed me that he hat
lived in the neighborhood forty years
almost in sight of Leeper's residence
that they were intimate friendsi tina
Leeper was as honest as any man tha
ever lived, brave and truthful. and ha,
often related to him and others tn,
particulars attending the capture an
death of Big Ilarpe. After dinner WI
went TO the residence of Mr.. Jane
Armstrong, and there | wrote, as Mr.
Ruby dictated. the following facts dc
tailed to him by Leeper and other pio
neers:
"Tkere were two Harpes, broth
ers, one large athletic man nameC
Micajah, the other small and active