Dark River tells a fascinating, and not well known, story of an age of the Western frontier (1770-1850). Rapid western expansion and years of warfare created the perfect breeding ground for crime, violence and slaughter. It spawned a unique type of criminal, one who made the Ohio River Valley their personal hunting ground.
In the valley region trust was low, life was hard and death was easy. Micajah and Wiley Harpe earned a grim reputation, often regarded as America's first serial killers. From legendary outlaw hide-out Cave-in-Rock, Samuel Mason's band of river pirates considered murder a standard practice. The Sturdivant Gang did their best (and worst) to ruin the local economy with counterfeit currency before being driven out. Later one of their number narrowly survived challenging future Alamo legend Jim Bowie to a knife fight.
James Ford was a Southern gentleman and County Sheriff. He was also one of the earliest American crimelords, running a sophisticated operation including highway robbery, river piracy, illegal slave-trading and murder. Distancing himself from the crimes his underlings committed, he was a godfather long before the Mob reached American soil. Worse still was John Hart Crenshaw, whose racket was kidnapping free people and former slaves for sale wherever there were buyers. Indicted more than once for kidnapping, Crenshaw's personal dungeon reputedly saw torture, abuse and habitual mistreatment. Crenshaw's cruelty made him a local legend and his former home a national monument. His many guests and visitors, future President Abraham Lincoln among them, had no idea about his unwilling guests shackled to the walls on the third floor.
Dark River will take you on a pleasant boat-ride down the Ohio River. Unlike many who made the journey, you will reach the end alive.
