The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-09-22

Connectscus Convenfion. Friday last
this respectable body finished the discussion
OF the project Of a Constitution reported by its
Committee, By section $. Some amendments
OF The draft have been made. The articles
relating TO the independence Of the Judiciary,
and the Rights Of Conscience, were debated
with much talent and moderation, aud the ar
tcles, as reported, were accepted by hand
some usjorilies. The anticipated success, in
this Convention, Of wisdom, experience and
patriotism, over utopian theories, and the
mere speculations of the closit, has been real
izei and the public have been grati6ed in
seeing in the majorities, on all the prominent
questions, the names Of many venerable men,
long celebrated for the extent of their talents,
the soundness of their patriotism, and their
undertaking federallsm.-Cen
Singular Occurrence. week, as an
inhabItant of ST. Henry, (about 10 miles
from Quebec, on the South side, was ma
king hay on some newly cleared land be OBJ
served young Bear in an adjoining field OF
oats. He with bis son, lad of about Ia
years, went Immediately in pursuit, and sue
ceeded in taking it alive and, it is supposed,
being in expectation Of the Dams approach,
the father directed the son to climb up
neighbouring tree with his prize. He was
not mistaken, for the cub setting up cry, she
Immediately appeared and rushed upon the
man, seized him by the breast, and tore the
flesh from bis shoulders in most shocking
Il ba bod hIc rt0rknf
knife in bis hand, which he resolutely thrust
into her body and laid open her bowels, COM
pelIinc her TO reinquish her hold, when she
fell litelsss at his feet His name IS CoIicte
.Norisette. He is at present in the hands OF
a medical gentleman in this city, much LAGER
ated.-JNercgry
NETWORK, SEPT. IT.
On the morning Of Saturday, the Cd of May
last, the workmen in one of the coal pits belong
ing to Mr.. Houston of Johnston, at Quarleton,
had unfortunately taken out the coal too near an
cid Dit filled with water, when the water broke
in, and inundated the work, by which seven men
it was feared, had lost Their lives. Though
powerful engine was instantly set to work, and
continued to do so night and day, it was obsery-
ed by the following Monday, that such was the
vast accumulation of water, that little progress
had been made, and there was no probability OF
speedily getting at the men who might be above
the level Of the water by this means 1t was
therefore resolved to drive mine from the pit to
the place where it was probable the men might
be. Accordingly, on Tuesday morning the 5th,
the mine was begun, and completed on the morn
ing of the I2th-this mine was about four feet by
three. and only two persons could work at time.
From the plans kept of the workings of this coal
work. it was known for some days that by Mon
day or Tuesday the mine would be driven thro'
and the public anxiety was excited IN no COM
mon degree to learn the result. The opening OF
the mine into the work was considered to be at
tended with danger from the foul air, and it was
arranged that Robert Hodgert and his brother
William should encounter the danger.-When
they broke through, the foul air instantly extin-
guished their lights, and the feelings OF the par
ties may be more easily conceived than descrio-
ed. when the words Is that yots, UYccle s"--
saluted the ears of Robert Hodgert. These
words were uttered by his nephew, William
Hodgert, who along with his brother James
had heard the sound ofthe mining tor, as they
coniectured two days and were waiting for deliv-
GRANGE from one of the most awful possible situa-
tons. They Immediately entered the mine land
got out and fortunate it was they were able to
do so. for their father and uncle declared, that
such was the effect of the bad air on them, that
they would not have entered to have rendered
them assistance. Their only sustenance for ten
days and ten nights, IN total darkne IS, amidst bad
air, was the impure water ofthe pit,and three pie
ces of oat cake, which by cropping round the work
they found in the pockets of the clothes left by
some Of the men who escaped. The only person
in the same awful situation with themselves, that
the Hodgerts had any communication with, was
Alexander Barr, but whose voice they had ceas-
ed to hear, as they suppose for at least two days
before their deliverance. From the time they
heard the miners at work, they occasionally threw
stones at the place from which the sound procee-
ded, IL order that the miners might know they
were alive but the miners did not hear them. To
enter the mine is now impracticable, owing to
the bad air, and it would be number OF weeks
before the water could be drawn from the pit |,
the fate ofthe remaining five men was certain.
The names Of those who have not been got cut
were, James Brodie, James Ingliss, Alexander
Barr, Alexander Shaw, and John Hunter.-The
last mentioned was a man of IS years Of age.
Shaw was young lad, and Barr, is said to have
left large family. At the time the accident
happened, there were in the coal work 25 per-
sons and a horses. Eighteen of the men made
their escape when they heard the rushing of the
water, the two Hodgerts were got out, and the
above toned S persons and the A horses re-
manned in he xrorL