The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-11-17

he turned his head, and saw the savage not
twenty yards from him.
Determined if possible, to avoid the expected
blow, he suddenly stopped, turned round, and
spread out his arms. The Indian surprised by
the suddenness of the action, and perhaps by
the bloody appearance of Golfer, also attempted
TO stop,-but exhausted with running, he fell
whilst endeavoring TO throw his spear, which
struck in the ground, and broke. Golfer in
stantly snatched up the pointed part, with
which no pinned him to the earth, and then
continued his flight. The foremost of the In
dams, on arriving at the place, stopped till 9TH
~ers came up to join them, whom they set up a
hideous yell Every moment of this time was
improved by Golfer who, although fainting
and exhausted, succeeded in gaining the skirt.
ing OF the Cotton-tree wood, on the borders of
the Fork, through which he ran and plunged
into the river.
Fortunately for him, little below this place
was an island. against the upper part Of which
q raft of drift timber had lodged He Owed
under the raft, and, after several efforts, got
his head above water amongst the trunks of
trees, covered over with smaller wood to the
depth of several feet Scarcely had he secur-
ed himself, when the Indians arrived on the
river, screeching and yelling, as Coltor express
ed it, g Ike many deUiiS." They were fire.
quently on the raft during the day, and were
seen through the chinks by Golfer who was
congratulating himself on his escape until the
idea arose that they might set the raft on fire.
In horrible suspense he remained until night
when hearing no more of the Indians, he Owed
under the raft, and swan silently down the
river to considerable distance, where he land
ed, and travelled all night,
Although happy>in having escaped from the
Indians, his situation still dreadful; he was
completely naked, under burning sun-the
seies OF his feet we're entirely filed with the
thorns Of the prcky pcar-he was hungry, and
had no means of killing game, although he saw
abundance around him-and was at least seven
days journey from Lisas Fort, on the g-horn
branch Of the Yellow Stone river. These were
circumstances under which almost any man
but an American hunter would have despaired
In seven days, however, during which he sub
sisted upon root much esteemed by the In
dians of the Missouri, be arrived at the Fort.
CHITF JUsrIcE SHAW. Mr. Chief Justice
Shaw is between forty five and fifty years of
age; of firm constitution, and of laborious
habits; ofextensive and OF various legal learn
ing; of singular clearnnss of perception and
communication; and of reach and compre
hension of mind, admirably adapted to master
the most difficult and complicated legal ques-
lions Men OF great acuteness and discern
ment are often found TO be too subtle and re-
fined for the practical business of the bench ;
but Mr.. Chief Justice Shaw happily unites the
soundest practical sense with a very high de.
gree of acumen and discrimination He is also
uncommonly exempt from party bases of all
kinds-(and in these days, such qualification
is Of more than ordinary Importance in all our
Judicial cficers,) and is blessed with temper
ament precisely fitted to the station he is call
ed TO assume.
There are men in Massachusetts, who are
more extensively known abroad, and even with
q L. - e 4 al.
been filled by vote of the primary assemblies
of the people, like that of Governor) it is
not probable that Mr.. Shaw could have sue
cceded. He has not been political leader, nor
has he been led by politicians. Though often
called by the people of Boston, into the Senate
or House of Representatives, he has not pur.
sued the course which gains the highest eclat ;
but has diligently attended to the best inter
ests OF his constituents and OF the common
wealth and exerted his Efforts for their good,
without direct reference to his own fame or ad-
syGncsment
This is the second instance only, in which
a Chief Justice of Massachusetts has been taken
from the bar. But it has always been done in
the Supreme Court of the United States and
the present Chief Justice of the Kings Bench
is the only man who, for the last century has
been promoted to thar Office from loaer seat
on that bench.
As 4 general rule, it seems to US decidedly
preferable, for many reasons, that Chief JUS
fice should be taken directly from the bar He
will better know tho deficiencies and peculiari-
ties in the court, lif any EXIST which require
correction, than one who has been upon the
bench, and who, therefore, has been excluded
from that unreserUed intercourse with the
members of the profession, which alone can
apprize him of their views and opinions on top
les of this nature. A pusne judge it is true,
may on his accession TO office, carry equal
knowledge of these things to the bench-but
he cannot carry there an equal pot0er of cor
reetion. We believe we express very COM
mon sentiment, when we say that much more
confident and rational hope Of improving the
Jurisprudence of any state OF country is allow.
able, when the head of the court is selected
from the bar, than when side Judge is made
Chief Justice. There are doubtless exception,
TO this remark-and we doubt not that either
of the associates of the late Judge Parker whom
he left to mourn his sudden death, would hav,
ably and satisfactorily falflled the duties which
are deyolved on his successor.
Lao LnteHigsHcsT for October.
EEoRMoUs Bones. The skeleton of an ami
NAL Of prodgious size, was discovered about
four weeks since at the Big Bone Lick, in Ken
lucky.
There are ten or twelve sets of tasks, from
four TO twelve feet long; the claws are four
feet long and three broad the tusks we're ar.
ranged in circular order, as if BY the hands al
man; within the circle the bones were deposit
ed. which, when placed together showed the
animal TO have been at least twenty-five feet
high, and sixty feet long. The scull.bone alone
weighed 400 pounds. They were found by a
Mr.. Finrey, about IA feet below the surface Of
the earth, who has refused $4,000 for them.
The skeleton is said to be complete saving only
one or two ribs.
When, and how, this animal existed must
battle all speculation. The mammoth himself.
so long the wonder Of these latter times. must
dwinde into comparative insigniiicance before
this new discovered prodigy. If carnivorous, a
buffalo would scarcely serve him for a meal:
and IT granvorous, trees must have been his
hork