The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
WAY DOWN SOUTH IN DIXIE.
Lively RecOIlectlonS Of an Original
Character.
JUDGE NOAH SMITH, OF GEORGIA.
A Great Hunter-A Determined But Mer-
ciful Enemy-The Judges Famous
Race with Deer-Notes.

Judge Noah Smith, a citizen of Jefferson
county, who died recently in his seventy-sixth
year. was. in many respects. remarkable man.
His educational opportunities were very limit
ed. and he never read books or papers TO much
extent but was close listener, andread men
thoroughly. His native mother wit" or
shrewdness and good sense born in him. were
Of very high order; and il was his delight to
associate with the noble and intelligent and
this coupled with his natural good sense made
him conyersant with the current topics OF the
day and very interesting associate to the
most cultured that he came in contact with.
A more honest man in principle never lived:
and his goodness Of heart kept under control
his fiery temper, and made him kind and con-
siderate under the greatest pTOvocatlons. AS
illustrations | will mention that coming one
evening from the mill below him he espied a
runaway slave close 10 the road behind tree.
lie Intercepted him and soon discovered that
he had left his master without permission. He
told the negro he must go home with him,
but the former, who was very strongly built
and armed with huge club. replied with an
oath that he had started to Augusta
aud would 90 there" and walked off. When
about sixty yards distant the Judge emptled
one barrel Of his gun at him. but 1t seemed 70
make no impression. as the shot were small.
After the second fire the negro went stagger-
ing along as if mortally wounded. though not
a solitary shot had pierced his skin. II was
all a sham for a purpose. II was getting dark
and the Judge couldn't bear the idea Of the
negros dying in the woods without attention,
so he jumped from his saddle and pursued
him
The latter retreated until he reached pond
ii Hal, Ia frrua1
upon the Judge. throwing water and mud IN
his face 10 confuse him. As soon as he was IN
reach the latter dubbed his gun and struck
him blow which he parted with his club.
He drew his gun back to strike second blow;
when it hitched 10 a limb behind him; and
while trying TO extricale II the negro brought
his club down on top of bis head with all his
power. which nearly proved fatal, adding: Il
reckon you will go now" The Judge replied,
II will for short while" and went Keeling
out Of the pond.
As soon as he reached home he bound up
the wound and sent after pack Of hounds.
When il came he joined in the chase and that
night the negro WAS brought 20 bay IN thicket
in Richmond county and fought furOusly. as
eral men present armed with clubs and pistols
wanted to kill him upon the spot, but the
Judge interceded and saved his life. The next
day he gave him a moderate whipping and re-
turned him 10 his owner.
Upon another occasion he came upon a run
away who was slashing his favonte hounds 10
pieces with a scythe blade. He knocked the
weapon out of his hand, captured him, and
offered him no further violence.
He seemed 10 be an entire stranger 20 fear
in everything outside Of religion. | saw him
one day in a hunt, when an old buck had just
been jumped by pack Of fleet hounds-and
had nearly mile the start Of him-make an
effort 10 head him. There was only one stand,
four miles away. TheJudgo took his hat and
bridlo-reins in one hand and double-b barrel in
the other and went as hard as his horse could
stave. uphill and down-hill and over bridges.
the entire distance. But the buck came out
200 yards ahead. 1t was the grandest man
and buck race upon record. II makes my
nerves ting,e 10 think of il even now.
He was a Judge of the inferior court for a
number of years. and was once elected 10 the
Legislature. When he returned from the
capitol he made a feast and invited his
friends: told them AZ he was done with the
legislature that if all the lies told upon him
while candidate were true he ought TO be
hung. may add that his opponent in the
race was man high above the general aver
age in reputation, principle and ability.-At-
lanta Constitution.