The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-07-17
EBENSBURG. Pa, FRIDAY. JULY II. 1891.
a FEARLESS JUDGE.
Lively Recollections of n Quaint and Orig
inal Character.

maj &hdraettT.
Judge Noah Smith, a citizen of Jeffer-
son county, who died recently in his
10th year, was, in many respects, re-
marl1able man, writes Louisville (Ga.)
correspondent of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton. His educational opportunities
were very limited, and he never read
books or papers to much extent. but
was close listener and read men thor
oughly. His native mother wit" or
shrewdness and good sense born in him.
Were of very high order; and if was his
delight TO associate with the noble and
intelligent, and this coupled with his
natural good sense made him conversant
with the current topics of the day and n
very interesting associate To the most
cultured that he came III contact with
\ more honest man in principle never
lived; and his goodness of heart kept
under control his fiery temper, and
made him kind and considerate under
the greatest provocations. As illustra-
tions, | will mention, that coming one
evening from the mill below him he
espied runaway slave close to the road
behind tree. He interrogated him
and soon discovered that he had left his
master without permission. He told
tho negro that he must go home with
him, but the former, who was very
strongly built and armed with n huge
club, replied with an oath that he had
started to Augusta and would go
there" and walked off. When about
sixty yards distant the judge emptied
one barrel of his gun at him, but it
seemed TO make no impression as the
shot We're small. After the second fire
the negro went staggering along as if
mortally wounded, though not soi-
tarv shot had pierced his skin. 1t was
all a sham for n purpose 1t was get
ting dark and the judge couldn't bear
the idea of the negro's dying in the
woods without attention, So he jumped
from his saddle and pursued him.
The latter retrcated until he reached
a pond studded with black gums. He
now turned upon the judge. throwing
water and mud in his face To confuse
him As soon as he was in reach the
latter cluLbed his gun and struck him a
blow which he parried with his club.
He drew his gun back To strike a sec
ond blow when it hitched to a limb be-
hind him, and while trying To cXtricate
it the negro brought his club down on
top of his head with all his power,
which nearly proved fatal, adding: II
reckon you viii go now" The Judge
replied: Il viii for short time" and
went reeling out of the pond.
As soon as he reached home he bound
up the wound and sent after pack of
hounds When it came he joined in the
chase and that night the negro was
brought To bay in a thicl1ct in Richmond
county and fought furiously as he
could not reasonably hope for mercy.
Several men present armed with clubs
and pistols wanted To kill him on the
spot. but the judge intcrccdcd and saved
his life. The next day he gave him
moderate whipping and returned him to
his owner.
Upon another occasion he came upon
"A runaway who was slashing his favor
ite hounds Ia pieces with scythe blade.
He knocked the weapon out of his hand.
captured hm and offered hlm no fur
ther violence.
He seemed In be an entire stranger to
fear in everything outside of religion.
| saw him one day in hunt. when an
old buck had just been jumped by
fleet pack of hound>-and had nearly a
mile the start OF hiIn-maIlc am effort to
head him. There was only one stand
four miles away. The Judge took his
hat and bride rcinS in one hand and
double-barrcl in the other and went rs
hard as his horse could stave uphill and
downhill and over bridges the entire
distance. But the buck came out two
huddrcd yards ahead. 1t was the grand
est man and buck race upon record, 1t
makes my nerves tingle to think of it
even now