The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-08-02

oomet'nes great, strappiDg, )are footed
youths would trudge along Wy the side
OF the cart with gun on .heir shoulder
going in to the place there to purchase
powder and shot for the purpose of wa.
ging war against the feathercd tribe.
The public buildings in Orangeburg
IN the days of which we are writing were
very few indeed. Such Il thing as a
town hall, or hall Of any other kind, was
altogether unknown. The old court
house of that time was plain, modest,
unassumlug, wooden building, two stories
i'll hcighth, the first floor beiug devoted
to the sheriff. office, that of the clerk of
court and Ordinary aud tax. collector.
One or two lawyers also had their
Offices here. The court room aud Jury
room occupied the second floor. The
room for holding court at that time was
about forty feet square, with bare hoor,
unpautcd walls, wooden bencHcs for tic
judges, etc. This building in after
years was altered and repaired changed
to private residence, and still stands
on the same spot it formerly occupied.
Not very far from this WAS the Jail,
small. strong building OF hcwn logs,
rough and unprcposcssing in appearance,
but serving well the purpose for which
it was designed. About this time the
new court house, since destroyed, was
in the course Of erection aud was soon
after finished, also the present Jail. Th 8
last will stand for years to come
yet living monument to the industry
mud perseverance Of those who planned
it. Tho days FAR holding court in
Qranseburg then was regarded rs quite
lively time, great crowds hocking
hithcr to attend the sessions. But dcs-
pite the influx Of visitors, and the
whiskoy, which was pretty freely cir
culated, very few disturbances of any
kind occurred, which spoke we'll for the
peaccablcucss Of the inhabitants. ~
Foremost among the lawyers stool
Jno. NJ. Fielder, Thomas W. Glover and
"A Mr.. Whitmorc. or the talents and
popularity OF john NJ Fielder his cleo
ton soon after by the people df bis
native State to fill the position of Seua.
tor from that District was sufficient
proof. In the Senate Chamber as well
Ii. in the little court house ut home his
voice rang out fclrl, ssly in dcfcuco Of
the cause of truth and ri, ht, aud never
by word or deed did he ever betray the
confidence Of the people, who had made
him their choice, but stood up boldly for
them, representative Of Thom Orange
burg ,migh well be proud. Mr. FcIdcr
was 1.-the dark couplexioucl man,
with Back hair aud whiskers, rather
below the medium height, somewhat
nervous and absIraetcd in manner aud
lpclned 80 be brusquc in speech. In
the time OF Which we are writing he
might otter bc seen Walking up and
down the principal streets Of the village,
his hat pulled down over his eyes,
deeply engaged in reflection Some
times he has been known So pass by his
most intimate friends without recorni.
ton, SO dceply would lie be buried in
revric. Then again throwing off this
p.eocupicd air, he could be as merry
and jovial rs any, aud his doors were
always Hospitality thrown upon to guests
and nnmerous were the happy honrs
some of sacm spent ut ''Cob-Web Hail."
as his residence was more Familiarity
called. This appellatiuu grew out of
she Fat OF its masters bcin. IA bachelor
for vi. v he WAS taunted numerically ~
ii number Of waggish fellows around the
village, who declared his hou,e was
literally covered inside with cobwcbs for
the want u Il "fair lanl' to keep them
brushed away. Hut their jokes never
had the desired effect "Cob Web Hall"
remained without a mistress, its master
spending all his days i'll Single blessed
ness"
Th mas w. Glover, though very
young at that time, was one of the most
talented anil rising young members Of
the bar Indeed his eloquenoe was
the theme ofepcry tongue. Sometimes
he seemed inspired, and then Judge, ju-
ry, audience, forgot all else as they lis
tened chained, euraptured, to the
words OF thunder which rolled from the
lips Of the youthful Dcmosthenes. Nor