Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-12-15
A WAR TINE
INCIDENT
In The life of the Late JUDGE William
Mclaughlin.

In Inc Tile OF the L ate Judge IllIai
Mclaughlin.
The following paragraphs narrat
an interesting incident of the lat
Spanish American war time. and i
happily told by Mr.. Charles Curry in
paper read by him before the Virgini;
Bar Association at its last annua
meeting in which was given charac
ter SIX etch of the life of that eminent
and beloved jurist, Judge William
Mclaughlin. The incident narrated
will be remembered by many of oul
citizens who recall the martial spirit
of that period, and will read witn a
revived interest the extract from Mr..
Curry sketch
He sympathized with the oppressed,
and was an earnest supporter of the
cause of the Cubans. He believed that
| the administration ought to have TAX
en- steps before it did to thwart and
| repel Spanish oppression in Cuba, and
that by such action the war with Spain
could have been avoided. When war
with Spain was declared he entered
heart and soul in it. When the Com
pany from Staunton left for the war,
he was holding his May term of the
Circuit Court of Augusta county, and
was engaged in the trial of jury case,
and when so engaged it was his prac-
tice to never let anything interrupt the
trial.
1.-The company from Staunlon was
known as the West Augusta Guard,
and was commanded by Capt. R. S.
Ker, a talented and prominent mem
Der of the bar, and his company was
composed of young men of families of
good standing from the city and coun-
ty, and the greatest enthusiasm was
manifested. Capt. Ker was to be mar
ried to charming young lady of
Staunton on the morning, that his
left. and the marriage was to
be celebrated at the First Presbyterian
C church, such interest had never before
been shown in marriage in the town.
1t was not supposed by the bar that
the judge would adjourn his court for
the wedding and to see the boys off /
for the war, but they were mistken.
The court convened promptly at nine
0 clock that morning, the orders were
read, and then court adjourned for the |
Judge saying that it was memorable |
occasion and ought to be observed. |
The chnrch was crowded long before |
,he time set for the ceremony, aud |
;hrongs of people were on the outside,
the stI eet and around the church, |
md to the surprise of everyone the |
I'D judge attended the wedding. I'm
after the ceremony Capt. |
ker bade farewell to his lovely bride,
Ind took command of his company and
marched to the Chesapeake & Ohio
station through the crowded streets,-I
md such crowd of people had never
before been seen in Staunton.
1.-The old veterans of the StOnewall
Jackson Camp assembled to do honor
10 this occasion, and these venerable
I'D soldiers marched in front of the
guards to the station, wearing their
Confederate uniforms aud opened the
way through the crowd for the COM
,any to pass. There was an immense
hrong at the depot, thousands of peo-
)le,-the streets were croWded,-there
we're people on the house tops, at win
lows and doors, on teIegrap and tele-
,hone poles and on the hills around, to
Zee and cheer, and flags were flying
very where. just before the Guards
marched through the way made for
hem i'll the throng by the old veterans,
he majestic stature of Judge Me-
1augh!in appeared, towering above all.
lie looked like a hero. Al the old pas
ION of war, of years long gone by,
eemed to possess him, and martial
ook flashed from his eye. As soon as
be crowd caught sight of him there
vas cheer after cheer, and wild faunt
ng of flags, and the old veterans of
he StOnewall Jackson Camp rallied
.ound him, and On motion of Major
J ed. Hotchkiss, the great old Judge
was On the spot elected an honorary
member of the Camp. He seemed to
De much affected by this interest in
lim, and when the brave boys rolled |
IF on the cars, mid flying flags, cheers
md grand wild music. the tears trickled |
down the cheeks of the great old judge" |