The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-21

lowing the death Of President Car
field. He reported the Guiteau trial
and execution and the long session Of
the Forty-seventh congress for The
News and Courier.
In August, 1882, was transferred to
Charleston and placed on the editorial
staff Of The News and Courier, with
the understanding that he was ul-
timately to become editor Of that pa
per; but after a few months, owing
to disagreement with Captain DaW-
son, was again sent to Columbia.
where, in 1883, he organized The
News and Courier Bureau and con-
tinued in charge Of its news and bust
ness department. until tie political rev.
olution of 1890, reporting beside all
the State campaigns and many famous
trials in different parts of South Caro-
lima. His antagonism to the incoming
administration indisposing him to have
such relations with it as the policy of
The News and Courier required, he
resigned his position on that paper to
take effect on the close of the admins
tration of Gov. Richardson. His pur-
pose now was to leave the State and
seek newspaper opening in the
Hawaiian islands, to which he was at
tracted, but being urged to remain
and become editor of a daily news
paper in Columbia representing the
views of the opponents of Tillman, he
agreed to do so, and with his brother,
Ambrose E. Gonzales, secured the
capital necessary to start The State,
of which paper he was elected editor
and manager. He purchased the plant
and organized the Office and the pub
lication of The State began Feb. Is,
1891. His management lasted for two
years, but his control Of the editorial
policy of the paper has continued
throughout it's existence. Mr.. Con
zales has held no public Office. His
interest in the cause of Cuban indepen-
dence moved him soon after the begin
ming of the revolution of 1895, to offer
his services to the insurgents in the
filed, but they were declined on the
ground that he could be of greater ser
vice to the cause in his editorial posi-
tion. Before the breaking out Of the
war with Spain he sought the means
of taking part in it on Cuban soil,
but being disappointed in other plans
for getting to the front, he went to
Tampa few days after war was de-
clared and was there appointed first
lieutenant on the staff of Gen. Emilio
Nunez, of the Cuban army, then pre-
pairing an expedition for the relief of
Gen. Maxine Gomez in central Cuba.
This expedition could not get trans
portation until June 20, when it sailed
from Tampa in two steamers, the
Florida and Fanita, with convo, the
Peoria. It took two weeks to make a
landing. After being repulsed at two
points by the Spaniards, the expedition
disernbarked July 3, at Palo Alto, on
the south cost of Cuba, few miles
west of the central trocha; and the
next day Gen. Gomez was found and
relieved. After six weeks of extreme
hardships and privations campaigning
along the itrocha, in which he partlcl-
pated in one fight, an attack on the
fortified town of Moron at the northern
end of the trocha, Mr.. Gonzales,
learning on Aug. II that the war was
over, procured his discharge and en-
barked for home in an expeditionary
schooner, which, after various ad
ventures. reached Key West Sept. l,
1898.
Since that time he has been at his
post as editor Of The State.
On Nov. Il, 1901, Mr.. Gonzales mar
ried Miss Lucie Barron, Of Manning,
in Clarendon county, who survives
him.
His other Immediate relatives are an
aunt, Miss Ann Elliott: three brothers,
Messrs. A.. E. and ". E. Gonzales, of
Columbia, and Mr.. a. B. Gonzales, of
Colleton county, and one sister Miss
Hattie r. Gonzales.