The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-28
he WAS 4. SELF EADE NAN.
CoEnt:y-

Country
Narcisco Gener Gonzales, editrr O.
the State. at Columbia, who was shot
by Lieut.. Gov. James II. T'illman, was
born August ). 1888. at EGinssv!iie,
E6isto Island.
He was the son OF Ambrose Jose
Gonzales. a native OF MatanzaS. CUBA,
who with Narcisco Lopez, began the
struggle for Cuban independence in
1S4S. The elder Gonzales was one OF
the lunta Of five members who de
clared the independence OF the island,
adopted the present Cuban flag, and
organized the first tiIibuStering eSpedi-
tion under Lopez, Of which he was
second in command with the rank OF
brigadier general. He was wounded
at Cardenas. May, 20. 1880, alter.
be was exiled under the SEN
teace Of death. In 1856 he married
Harriet Rutledge Elliott, Youngest
daughter OF Hon. William Elliott. OF
Beaufort. He served in the Confede-
rate army as colonel and chief OF
artillery for the department Of South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida, under
Beauregard, Hardee, Pemberton and
others, surrendering at Greensboro.
During 1865 he was in charge OF the
artillery Of JohnSton'S army.
y. 6. Gonzales was taught at nome
until he was 10 years OF age. W hen
he was Is he attended q private school
in Virginia for one year. lie recelv-
ed no further education, his family be-
ing ruined by the war. He worked
as a laboreron farm in Virginia,
and for several years at the family
homestead plantation in Colleton
county. In 1875 he studied telegraphy,
and from thesSsummer of that year
until the summer of 1876 he was en-
ployed as aEtelegra2h operator at
Varneville, Hampton county.
In 1S76he organized the first Demo
cratic Club on the line Of the Port
Royal railroaa,s and was campaign
corresponds the Charleston
Journal of Commerce, the straight out
Democratic organization of that time.
In the fall Of 1871 he obtained a posi-
tion aS night operator for the Allan
tic Gulf railroad, later the Plant sys-
TEN, and now the Atlantic Coast
Line, at Savannah. a year later he
was made operator and railroad clerk
at Valdosta, Ga.
He left Val6oSta in June, 1880. on
the invitation of A. B. Williams,
: whom he9aessaa met- in the campaign Of
1876, and who had then just assumed
charge of the Greenville Daily News
to serve in the position Of local report
er for that paper.
He left Greenville on August 8
1880, to begin service with the Char
lesion News and Courier as it's regula:
correspondent at Columbia. He con
tinued in this position until October
1881, when he was sent to Washing
ION act as it's special correspondent II
the exciting year following the deatt
Of President Garfield. He was present
at the Giteau trial and execution anc
the long session Of the Forty-Seventt
Congress.
: In Agust, 1882. he was transferred
to Charleston and placed on the edi-
torial staff of the News and Courier.
with the understanding that he was
ultimately to become the editor OF
the paper. But few months latter,
owing to a misunderstanding, he was
sent back to Columbia, where, in 1888,
ne organized the News and Courier
bureau, and continued in charge Of its
news and business departments until
the election Of Benjamin E. Tillnan
as Governor in 1890, reporting all the
State campaigns and many famous
trials in different parts Of the State.
His personal and political antagon-
ism to Gov. Tillman indisposing him
to have such relations with the States
chief executive as the policy Of the
News and Courier required, he resign
ed his position on that paper to take
effect upon the close of the ad-
ministration of Gov. Richardson.
At that time he intended to leave
the State and thought Of taking up
newspaper work in the Hawaiian Is
lands. He was, however, urged to re-
main in Columbia and become the edi-
tor Of a paper representing the views
of the opponents of Tillman. This he
agreed to do, and, with his brother.
Ambrose E. Gonzales, be secured the
necessary capital to start the State Of
which newspaper he was elected edl-
tor and manager.
He purchased the plant, selected
the force and organized the office OF
the State, beginning publication on
February Is, 1891. After two years
he gave up the supervision OF the busi-
ness department., but. he continued in,
control of the news and editoria'
departments Of the State.
Though for a number Of years one
Of the foremost political figures in
South Carolina, Mr.. Gonzales has
never held Office.
His interest in the cause Of the in
dependence Of his fathers native lanc
led him, soon after the opening OF the
ISFOIUUlOiI, III 1C9o, w OhAeA 1io oSA'
ices to the insurgents in the field
They we're declined on the ground
that he could be OF greater aid to the
cause in his editorial position.
Before the declaration OF war be.
tween the United States and Spain he
sought the means Of taking up Cuoa'>
cause on the soil Of the island, but was
disappointed. A few days after The
declaration Of war he vent to Tampa
where he was appointed a first lieu
tenant on the staff Of Gen. Emilio
Nunez of the Cuban army. then pre-
pairing an expedition for the relief o
Gen. Maxine Gomez, in Central Cuba
This expedition could not get trans
portation until June 20, when it Sailet
from Tampa in two steamers, th'
INopit0 with a ron