The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-16
Gonzales Told of 1t.

had fired, and then after the shot he
said something about taking him
(Gonzales) at his word.
Mr. Gonzales took this to mean that
Mr.. Tillman told him that he was set
ting old issues face to face with him.
Mr.. Gonzales is certain that nothing
was said until after the shot was fired
After the first shot, Mr. Gonzales tot
tered to the transfer station, against
which he leaned. Tillman was still
pointing his pistol at him, whereupon
Mr.. Gonzales said, Shoot again, you
coward"
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman lowered his pis-
tol and walked away.
There was only one shot fired, and
that entered the right side, between
the eighth and ninth ribs, and passed
through the fore part of the body, COM
ing out just above the free border of
the ribs. At first it was thought the
bullet had gone through the body from
the front to the back, but it did not,
as it went through the forepart of the
body entering above the vest pocket
on the right and coming out below and
behind the vest pocket on the left side,
The bullet was picked up on the pave
ment and it seemed to be bright and
new and in no way battered. 1t was a
bullet from what is said to be a long
range German-make magazine pistol,
such as is used in the army. The pis-
tol was a present to Tillman from his
brother, who is an army officer.
Shooting Entirely Unexpected.
Mr. Gonzales and Lieut. Gov Till
man have passed each other in full
view since the opening of the present
session of the General Assembly on
Tuesday, but there has been no en-
counter, no word passed, no nod or
recognition of any kind, and to-day it
came like thunderclap out of a peace
full sky when the shot was fired. 1t
was absolutely unexpected, and all
thought that whatever soreness there
was as result of the primary of last
August had passed away, but it seems
otherwise.
AS to the shooting, that is a simple
story. Lieut.. Gov. TilIman met Ear.
Gonzales on the street, drew his pis-
tol and fired into him. There was no
fuss or feathers but when at close
range, Mr.. Tillman opened fire, wiped
his pistol on his coat sleeve, took aim
as if to fire a second time, changed
his mind and let his pistol fall to his
side. Lieut.. Gov. Tillman was per-
fectly cool and collected, sober and I'M
excited, to all appearance. Mr.. Con
ZaleS was unarmed.
The shot from the magazine pistol
paralyzed Mr. Gonzales, and as he saw
the deadly weapon aimed at him, per-
haps for fatal bullet, he cried out,
"Shoot again, you cowardi" If his life
be spared perhaps that expression,
which may have held the second bull
| let. was the magic of the occasion.
Mr.. Gonzales is man of robust
health, strong physique and active, all
of which are in his favor.r
Many Went to His Aid.
AS he fell against the nearby trans
fer station to steady himself, Mr..
James Sims and Mr.. Gainewell La
Motto came rushing up and gave Mr..
Gonzales support, and helped him to
the business office of the newspaper
which Mr.. Gonzales had labored so
hard and so faithfully to establish and
make a leading factor in the affairs
of his state. There, with his head
resting on a bundle of newspapers,
he requested that his wife be sent for
and to stricken friends, most of whom
were in tears, he told the story of the
tragedy.
DR.. B. w. Taylor, DIR. f. D. Kendall
DR.. Philpot and DR.. j. w. Babcock
were soon at his side, and in a few
more physicians doing all they could
to save his life. 1t was promptly
decided that the only hope was to per-
form an operation and get the true
course of the bullet and try to repair
the serious, but then unknown, dam
age.
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman was asked for
a statement, but said he had been adj
vised by counsel to say absolutely
nothing, and he followed their advice
to the letter.
Tillman, after the shooting, walked
into the middle of the street, where he
was arrested and taken to the station
house on Gervais street. He was met
there by several of his friends, but
said nothing. The police took from
him the long-range magazine pistol,
which had one empty cartridge, and
large Colt revolver.
Operation Was Performed.
After Mr.. Gonzales was taken into
his office, gradually pallor stole over
his face. but he seemed anxious to talk
and give the story of the shooting. He
answered all inquiries and inquired
particularly about the members of his
family, all of whom had by this time
arrived.
DIR. B. w. Taylor was placed in
charge. and it was promptly decided
that an operation would have to be
performed Arrangements were made
to take Mr.. Gonzales to the Columbia
Hospital. He stood the trip well and
after being taken into the building
his pulse registered Y, and at no time
had it gone below 60.
1t was exactly two hours after the
shooting that Mr.. Gonzales was placed
on the operating table. The operation
lasted about two houAs. The patient
bore the operation well, and after be-
ing put in bed had a pulse of. 115-12O,
and respiration of 81.
The operation was performed by Dr.
LeGrand Query, assisted by DR.. Lind
say Peters and DR.. ]. H. Mcintosh.
DR.. d. S. Pope gave the anaesthetic.
DIR. B. w. Taylor was chief consultant,
with DR.. C. w. Barron and half
dozen other Columbia physicians pres
ent, among them DR.. j. w. Babcock
DR.. Gibbes, Dr. Philpot. DR.. Watson,
DIR. Griffith and DR.. Fishburn.
Gonzales Made Statement.
Before the operation Mr.. Gonzales
spoke to the physicians about himself
and made some suggestions. He made
it plain that he sought no difficulty;
that to avoid a collision with Mr.. TILL
man, who was walking with two sena-
tors. he cut across the pavement and
passed by without touching or speak
ing. and that Mr. Tillman pulled his
pistol or had it in his hand and fired.
Mr.. Gonzales spoke to Tillman and
told him, Shoot again, you coward"
Mr.. Gonzales said he saw Mr.. Tillman
two days before and Mr.. Tillman saw
him. AS to sending any message TO
Mr.. Tillman, he had not done so, and
he was positive that Mr.. Tillman fired
before he said a word
The most serious wound is the cut
ting of the transverse colon for about
an inch and a half almost severing