Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-24
B1istel1aueuus geadimg.
NARCIsO GENER GONZALES.

Comprehensive Life Story of the
Slain Editor.
| Narciso Gener Gonzales, editor Of the
State, was born on August 5, 1858, at
Edingsville, on Edisto Island, South
Carolina. He was the second son Of
Ambrosio Jose Gonzales, native Of
Matanzas, Cuba, who with Narciso
Lopez, began the struggle for Cuban
independence in 1S4S, being one Of the
junta Of five members who declared
the independence of the island, adopted
the present Cuban flag and organized
the first filibustering expedition under
Lopez, Of which he was second in COM
mand, with the rank Of brigadier gen-
eral; and was the first Cuban wounded
in battle for the independence of the
island, at Cardenas, May 20, 1850; ex-
| lied and under sentence Of death, in
1856 he married Harriet Rutledge,
youngest daughter of the Hon. Will
liom Elliott, Of Beaufort s. c., and
served in the Confederate army as COL
onel and chief Of artillery for the de-
partment Of South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida under Beauregard, Har-
dee, Pemberton and others, surrender
ing at Greensboro, N. c., in charge Of
the artillery of Johnstons army in
1866.
N. G. Gonzales was taught at home
until Is years Of age and then attend
ed private school in Virginia for one
year. He received no other education.
Subsequently he worked as a laborer
on a farm in Virginia and at the fam
lily homestead in Colleton county, s. c.
In 1875 he studied telegraphy and from
the summer Of that year until the sum-
mer Of 1876 was employed as tele-
graph operator at Varnville, Hampton
county, S. C. In 1876 he organized the
first Democratic club on the line Of
the Port Royal railroad and was cam
paign correspondent for the Charles
ton Journal Of Commerce, the straight
out organ of that time. In the fall Of
1877 he obtained position as night op-
orator for the Atlantic and Gulf rail-
road (now the Plant system) at Savan-
nah Ca, whence a year later he was
transferred to the post Of operator and
railroad clerk at Valdosta, Ga. He
left this place in June, 1880, on invita-
ton Of A. B. Williams, who had just
then assumed charge Of the Green
vile News, to serve as local reporter
for that paper
On August S, 1880, he began his SER
vice with the Charleston News and
Courier as its regular correspondent at
Columbia, and continued in that posi-
tion until October, 1881, when he was
sent to Washington to act as its spe-
cial correspondent in the exciting year
following the death Of President Gar
field. He reported the Guiteau trial
and execution and the lost 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 ulti-
mately to become editor Of that paper;
but after few months, owing to q
disagreement with Captain Dawson,
was again sent to Columbia, where,
| in 1883, he organized the News and
Courier bureau and continued in charge
of it's news and business department
until the political revolution Of 1890,
reporting beside all the state cam
paigns and many famous trials In diff
ferent parts Of South Carolina. His
antagonism to the incoming admins
tration 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 erect
on the close of the administration OF
Gov. Richardson. His purpose now
was to leave the state and seek
newspaper opening in the Hawaiian Is
lands, to which he was attracted, but
being urged to remain and become ed1-
tor Of daily newspaper in Columbia
representing the views Of the oppo-
nents of Tillman, he agreed to do so,
and with his brother, Ambrose E. Con-
zales, secured the capital necessary to
start the State, Of which paper he was
elected editor and manager. He pur-
chased the plant and organized the
office and the publication Of the State
began February 1S, 1891. His manage
ment lasted for two years, but his con-
troll of the editorial policy Of the paper
has continued throughout its exist
ence. Mr.. Gonzales has held no public
office.
fndependence moved him soon after the
beginning of the revolution Of 1895 to
offer his services to the insurgents In
the field; but they were declined on the
ground that he could be Of greater SER
vice to the cause in his editorial posi-
ton. 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
a few days after war was declared and
was there appointed first lieutenant on
the staff of Gen. Emilio Nunez, or the
Cuban army, then preparing an expe-
dition for the relief Of Gen, Maximo
Gomez in central Cuba. This expedi-
ton could not get transportation until
June 20, when it sailed from Tampa
| in two steamers, the Florida and Fan
| ita. with a convoy, the Peoria. 1t took
| two weeks to make landing. After
being repulsed at two points by the
Spaniards, the expedition disembarked
| July 3, at Palo Alto, on the south coast
of Cuba, a few miles west Of the CEN
| trail trocha; and the next day Gen.
Gomez was found and relieved. After
six weeks of extreme hardships and
privations campaigning along the
| trocha, ir which he participated IN one
fight, an .lttack on the fortified town
| of Moron at the northern end OF the
| trocha, Mr.. Gonzales, learning on Au-
gust II, that the war was over, pro-
cured his discharge and embarked FOR
home in an expeditionary schooner
which, after various adventures, reach
| ed Key West, September l, 1893.
Since that time he has been at MS
post as editor of the State.
On November IA, 1901, Mr.. Gonzales
married Miss Lucie Barron, Of Man.
ming, in Clarendon county, who sur
| wives him.
His other Immediately relatives are
an aunt Miss Ann Elliott; three broth
/ orc Moecrs e and wv. ID. Gonzales,