The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-21
Death Of n. c. Gonzales.
by W. W. Ball, in State, Jan. 20. J
N. G. Gonzales is dead.

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N. G. Gonzales is dead.
The shadow Of a great sorrow droops
over South Carolina.
Wherevera noble heart beats, where
yer champion in the cause of truth
battles, wherever a lover Of human
kind with barred arm fights, for his
fellows, grief finds dwelling place.
Out of the ranks of those whose war
fare in a good cause never halts to
salute a white flag a leader has fallen.
South Carolina mourns. The whole
south and the highminded men who
make the nation feel the blow.
From every rart of the State and the
nation come messages Of sympathy
that would comfort those who most
suffer from the sacrifice that he has
made for his people. Dearly, fondly
as he loved his family and his as
sociates, it was for the people Of his
own Carolina that be so cheerfully, SO
unconplainingl offered up his gener-
Gus life. A little later, as the weeks
aud months go and come, with none
to take up the pen that so unceasing-
ly and unfalteringly has stung their
enemies to the hiding places of ignoble
oblivion the sense Of loss that now
in the hour of crushing sorrow comes
vaguely must grow into fuller and
larger realization. For the people have
lost their friend
STORY OF THE FINAL FIGHT.
The end came at o'clock yesterday
afternoon, after everything that skill
and science. could do to save his life.
It was not unexpected. Long before
daylight all hope had been abandoned.
Septic peritonitis, caused from the
terrible wound, had set in almost be-
fore the physicians and surgeons had
detected it, and insidiously 1T began
to affect the system, finally showing
unmistakably. The faithful surgeons
saw it and knew that the end was in
sight and that probably nothing that
human skill could devise could save
the life so valuable to city and State.
DR.. Wylie came and at 1.30 O'Clock
there was a consultation and examin-
alton. It was promptly announced
that there was no hope whatever,
though dissolution was not immediate
ly imminent.
All the physicians and surgeons had
read of the reported wonderful dis
covery of DR.. Barrows in New York
last week. by which it was held that
peritonitis, heretofore always regarded
as absolutely without a remedy, could
be arrested. None of the surgeons knew
exactly the effects of the injection Of
| fornalin or formaldehyde into the
veins, but after discussion with
members of the family, it was deter
mined to make the experiment as last
resort when the patient was known be-
yond all question to be in extremis.
! The surgeons said that it could be but
an experiment. The only two reported
cases had been peritonitis in women
! where the seat of infection was easy Of
access and where of course unlike this
case where the seat Of infection was SO
remote that it was not likely that the
powerful fluid set coursing in the veins
could reach it. But it was last chance
when absolutely no other hope remain
ed and death was certain to ensue. In
these circumstances DR.. Wylie in con-
sultation with Drs Query, Taylor and
Barron decided to make the expert
ment. Quickly an experienced druggist
was set to work preparing the neces-
sary fluid in the early morning hours
and it reached the hospital about 6
o'clock. In the mentime all the mem
bers of the family of the stricken edit
or were brought to the hospital for
Mr.. Gonzales was then, at 7.30 O'Clock
conscious, and the physicians could
not know whether he would be after
the injection or not. Then came the
preparations for the injection OF the
/ powerful fluid. The large vein in one
of his arms was opened and the injec-
ton was made about 9 o'clock, after
every precaution had been taken. 1t
became manifest very soon after the
operation that the fluid, which should
have had speedy results, if any at all,
was not producing a change. After
waiting an hour the physicians sought
for some signs of results, but there
were none whatever.