The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-20

Columbia. s. c.. January 17.-After a
a day of anxiety TO the friends of Edi
tor n. c. Gonzales of The State who
was shot down and sorely wounded on
Thursday afternoon by Lieutenant
Governor James H. Tillman, reports
tonight from the hospital are encour-
aging, though not assuring IF his i'm
provement and possibly recovery. Dur
Ing the early afternoon there was very
grave apprehension for the life of the
wounded m3n and at one time prac-
tically all hope had been abandoned,
but there has appeared n ray of hope,
and at the present time there is some
Indication of q favorable outcome. Too
strong expectations should not be in
dulged, for the condition of Mr.. Con-
gales is still exceedingly grave and at
any moment disturbing symptoms may
superVene, but the physicians now
hold out some encoura cement TO the
friends of the wounded man.
DR.. W. Gill Wylie, of New York, who
xas called into consultation in the
Ease, and who has been in attendance
snce yesterday morning left this af-
ternOon for Rock Hill. stating that he
was better satisfied with the condition
Of Mr.. Gonzales than he had been at
any time since he first had seen him.
He will be within telephone call and
is prepared to return TO Columbia at
any time he may be needed. The chief
concern this afternoon was caused by
an obstruction of the intestines and it
was considered at one time as a pos
sibility that the wound would have to
be reopened and an Injection made to
relieve this. 1t was practically deter
mined to resort to this heroic treat
nent if Improvement did not appea. in
Il short time, but when the limit OF
waiting for favorable development had
expired there was noted a relaxation
Of tension of the abdomen and the
physicians announced the remedies
they had applied were having effect
and that if they completed the pur-
pose Of their administration there
would be chance OF saving the life
of the patient.
This favorable news has been re-
ceived with the livliest satisfaction,
and hopes have risen high In the COM
nlunity. 1t is realized fully. however
that the case is still desperate and may
have q fatal termination. One of the
most satisfactory features of the case
is that there has yet been. after nearly
sixty hours. not the least indication OF
peritOnitiS- Danger OF this develop
ment will have passed practically after
seventy-twO hours.
There is nothing TO be added tonight,
70 the story of the shooting that has
already been told in the Associated
Press dispatches. There has been abb
solutely no developments today and
none is expected until the trial. The
friends OF Gonzales are positive that
there was no cause for the act of Till
man beyond such prOvocation as was
made months ago, and they consider
the whole story told in the facts that
have already been related. namely
that Tillman. armed with two heavy
pistols proceeding from the capitol,
where he had presided over the senate
met Gonzales, unarmed. who sought to
avoid an actual contact with Tillmal,
by crossing to the inside of the pave
ment; that in passing Tillman, the lat
ter suddenly and without warning
pressed a magazine pistol against
Gonzales and sent a bullet through
bis body.
1t is understood, and generally be-
heved that Tillman will claim that
he thought Gonzales was armed and
Intended shooting him and that he was
justified in this belief by the fact that
Gonzales had his hands III his pockets
and was approaching him and felt an
enr1ity toward him which might lead
to a mortal conflict. All this is of
course presumptive as Tillman has
given out no statement of his attitude
sof defense nor undertaken any eX-
planetion of his shooting of Gonzales.
He has merely said that he had good
and justifiiable ground for his action
and that he Will prove this at the pro-
per time. He is reported as having
said today that he regretted the neces-
aity for his action and that hoped az