The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-22
ROBERT F.. GONZALES
DIES OF PNECM0NIA

geant in Second South Carolina
Infantry-Had Won Secure
Fame by Five Years at
Profession.
Robert Elliott Gonzales, % years OF
age, who in half decade hau Dy his
work on The State made secure his
place among the foremost few prac-
titioners of that fine Journalistic art,
died of pneumonia late Tuesday night
at Ell Paso, Texas. He enlisted as 4
private in the Second South Carolina
infantry on the mobilizing of the
militia last June and before his com
mand left Camp Moore for the from
tier in August he had won on merit
promotion to a sergeantcy in the ma
chine gun company. Last Saturday
he was relieved of an arduous tour
of patrol duty and almost immediate
" developed the malady which in four
short days cut short his life of rare
achievement and brilliant promise
The end came in the base hospital
at Fort Bliss.
Col. Springs. commanding the Sec
ond, is sending an escort east With
that which is mortal OF the young
soldier and his funeral will be held
in Columbia, probably MondaI, with
military honors.
So abrupt and extreme termina-
ton of his illness was not expected.
but the first intimation. received Sun
dav evening, was disquieting and
members of his family made prepara-
tions to join him. He had obtained
furlough and expected to partic!-
pate in family reunion in New YORK
city during the holidays. Instead his
father, William E. Gonzales. United
States minister to Cuba. left Habana
immediately for FL Paso and was in
tnrcepted Yesterday at ST Aususfin
by messages telling of the end lie
came then to Columbia. arriving a.
an early hour this morning. Sergt.
Gonzales uncle, Ambrose E. Con
zales: his mother and his little sister.
Aida. reached Columbia yesterday az
ternon. learning of their berea"e-
ment. only on their arrival.
kilograms from El Paso reporting
Sergt. Gonzales death were delayed
in transit and also by the difference
in time, so that although the end
came at 1870 o'clock Tuesday night,
the news did not reach Columbia until
early Yesterday, after The State had
gone to press The tidings spread
quickly and. all yesterday and last
evening expressions of concern anu
grief, poured into the office OF The
State. Hundreds of persons called
at the office and many others LEFT
cards and MESA ges at the family resi-
dence, 1916 Richland street. The af-
ternoon newspapers diffused the intel
ligence throughout the country and
early in the afternoon kilograms be-
gan arriving from fellow craftsmen,
manv of whom knew the man but
through his work yet though it haG
come to love him as few men are
loved. The dominant note in all these
messages is, that of proud sorrow.
! Robert Gonzales was born in Co.
lumbia, April IS, 1898, the son OF
William f. and Sarah Cecil Shiver
Gonzales. His paternal grandfather
! the Cuban patriot, Gen. Ambrosio Jose
Gonzales, was chief Of artillery to
Gen. Beauregard in the Confederate
States army Gen Gonzales as an
exile settled in the coastal plain OF
South Carolina and there married a
daughter of William Elliott. Robert
Gonzales uncles, Ambrose Z. Gonzales
and the late Narciso Gener Gonzales,
were the founders Of The State Pre-
pared for college by Miss Janney and
William H. Werner in Columbia, Rob
ert Gonzales spent one year at the
Citadel in Charleston and thereafter
was several years a student in the
University of South Carolina, mem
Der of the class 1909 He intend
ed going on to Harvard after his grad
uatlon but his health became i'm
paired, an operation was required and
before he had recovered the college
year had opened. Mr.. Gonzales joines
the staff of The State in the summer
Of 1911 as paragrapher and editorial
writer. How we'll he did his work Is
Known far beyond the bounds OF
South Carolina He spent six months
abroad during 1913 None of hi;
work has appeared in The State since
the trOODs were called ont last June