OCR Text |
Show TILLMAN'S DEED A REIGNING SENSATION ; COLUMBUS. S. C Jan. 16. The shooting of Editor Gonzales by Lieut-Gov. Lieut-Gov. Tillman yesterday continues the reigning sensation of South Carolina. The two men have been sworn enemies ene-mies for some years and Tillman's animosity was actuated by Gonxales pronounced editorial opposition to him as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor during last fairs primary. , In that campaign Gonzales Gon-zales made- editorial reference to Tillman Till-man as ;a liar, scoundrel and debau-cher. debau-cher. A challenee to a duel followed, but Gonzales ignored it. It Is rumored that the immediate cause of the attack was a message sent Wednesday by Gonzales to Tillman. That night at the Columbia hotel, Lieut Gov. Tillman said to a group of his friends: "Gonzales has sent me word that when we meet again we shall settle set-tle our difficulties with pistols." Gonzales' Gon-zales' friends deny that he sent a message mes-sage of any character to Tillman. It is said that not a word was spoken av the editor and Lieutenant-Governor met Tillman instantly drew a revolver, re-volver, it is said by eye witnesses, and, placing It close to the body of Gonzales, Gon-zales, fired without a word being spoken. Gonzales staggered and then, catching his balance, turned toward the man who had shot him. Tillman had the smoking revolver in his hand, with the muzzle pointing at the wound-el wound-el man. "Coward!" shouted Gonzales, as he was caught by parties who had rushed to his assistance. Though desperately wounded, Gonzales Gon-zales displayed wonderful nerve. t y e0 9 EDITOR GONZALES v MAY NOT RECOVER. ' COLUMBIA, S. C, Jan. 1.-At J:40 this morning Editor Gonzales' I condition Is very precarious, and the chances are greatly against re- covery. 1 , In a statement to the hospital physicians before the operation was I performed last evening Mr. Gon- sales said: "I was unarmed and ' there was no cause for my assas- elnatlon, but i die a martyr to a good cause gladly. I have done nothtng but my duty, and have nothing to regret" SS When he reached his office he Inquired about some business matters, and declared de-clared be had been shot without provocation. prov-ocation. He has been informed that the nature of his wound Is very serious, but he lsheerful and encourages those about him to hope for the best The trouble between the two men, first grew out of a fight between be-tween Senator B. R. Tillman and Senator Sen-ator McLaurln on the floor of the United States Senate. Maj. MIcah Jenkins, who had served with Roosevelt's rough riders In Cuba and who had. won a record for bravery and merit was to have been presented with a sword by-the people of South i Carolina In recognition of his courage and the fame which he had won for his State in the Spanish war. The presentation' pre-sentation' was to have been made by Lleut-Gov.-elect Tillman. When President Roosevelt withdrew his invitation to a state dinner In ; Washington which he had sent- Senator Tillman because of the fight the latter i had in the United States Senate, Lieut-Gov. Lieut-Gov. Tillman refused to present the sword to Lieut Jenkins. Mr. Gonzales took up the matter through the columns col-umns of his paper, the Dally State, and bitterly denounced Lleut-Gov, Tillman. , Gonzales comes from a family noted In this section of the country for courage cour-age and nerve. He went to Cuba before be-fore the Spanish-American war and enlisted as a scout with Gen. Gomes, doing notable work for the insurgent army. He Is an able -writer. Tillman, who Is held at the police barracks under a heavy guard, still declines de-clines to make any statement whatever. what-ever. It is declared here by close friends of the stricken editor that Tillman's life Is perfectly safe from any mob attack, at-tack, and that Gonzales' friends contemplate con-template no acts of violence. Gonzales is of Spanish descent, being be-ing the son of Ambrose Jose Gonsales, who, with Narlcso Lopes, began the struggle for Cuban Independence In 1848. He is 46 years old. He organized organ-ized the Columbia State newspaper in 1891 and has been always a bitter opponent op-ponent of the Tillman faction in South Carolina politics. In a statement before the operation Mr. Gonzales made it plain that he sought no difficulty; that to avoid collision col-lision with Tillman, who was walking with two Senators., he cut across the pavement and passed by without touching touch-ing or speaking and that Tillman pulled his pistol and flred. Gonzales then spoke to Tillman and said to him, "Shoot again, you coward!" , Tillman after the shooting walked out I Into the middle of the street where he waa arrested and taken to the police station. He was. met there by several of his friends, but said nothing. The police took from him a long range magazine pistol, which contained one empty cartridge.' A large Colt's revolver re-volver waa also taken from him, t ' |