Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-26
The "Angei Gabriel"

The biography of CANCEL Gabriel mas
been published in New York:
The name of this eccentric and perlpate!ic
orator is McSwish. His father was ma
tive of Scotland, and was domestic IN the
establishment of the Marquis of HuntIy.-
He married female domestic IN the same
household, and with her emigrated to the
Isle of Syke, where this precious "Angel
GabrIel'-the fulminator of unpalatable
truths. first opened his eyes upon a sinful
world. His fortunes and wanderings have
not been uninctured with romance and ting
ed with some most disreputable reminiscent
ces. He was born on the Sd Of Septem-
Der, 1909, and is consequently 45 years OF
age.
His mothers maiden name was Saun-
ders, and he was christened Sandy NC
Swish He was a very dull lad, and IN
stead Of remaining at school, was appren-
ticed to a weaver IN his thirteenth year.-
His mother having IN the mean time become
widow, she married an itinerant Baptist
preacher named Orr, whence the "Angel
not only derived his present name, but i'm
bbed his singular notions of handing his
name down to posterity. The family, in
course of time left the Isle of Syke. and
Orr went on a preaching tour to the High
lands, but finding the "buSlness" bad, he
changed his name as well as his occupa-
ton, and as one Virgins, he joined an e.
questrian troupe. Sand of course followed
in the foot steps of his illu~trious ssPp-ia-
thrr, and soon distinguished himself in his
Ia lnI
the manager, however, joined a company OF
acrobats, with whom he travelled over Eng
land, and finally came to Liverpool. Here
he fell in love with a wine merchants
daughter with whom he went TO Wales,
where they were married. In Wales, he
first set up as preacher Of the Methodist
persuasion but his hearers soon growing
weary of his discourses, he conceived the
happy idea of setting his sermons to music
aud introduced for that purpose, a tin horn
into the pulpit. Hence the origin of our
woes Having by some means fallen into
disgrace, he left his Welsh charge under
cover of night. leaving a few debts behind
and taking in exchange pewter tankard,
which had been employed in the church sa-
craments, and with his trumpet he com
menced his wanderlngs.
Embarking as cook on board Bristol
vessel he first landed at Jamaica, in the
West Indies, where he resumed his iunc-
ton of 'stated preaching" But as the Bap-
list denomination was here more populous
and numerous than his former sect, he left
the Methodist, and came out deeply i'm
mersed Baptist. He left Jamaica, and next
started dancing school in small village
during which he first heard of the flourish
ING Mormon settlement at Nauvoo, in Hi
nois, and Immediately determined to push
his fortunes in that direction. He arrived
IN Philadelphia just al the period OF the Ma
tive American excitement there, and con-
cealng his origin and anteceGents, and be-
ins dashing, spirited fellow, he soon was
an acknowledged leader, finally becoming
the editor of a naiviSt paper. He gave up
all ideas of following Joe Smith, as the har
vest here was already ripe for the reaper.
He came to New York, had just money e.
uoush to purchase a brass horn which he
has continued to blow until his name has
filed the earth.
The particulars of this strange biography
are related by one who was born in the
same town with the CANCEL Gabriel y and
he is quite as much astoniShed at his sue
cess and notorety as any one. He always
wears his trumpet, frequently rides ON the
tops of omnibuses, and blows for the amuse-
ment of drivers.