Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-13
The cancel Gabriel.

The biography of Angel Gabriel has been
published in New York;
The name of this eccentric and perpatetc
ator is McSwish His tather was Il native of
Scotland, and was domestic in the establish
ment of the Marquis of lluntley. He married a
female domestic in the same household and with
her emgrated to the Isle of Syke, whore this pre-
cious Angel Gabriel".the fulminator of unpal-
otahle truths, first opened his eyes upon sinful
world His fortunes and wanderings have not
been untuctured with romance and tinged with
some most dsreputable "reminiscences. He was
born on the 3 of September, 1909, and is conse-
quenty IS years of age.
His mothers maiden name was Saunders and
he was chrstened Sandy McSwish. He was a
very dull lad, and instead of remaining at school,
WIS apprcnticed TO u weaver in his thirteenth
year. His mother having in the meantime be-
come widow, size married an itlnerant Baptist
preacher named Orr, whence the "Angeln not
only derived his present name, but imbibed his
singular notions of handing his name down to
posteriy. The family, in course of time left the
isle of Syke, and Orr went on preaching tour to
the Highlands, but finding the :" business" bad,
he changed his name as well his occupation,
and Wiggins he joined an equestrian
troupe. Sandy of course followed in the foot
steps of his illustrouS step-fathcr and soon dis
tinguished himself in his new calling. lie short
~ quarrelled witt the manager, however, joined
a company of acrobats, with whom he travelled o.
yer England, ana finally came to Liverpool
Here he fell in love with 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,h e
conceived the happy idea of setting his sermons
to music, and introduced for that purpose, "A tin
horn into the pulpit. Hence the origin of our
woes Having by some means fallen into dis
grace, he left his Welsh charge under cover of
night, leaving u few debts behind, and taking in
exchange the pewter tankard. which had been en-
ployed in the church saeraments, and and with
his trumpet he commenced his wandcrings.
Embracing cook ON board Bristol vessel
he first landed at jamaica IN the West Indies,
were he resumed his functions of s'stated preach
ing" But n the Baptist denominati IN was here
more populous and numerous than his former
sect, he left the Methodist and came out deep
ly immersed Baptist lie left Jamaica, and next
started dancing school in small village during
which he first heard Of the 1ourishng Mormon
settlement AT Nauyoo in Illinois. and Immediate
ly determined to push his fortunes in that direc.
ton. He arrived in Philudclaha just at the pc
Rod OF the Native American excitement there
and concealing his origin and antecedents, and
being dashing, spirited fellow. he was soon an
acknowledged leader, finally becoming the editor
OF a nativist paper. lie gave up all idea of fol-
lowing Joe Smth.as the harvest here was already
ripe Tor the reaper. He came to New York, had
just money enough to purchase a brass horn which
HI has continued TO blow until his name has fill
ed the earth.
The particulars of this strange biography are
related by one who was born in the same town
with the angel Gabriel" and he is quite as much
astonished at his success and notoriety as any one
lie always wears his trumpet, frequently rides