Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-08
A MAN OF YEARS
Suieide of tha Oldest Human
BEING in ihe World.

Suieide of tha Oldest Human
BEING I'm the World.
san Diego Sun.
"Auero Largo" or Long Hide"
according TO the English derivation Of
the Spanish word, burned himself to
death at the Rea del Castillo, Lower
California, on Thursday night, Dec.
Ia. For sometime the old Indian
had been feeble and unable to walk.
During the recent heavy rains that
fell in that region the old man sought
reluge in a cabin near by. List week
he craWled up to the house Of Senior
Francisco Parma and told him be was
very hungry. The latter gave him a
good dinuer. besides furnishing pro.
visions for future emergencies, aud
then instructed the other Indians at
the rancheira to care for him. They
rerlied that they had always done SO,
az they entertained unusual reverence
for the old man on account Of bis age.
Thursday, the date 10 question, was
a cold day in Lower California, aud
Long Hide" was given an extra
blanket By bis dusky friends. This
he so0n tore into strips, put them on
the FIRE and soon bis "tepee, or brush
house was all ablazs When this had
been accomplished despair for the mo
nent seeming to seize him, he plunged
headlorg into the burning mass.
A stout young Indian neal BY seized
him and tried to drag him out Of
danger, but the old gar grabbed a
stake 10 the ground near by, held
himself in the FIRE, and before other
help could come, was literally roasted
alive, dying within a few hours alter
the occurrence mentioned. Long
Hide was married and the father OF
several children when the mission Of
San Deigo was built, 100 years ago,
aud from what he told parties who
visited him. he must have been not
less than thirty years Of age at the
time. Three or four years ago he lost
a son who could remember when the
mission was 6rst built by the Fracis-
can friars. This son must have been
not less than 40 years Of age. Long
Hide" told Of the first settlement OF
Old Town years before the mission
was built; OF the coming Of ships for
water at Russian Springs. and macy
things of great interest in the past
history OF San Deigo and vicinity.
Juan Melendrez, who lives near the
Real del Castillo, says be kneW"Long
Hide" fifty years ago, and that he
appeared nearly as old then az the
week before he died lie says that
the old mar frequently beat the best
horses owned in the country on trips
- San Diego, one hundred miles dis
taut from the Reaf, and that be often
chased deers until they gave up with
fatigue He would then capture them
after they bad laid down to rest. Uutil
= year ago he was able to walk about
aud travel quite well. Since then he
has been Obliged TO crawl about on all
fours like . cat or dog. He retained
his sight perfectly and all the fscul
ties OF mind up 10 the day he died
For twenty Eve years he had re
fused to speak Spanish or to reveal
soy secrets Of the country or Of those
living 10 it. When asked to do 80 he
Only replied: II know too much
OF those who live" To the writer
Of this he said not ten days ago: II
know much, | tell nothing | am very
hungry, | an too old, | am going
home. II you knew all l know the
country would be excited. | shall
o 0 rest, and not be hungry or tired
any more" When asked If he knew
Ofthe "LostMine' which the French.
man worked, Of the old "Bendini
Mine" aud OF the silver mine near the
Real del Castillo. from which such
rich float silver ore has lately been
found, he replied: Yes. l know ali.
but | tell nothing-only this, thew
all exist, and can be found, but never
have been, since they we're left 1t
Is believed, If not well known, that he
knew just where these mines are 10
be found, and the old Indians asser
tion that they do exist has aWsk
eucd a Eew interest In these
matters. Counting the years be lived
before the old Mission Of San Diego
was built. he must have been
at least 100 years old. IT, in fact. not
much older. Senior Francisco Parmo
took a great interest in the old man
and often fed him When hungry.
George } Bowron, the representative
Of the English capitalists: s. w.
Murphy, the mechanical engineer Of
The San Nicolas mine, and Colonel
ID. Q. Allen visited the old man and
took a great interest in him. The old
Indian is dead, but could he have
told his own story OF this part of Cali
iornia, as well as the northern part OF
kaJa California, no doubt MANY A..
crets would have been revealed which
are now as a sealed book. When inc
Oldham was told that a railroad had
been built 10 San Diego aud through
Old Town, and hal in twelve month";
the cars would run to the Real All
Castillo, he said. Nov | am ready
to die. | have lived long enough.
My people will soon all follow. lam
tired, and want to rest from huntineD
nnN,T nor a.,