The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-01-13
4 Man or Years.

Man or Years.
'.Auero Largo" or aLong Hide. = ac-
cording to the English derivation Of the
Spanish word, burned himself to death
at the Real del Castillo, Lower Califor-
MIA, on Thursday night, December 14th.
For some time the old Indian had been
feeble and unable to walk. During the
recent heavy rains that fell in that re-
gion, the Jold man sought refuge in a
cabin near by. Last week he crawled up
to the house OF Senior Francisco Parma
and told him he was very hungry. The
latter gave him q good dinner, besides
furnishing provisions for future emer-
gencies, and then instructed the other
Indians at the rancherio to care for him.
They replied that they had always done
SO. as they entertained unusual rever-
ence for the old man on account of his
age. Thursday, the date in question,
was cold day in Lower California. and
"Long Hide" was given an extra
blanket by his dusky friends. This he
soon tore into strips, put them on fire,
and soon his sstepee" or brush house
was all ablaze. When this had been ac-
complished, despair for the moment
seeming to seize him, he plunged head
long into the burning mass.
A stout young Indian near by seized
him and tried to drag him out of danger,
but the old man grabbed stake in the
ground near by, held himself In the fire.
and before other help could come. was
literally roasted alive, diving within q
few hours after the occurrence men,
toned. .'Long Hide" was married and
the father of several children when the
Mission of San Diego was built, 40
years ago, and from what he told parties
who visited him he must lave been not
less than thirty years of age at the time.
Three or four years ago no lost son
who could remember when the Mission
was first built by the, Franciscan friars.
This son must have been not less than
120 years of age. ''Long Hide" told of
before the Mission was built; Of the
coming of ships for water at Russian
Springs and many things of great inter-
est in the past history of San Diego and
vicinity. !.
Juan Melandrez, who lives near the
Real de Castillo, says he knew Long
Hide fifty years ago, and that he ap.
peared then nearly as old
4hen as he did when he
died. He says that the old man fre-
quently beat the best horses owned in
the country on trips to San Diego, one
hudered miles distant from the Real and
that he often chased deers until they
gave up with fatigue He would then
capture them after they had laid down to
rest. Until year ago he was able to
walk about and travel quite we'll. Since
then he has been obliged to crawl about
on all fours like cat or dog He re-
tanned his sight perfectly and all the fac
ulties of mind up to the day he died.
For twenty five years he has refused to
speak any Spanish to reveal any
secrets of the country or of those living
in it. When asked to do so, he only re-
piled, ST know too much of those who
live. To the writer of this he said not
ten days ago, ST know much, I tell
nothing. I am very hungry, am too
old, I am going home. IF you knew all
know, the country would be excited. I
shall soon rest, and not be hungry or
tired any more" When asked if he
knew of the "Lost Nine which the
Frenchmen worked, the old "Benedini
Mine," and of the silver mine near
the Real del Castillo, from which such
rich float silver ore has lately been
found, he replied: eyes, know all, but
I tell nothing-only this, they all exist
and can be found, but never have been
since they were left. It is believed, if
not well known, that he knew just where
these mines are to be found, and the old
Indians assertion that they do exist has
awakened new interest in these mat
ters Countinp the wears he lived
before the old mission of San Diego was
built he must have been at least one
hundred and fifty years old, if in fact,
not much older. Senor San Francisco
Parma took great interest in the old
man, and often fed him when hungry.
George J. Bowron, the representative of
the Engligh capitalists, s. w. Murphy,
the mechanical engineer of the San Mic
olas mine, and Colonell D. K. Allen.
visited the old man, and took a great
interest in him. The old Indian is dead,
but could he have told his story of this
part of California, no doubt many secrets
would have been revealed which now
are as q sealed book. When the old
man was told that q railroad had been
run into San Diego, through Old Town,
and that within twelve months the cars
would run to the Real del Castillo, he
said:
"Now am ready to die. have lived
long enough. My people will soon oil
follow. / am tired and want to rest from
hunting. - San Diego Sun.