Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-06-13
Old Gabriel.


markaole characters on the coast. So
far as can be learned by tradition, he
was born about 1740; though there is
no record of his birth, and even in the
early days when California was still tho
rowing ground of the Mission Indians,
around whom so many romsnces have
been built. Gabriel was too aged foI
the old men of the time to remember
his childhood. AS a venerable chief,
who died few years ago at the age
of 115, put it, 'Gabriel was an old
man when the Indians of his age were
still boys"
The story of the old fellows life is
Interesting, chiefly OH account of the
length of years it covered, and not by
reason of valorous deeds or relentless
warfare. He was on the whole {
peaceable creature ignorant and faith
full.
The story of his life has been hand.
ed down among the Franciscan mis-.
sionarics, who came into California
more than a century ago, and when
Father Junipero arrived in Monterey
in 1869 Gabriel, then grandfather,
was among the little band who receiv-
ed him. The missionary took an in
terest in the man, who was at the time
a strapping fellow of six feet and not
long after baptized him and guided
him into the Catholic faith. He
worked for the Church, conscientiously
continuing his dcvotions until few
years since, and one of the few things
which during his last days brought
back the old light in Gabriel's dim
eyes was the mention of Father Juni-
pero's name.
1t drew out from him in broken
Spanish the story of Father Junipero's
first mass under a tree, nd the build
ing of the Carmelo mission of adobe,
its obliteration, and its reconstruction
in stone, much of which was cut by
old GabrieIs own hands. His services
were also demanded during the build
ing of the Soledad and San Antonio
missions in 1901.
From that time on his life seems to
have been unusually quiet, and though
Father Sorrentine made a search of
the records and gathered together all
the current stories of the remarkable
fellow, little of a sensational nature
ever came to light, though his great
age was clearly established. Gabriel
lived in Monterey for years, but toward
the close of his career he was familiar
figure on the streets of Salinas, we'll
known for his love of bright colors,
with which his clothes were patched
from shoulder to shce.
His personal habits were worthy a
Cultured white man, and to them no
doubt, was due his long life. His
food was of the simplest character
and his practises model of regularity.
He paid particular attention to bathing
and, as old age and circumstances de-
prived him of the means of attending
to this custom, in lieu of his bath he
scraped his skin with an old knife,
thus keeping the pores open. There
are some old residents of the county
who well remember the sweathouse
that old Gabriel had on the bank of a
creek where he lived many years ago
and the persistency with which it was
used.
His memory up to about five or six
years ago was very good and and was
equal to what it had been for the fifty
years preceding; but since that, and
more particularly during the last two
years, it gradually failed, as did his
speech.
The Indians all attribute GabriePs
longevity to his having been the first
to submit to the priests baptism.
They looked upon him with great rev.
erence, and even TO white men he was
remarkable character, for had George
Washington lived he would have been
scarcely older, and in all modern his
tory there are few such cases as that
of the old, ignorant Mission Indian
Gabriel.-San Francisco Chronicle.
Keep Eggs Out Of the Refrigerator.