The Greenville times., 1890-05-03
OLD GABRIEL.
The Indian Who Died In California Aftel
Century ana a Half or Life.
lSan Francisco Chronicle.l


Old Gabriel was one of the most re-
markable characters on the coast. So
far as can be learned by tradition be
was born about l74O, though there is
no record of his birth, and even in the
early days when California was still
the rowing ground of the Mission In
dians, around whom so many romances
have been built, Gabriel was too aged
for the old men of the time to remem-
Der his childhood. AS venerable
chief, who died few years ago at the
age of lis, 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 on account of the
length of years it covered, and not by
reason OF valorous deeds or relentless
warfare. He was on the whole a
peaceable creature, ignorant and faith
ful.
The story Of his life has been handed
down among the Franciscan missiona-
ries, who came to California more than
century ago, and when Father Jlni-
pero arrived in Monterey, in 1863
Gabriel, then grandfather, was among
the little band who received him. The
missionary took an interest in the man
who was at the time strapping fel.
low Of six feet, and not long after bap.
tized him and guided him into the
Catholic faith. He worked for the
church, conscientiously continuing his
devotions 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 th,
mention of Father Junipero's name.
1t drew out from him in broker
Spanish the story of Father Junipero';
first mass under tree, and the build
ing Of the Carmelo mission of adobe
its obliteration and its reconstruction
in stone, much of which was cut b.
old \Gabriers own hands. His services
were also demanded during the build
ing of the Soledad and San Antonio
missions in 1891.
From that time his life seems to hav,
been unusually quiet, and although
Father Sorrentine made search of tn
records and gathered together all th
current stories Of the remarkable fel
low, little of sensational nature eve
came to light, though his great az
was clearly established. Gabriel live,
in Monterey for years, but toward tn
close of his career he was familia
figure on the streets of Salinas, wei
known for his love of bright colori
with which his clothes were patchc,
from shoulder to shoe.
His personal habits were worthy
cultured white man, and to them n
doubt was partially due his long life
His food was of the simplest characte
aud his practices a model of regularity
lie paid particular attention to bathing
and as old age and circumstances dc
prived him Of the means of ATTENDING
to this custom, in lieu of his bath h
scraped his skin with an old knif'
thus keeping his pores open. Their
are some old residents of the count
who well remember the sweathous
that old Gabriel had on the bank of
creek where he liyed many years age
aud the perslstency with which II wa
used.
, His memory up to about five or 81
years ago was very good and wa
J equal to what 1t had been for the flft
years preceding, but since then, an
} more particularly during the last tw
years, it gradually failed, as did hi
; speech.
The Indians all attribute Gabriel
longevity to his having been the fir
to submit to the priests baptism. The
looked upon him with great reverenc
and even TO white men he was r.
markable character, for had Georl
| Washington lived he would have bee
!. scarcely older, and in all modern hi
Q tory there are few such cases as th,
: of the old, ignorant Mission India
: Gabriel