Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-04-10
OLD GABRIEL.
The Indian VINO Dtcd Ian California
Recently After n Century nnd "A
Hatf OF HnIe.

Tho Indian VINO Dtcd Ian California
Recently Alter n Century nnd n
Haif OF LlIo.
Old Gabriel, says the San Francisco
CtroniciS, was one Of the most remark
able characters on the coast. 80 far rs
can be learned by tradition he was born
about the year lT40, though there is no
record OF his birth, aud even in the early
days when California was still the rowing
ground Of the Mission Indians, around
whom SO many romanoss have been built,
Gabriel was too aged for tho old men of
the time to remember his childhood. As
venerable chief, who died few years
ago at the age Of lilo, put 1t, "Gabriel
was al old man when the Indians OF his
age were atlll boys"
The story Of the old follows life is in
teresting, chiefly on account OF the length
Of years it covered, and not by reason OF
valorcus deed or relentless warfare. lie
was on the whole peaceable creature,
igr GRANT and faithful.
The story of his life has been handed
down among the Franciscan missionaries,
who came into California more than
century ago, and when Father Junipero
arrived in Monterey in 1863 Gabriel, then
q grandfather, was among the | tile band
who received him. The missionary took
an interest in the man, who was at the
time q strapping fellow Of six ieet, and
not long after baptized him and guided
him into the Catholic iS,th. He worked
for the church, oonscieptiously continu-
| ing his deVotiops until few years since,
and one of the few things which daring
his last days brought back tine old light IN
Gabfiers dim eyes was the msnt,on OF
Father Junipero's name.
Il drew ont from him Al brok n
Spanish the story of Father Junipsro's
first mass under treo, and the building
of the Oarmelo mission of adobe, its OBJ
liberation, and its reconstruction in stone,
much OF which was cut by old Gabrieps
own hands. His services were also de-
msnded during the building of the Sole
dad and San Antonio missions in 1871.
From that time on his life seems to
have been unusually quiet, and though
Father Sorrentine made q search CT the
records and gathered together all the
current stories of the remarkable fellow,
little of q sensational nature ever came
to light, though his great age was clearly
established. Gabriel lived in Monterey
for years, but towards the close of his
career he was q familiar figure on the
streets OF Salinas, we'll known for hit
love Of bright colors, with which hi!
clothes were patched from shoulder to
shoe.
His personal habits were worthy cul
tured white man, and to them no doub
was partially due his long life. His foot
was of the simplest character and hi
practices model CT regularity. He pnit
particular attention 20 bathing, and, a
old age and circumstances deprived hin
of the means Of attending to this custom
in lieu OF bath he scrspsd his skin with
an old knife, thus keepingthe pores open
There are come old residents Of tn,
county who we'll remember the sweat
house that old Gabriel had on the bapl
Of creek where he lived many years agt
and the persistency with which it wa
used.
his memory up to five oE six years age
was very good, and was equal to what |
had been for the so years preceding, bu
since then, and more particularly durinl
the last two years, it gradually failed, o
did his speech.
! The Indians all attribute GsbrieT
longevity to his having baen the first Il
/ submit to the priests baptism. They
i looked upon him with great reverence
aud even to white men he was remark
/ s5le character, for had George Washing
t ton lived he would have been scRroel
older, and in ell modern history Their
are few such cases as that Of the old, ig
r norAnt Missouri Indian Gabriel.