The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-22
BIG GABRIEL SALES.
HE WAS A MIGHTY MAN IN TALLNESS
AND STRENGTH.
How He Fel1ed IN Ok With n Blow.
From His Fist and Scared Away O
New York PrizefiEhter-His Queer
Mode of Burial to Cheat the Devil.

Mode of Burial to Cheat the Devil.
On the Talbot county "Debt Book
For Quit Claims Michaelmas, 1866"
made by Colonel Edward Tilghman fo-
Henry Hollyday, Esq. representing the
interests of the late lord proprietor
showing what was due on quit claims
on that date, appears the following en-
try: Gabriel Sailes-Rich Range, 800
acres, Gs 3D. DELPHI, 100 acres, 2s. Cd
These farms were in what is now and
was probably then called Oxford Neck
on the left hand side of the public road
from Hamblcton to Oxford, in a pretty
and rich agricultural section Since
Sailes' day among other owners Of the
land was John Leeds Kerr some time
United States senator
Of course no one living ever saw
Gabriel Sales or ever saw any ono
that did see him. He left no descend
ants, and as far as is known to the mar
rator or to the people he has talked
with there is no one of his kindred liv
ing. But his name is as we'll known to
this generation as that of any of his
contemporaries-b known than
nearly all of them. The stories told
about him and the traditions attaching
to the'place keep his name in remem-
brance
He was mighty man in tallness and
strength, measuring we are told, feet
S inches in height. and of splendid
physical and muscular development.
Many stories are told of his feats Of
strength the best of which is this: The
fame of this powerful man had gone
far abroad 1t had even reached New
York city, where exaggerated stories of
his feats and prowess had been told
among men who considered they were
something of giants themselves. The
most notorious pugilist in the country
at that time was big and powerful
New Yorker named Garth. or Goerth
He was man of science in the pu-
gilistic art, had whipped many man
and had never been bested himself He
heard so much about Gabriel Sales and
what he could do that he got mad and
determined to find him and whip him.
One hog killing day in November a
stranger rode up to the Sailes house
care you Mr.. Gabriel Sailes?" he de-
manded Eyes What II We have?" said
the eastern shore man to the New York
er, and he was not bit startled at the
ter'sreply. "My names Garth I am
fighting man from New York. l have
heard of you as fighter. and I have
come all the way down here to whip
you'll"
"All right" said the eastern shore
man, "wait a minute until kill this
beef In those days. and frequently in
these, it was the custom to wind up the
proceedings of hog killing day by
slaughtering beef for Christmas. The
animal this time was big OK. He was
brought up in front of Sailes who
struck him between the eyes with his
right fist and knocked him down. After
cutting the ox's jugular he turned
about to announce to the New Yorker
that he was ready to accommodate him.
but that worthy was riding rapidly out
the lane, on his way back to New York.
1t is not related of him that he was
particularly cruel to his slaves. But he
must have been pranky with them. 1t
is told that when they asked "Mas'
Gabriel for q holiday he would ex-
claim: Holiday, ye black rascalsl
Yes, ye shall have holiday" and would
then compel them to climb up on top
the barn and sit straddle of the roof
ridge all day. Twenty years ago a gen
tleman, then 70 years old, told the mar
rator that his father, when small boy,
had seen the negroes sitting a-straddle
the top of Gabriel Sales barn like SO
many crows.
But the most singular freak of this
most extraordinary man was connected
with his death and burial. He had his
coffin made while yet alive. 1t was
made of two inch white oak stuff, cut
and sawed in the midnight hours in a
grove of white oaks ON q headland called
the Devils Keep The coffin was open
at both ends. He directed-the writing
is still extant-that "a jug Of whisky
be placed in one end of the coffin and a
plug Of tobacco in the other so that if
the devil comes in at either end he will
stop to take a chaw or drink. and
will get out at the other. .
Most fantastic notion, but it is said
that it was done for the purpose of
showing what he thought of rum and
tobacco, of which he used to say, "They
are part of the devils diet and not fit
for white men to use In the early
part of this century the grave was open
ed through the curiosity of some skep-
tical people, who affected to disbelieve
the story The thick oak coffin was
there. both ends of it were open, and
in one end was a jug. a record of the
fact and the findings was made at the
time. Another Of the fantastic direc-
tions was that the grave should be dug
north and south instead of east and
west and a holly tree planted at each
end. This was done The hollies are liv-
ing yet-big venelablc trees. He died
about 1850.
Whoever writes the biographical an
nails OF Talbot county and leaves out
mention Of this remarkable man leaves
his work incomplete These are a few
of the stories and anecdotes, scme seri-
ous some comical. tradition keeps alive
from generation TO gcncration The