Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 4/Gabe Acquin
Gabe Acquin
O many of our readers to whom the name of Gabe, the Sachem of the Abenakis, has been familiar for many years, the news that he has gone to the happy hunting grounds will be learned with regret. He passed away at the Indian reserve on Wednesday, the 2nd of October, after the article upon the Indians of Acadia, in which reference is made to him, and which appears in the first portion of this number of Acadiensis, had been off the press.
He was the veteran Indian guide and trapper, the leader of his tribe, and had, in his day, been the associate, for the time being, of many famous men.
Gabe had been in failing health for some time, and at his decease must have been about ninety years of age.
The following interesting reminiscence from the pen of Mr. E. J. Payson, has just appeared in one of our provincial dailies, from which we take the liberty of re-publishing it:
The death of Gabe Acquin, "Sachem Gabe," has set loose a flood of memories of the doings and sayings of the aged Indian, and many are the stories and anecdotes being related about him.
It may not be generally known that the only time that King Edward Seventh of England was upon the water in a birch bark canoe was on the St. John river at Fredericton in company with Gabe, because the story has not heretofore appeared in print: but such is the well authenticated fact. As Gabe's best friends well knew he was not given to boasting, yet he occasionally mentioned to intimates and with evident pride that he had taken the Prince canoeing, and he treasured in fond remembrance the kindliness of the young Prince, and the boyish mischievousness of the present King, as shown in the following anecdote.
When the Prince of Wales visited Fredericton, about forty years ago, he arrived on Saturday and spent Sunday here. Early on Sunday morning Gabe, then in his prime and a general favorite at Government House, left his wigwam at St. Mary's and boarding his canoe, built by himself of bark stripped by his own hands off the stately birches, swiftly paddled up river to Government House landing for the purpose, as Gabe afterward expressed it. "jus' to look aroun'." It was about nine o'clock when Gabe paddled slowly past Government House and who should be seen on the terrace back of the house but the young Prince himself, enjoying the cool morning air, the beautiful view of the river, and a before breakfast cigar.
The Prince, who was of course unknown to Gabe, who was dressed out in his most fantastic garb, hailed the Indian and asked him to come ashore. The Prince evinced a lively interest in the canoe and asked Gabe many questions about its construction and uses, and finally expressed a wish to have a short sail in the, to him, novel craft, a request which Gabe gladly complied with.
Scarcely had they put off from the landing when the Duke of Newcastle, who accompanied the Prince, and exercised a very strict watch over him, appeared upon the river bank and called upon the occupants of the canoe to return at once to the shore. The Prince, in an undertone, asked Gabe to pay no attention to the old fellow, meaning the Duke, but to keep on, and Gabe plied the paddle with such effect that they were soon out of call from the shore.
Gabe took his Royal visitor across the river and a short distance up the beautiful Nashwaaksis, and the Prince thoroughly enjoyed his first, and, probably, only trip in a birch bark canoe, and Gabe in relating the story would say "an' he not one bit 'fraid."
When Gabe was asked if the Prince gave him anything for disobeying the Duke of Newcastle's command he would say, "I got some gold," and more than this he would not say.
Gabe Acquin.
Died Oct. 2nd, 1901.Aged 90 years.
The writer regrets that the short space of time at his disposal prevents a more extended reference to this worthy brother. He has in his possession some interesting anecdotes and reminiscences, in many of which Gabe played a prominent part, and hopes, at no very distant date, to be able to publish an interesting and readable account of his life and character.
With his demise has passed away one of the connecting links between Fredericton as it was half a century ago then a British garrison town and as it is to-day.