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The Legend of Gaucho Gil

Antonio Mamerto Gil Núñez was born sometime in the mid-1800s in the northeast of Argentina. He was a Robin Hood figure, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, until he was caught in January of 1878 and hung by his feet from a tree.

A policeman was about to slit his throat when Gaucho Gil told him: "Your son is very ill. If you pray to me to save him, he'll live. If not, he'll die". The man killed him anyway. But later he found that his child was very ill. So he prayed to Gaucho Gil and his son got better. He proclaimed it a miracle.

Gaucho Gil has reached saint-like status here and 'Gauchito' roadside shrines like this one can be seen all over Argentina.