The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-01
4 JOURNEY "DOWN EAST"

We have heard of journeying through the
Ped Sea--drearv wanderings in intermna-
BILE deserts-long travels round the world,
and even of a run to Ohio, through mud that
covered both poney and rider up to the
shirt collar; but never in our lives have we
heard Of any thing to match late Jolrney
of gentleman, whom we shall denomlnate
Dickey Oliver, =" Down East"
Dickey was famous well-diggcr, some
where (but no matter about partlcniars) III
tile western part Of this good State OF Maine;
and undertook, as he supposed, at a most
advantageous bargain, to dig well Tor for-
ty-hve dollars. Having laboured with mucn
assiduitv till he arrived at the depth oil
nearly fifty feet, with a fairprospect or soon
completing his job, Dickey asoended TO
these upper regions to look for little ele0-
en- o'clock, and had but just effected his cs-
zane when. alas, in caved the sides OF his
wen and filed it fifteen feet, at least, with
another solid mass. Dickey looked over the
edge, groancd, scratched his head, and tor q
moment pondered in the bitterness OF hi,
! heart, half murmuring out a curse on his
cruel stars, for thus doubling his (at BEST
too heavy task; but probably never once
thought of feeling grateful to Il kind proHi-
dence for his almost miraculous escape from
instant death. Looking around, however
he saw his coat and hat lying near the mar
gin Of the well, and 1. thought struck HIM
chat il he should '@clear out" as the say
ing IS, his friends and neighbours woalts soon
discover the situation of the well, and sec
ING his coat and hat where he had lett them
when he descended, would no doubt consid-
:, er him buried under the mass that had fail'
ell, and with one consent would JON TO dis
him out aud thus clear the well. 30 thought
SO determined, and away goes DicScv
without coat or hat, not to another world
but to another part of this. he affair Q
the wells caving III was soon known IN the
neirhborhood, and as might be eXpectet
all were soon gathered around the tearfu
gulph. that, Gas they supposedly had closet
upon Dickey with a dreadful vengeance
After the first surprise and silence was past
one and another ventured an observation
, about poor Dickey's lot. "Poor man T.
is no doubt dead" "Eiow he must hav
felt when he saw the whole earth aoov
, falling in upon him p But it Is all owe
now" The relatives seemed to be quit
; calm. and it was at length seriously agitate
whether they should dig out the body. Som
were in favour of that measure; but by sus
: restion of relative that it was no use io
! he was already well buried, they finally dc
4
i his bones to minsle with the gloomy depth
i in which they were coniined. The part'cu
!, lars Of the case soon travelled in the shap
g of news to the place OF <Dickcy's retrea
who was so mortified at the result, that h
kept himself o,st of hearing for hiatt ye"
n being ashamed To return home. AT las
+ however he thought ofan answer to inqu
f rcs, which would be p'yed quickly to h
q ears, on his first appearance above grount
= and with that he resolved to make ventur
# Dickey accordingly returned, and after
J, little surprise excited in his neighbours /
i. the unexpected arrival, they began to II
quire how he managed to get out, intormif
lin of their conclusion to let him rcma
where he had buried himself "Aye, ay
:, says Dickey, knew that very well, for
!, waited till ! found you had abandoned m
: and then went to work myself to dig on
!, but missing my direction, had rather
y long job of it, and lately came out down
!, Somerset county, about fifty miles ito
~ the starting point-Beat that!