The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-08-20
Capital Story.

Some years since, an eccentric old gentleman,
whom, for convenience, we will call Barnes, was
employed by farmer living in town six or
seven IN les westerly from the Peno5scot river,
To dig well. The soil and subtratum being
mostly sand oil Barnes after having progressed
downward about forty feet found that the well
had essentially caved in and was full nearly to
the top. So having that desire, which men
have. OF knowing what will be said of them al
ter they are dead, and no ole bsing yet astir, he
concealed hims If in a rank growth of burdocks
by the side OF board fence near the mouth of
the WELL having first left his hat aud frock upon
the windlass over the WILL, Al length break
fast being ready, boy was dispatched to call him
10 his meul, when 10! it was seen that Barnes was
buried IN the grave unconscously dug by his
own hands. The alarm being given anil the
family assembled, it was decided first to eat
breakfast and then send for the coroner tn.
minister and his wife and children. Such apathy
did not fiatter Barnes self-esteem bit but he
waited patiently, determined to hear what was
to be said and see what was to b. seen.
Presently all parties arrived and began "pros.
pectlng the scene oil the cltastroph as people
usually do In such cases. At length they drew
together to exchange opinions as to what should
be done. The minister at once gave it as his
opinion that they had better level up the well
and let Barnes remain: for" says he, " he is
now beyond the temptation of sin; and in the
day of judgement it will make no difference
whether he is buried five fee under the ground or
fifty, for he is bound 10 come forth in either
case" The coroner likewise agreed that i,
would be a needless expense to his family or the
town TO dlsnter him when he wasso elfec,uaIly
buried, and therefore entirely coincled with the
minister. His wife thought that as ''he had LET,
his hat and frock, it would be hardly worth
whlie TO dig him out for the rest of his clothes :;
and so 1t was settled to let him remain.
But poor old Barnes, who had no breakfast
ana was not at all pleased with the result of the
inquest, laid quiet until the shades of eveninq
stole over the landscape; then he quietly de,
camped to parts unknown. After remaining IN,
eognit0 Tor about three years, one morning he
suddenly appeared (hatless and frockIess as h.
went) at the door of the farmer for whom he
had agreed to dig the unfortunate we'll. To say
that an avalanche OF questions were rained upon
him as TO his mysterious disappearance &c
would convey but feeble idea of the excite
ment which his bodily presence created. But
the old man bore it all quietly, and at Length
informed them that on finding himself buried n,
waited Tor them to dig him out, until his pa
Iience was exhausted, when he set TO work :,
dig himself out, and only the day before hat
succeeded TO, his i,leas being confused bv m,
pressure OF the earth at the tim, he was bnried
ne had dug very much at random, and insea,
OF coming directly TO the surface he came out !,
the town oil Holden sir miles east of the Peaob
acct riUer. -...H. -...
No further explanations were sought for b,
those who were so distressed and sOrrowfnl ove
ms supposed fnal resting lace.-Baago Jefer
eQaign,