Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-11-21
How he dug Himself out.

Some years since an eccentric old gen
JUS whom for convenience we will caliBarn-
les, was employed by a farmer living in a
town some six or seven miles westerly from
he Penobscot river, to dig a well. The
soil and snbstratum being mostly sand, old
Barnes, after haviig progressed downward
about forty feet, found one morning
upon going out early to his work, that the
well had essentially caved in, and was full
to the top. So, having that desire which
some men have, OF knowing what will be
said of them after they are dea |, and no
one yet being astir, he concealed himself
in a rank growth of burdocks by the side
Of a board fence near the mouth of the
we'll. AT length, breakfast being ready a
boy was despatched to call him to his meal
when 10! it was seen that Barnes was bur
led in the grave uuconsciously dug by his
own hands. The alarm being gwen, and
the family assembled, it was decided first
to eat breakfast, and then send for the cor
oner, the minister, and his wife and chill
dren. Such apathy did not fatter the self
esteem of Barnes a bit, but he waited pa
t%tiently, determined to hear what was to be
Fdone.
Presently, all parties arrived, and began
I'prospecting' the scene of the catastrophy,
~ people usually do in such cases. AT
length, they drew together. to exchange
Opinions as to what should be done. The
minister al once gave his opinion that they
had better level up the well, and let
Barnes remain: .for," said he, she is be
iyond temptation to sin; and iii the day oil
Judgment it will make no difference wheth-
er he be buried five feet under ground or fiji
te, for he is bound TO arise and come forth
lin either case" The coroner likewise a
greeed in the case that sit would be d
needless expense to his family or the town
10 disinter him, when lie was so eifectually
buried and therefore conceded with The
minister. His wife thought that as he has
lief hi- hat and frock, it woHld hardly be
worth while to dig him our for the rest o
his clothes" and 0 i. was settled TO lei
him remain.
But poor old Barnes, who had no break
fast and was not all pleased with the resul
of the inquest, lay quiet until the SHADE
of evening stole over the landscape, ther
he quietly deeamped to parts unknown
After remaining incoga5to for about three
wears, one morning he suddenly appeare.
(hatlass and trockless as he went at The
!oor of the farmer for whom he had agreed
o dig the unfortunate we'll. 70 say tina
an avalanche Of questions were ralnei up
on him as to his mysterious re-appeaiance
hc., would convey but a feeble IDEA Of The
excitement which his bodily presence crea-
ted. But the old man bore 1t all quietIy,an
ut length informed them, that, on fiuling
himself buried, he waited for them to dig
him out, until his patience was exhausted
and he set 70 dig himself out, aad only the
lGay before had succeeded fos, his idea
being confused by the pressure OF the earth
ut the time he Nas buried, he had dug
very much at random, and instead Of com
inc directly 10 the surface, he came out in
the town Of Holden, six miles east of The
Peno!scot river!
No further explanation was sought.