The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-09-24
A Capital story.

oome years since, an excentric old genius.
whom for conveience we will call Barnes, was
employed by farmer living in a town some
SAX OF seven miles westerly from the Penob.
scot river, to dig well. The soil and SUBJ
stratum being mostly sand, old Barnes having
progressed downwards about forty feet found
one morning upon going out early 10 his work,
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 after they are dead, and no one
being astir, he concealed himself in rank
growth Of burdocks BY the side Of board fence
near the mouth Of the well, having first left
his hat and frock upon the MINDLESS over the
well. AT length breakfast bei-g ready boy
wasdispatched to call him to his meal, wi en-
10 it was seen that Barnes was buried in the
grave unconsciously dug by his own han ls.--
The alarm being given and the family assem-
bled, it was decided first to eat breakfast and
then send for the coroner, the minister, and
his wife and children. Such apathy did not
hatter Barnes self estee m bit, but he waited,
patiently. determined to hear what was to he
said and see wha. was IT, be seen.
Presently all parties arrived and began "pros-
pec'ing" the scene Of the catasirophy, az peo-
pie generally do in such cases At length
they drew together to exchange opinions as to
what should be done. The minister at once
gave 1t as his opinion that they had better
level up the well ani let Barnes remain :. for.n
said he, che is now beyond the temptations
to sin: and in the day of judgement il viii
make no difference whether he IS buried hve
feet under ground or forty, for he is bound to
come forth in either case. The coroner like
wise agreed that Sit would be needless ex-
psnse to hls family or the town to dsinter him
when Ee was so effectually buried" aud there
fore entirely coincided with the Cinister.--
His wife thought that as 'she had left his coat
and frock, it word be hardly worth while to
dig him out for the rest Of his clothes," ami
so it was settled 10 let him remain.
BIZ. poor old Barnes, who had no breakfast
aud was not at all pleased with the result Of
the inquest, lay qiiet un;il the sha des Of even
ing stole over the landscaps; then he quietly
decamped to parts unknown. After remain-
ing incognito for about three years, one morn
ing he suddenly appeared hatless and frockless
as he went, at the door of the farmer for whom
he agreed TO dig the unfortunate well. To say
that an avalanche of questions wasrained lp-
on him as to his mysterious re-appearance,
&C., would convey but feeble idea Of the ex-
citement which his bodily presence created
But the old man bore it all quietly, and at
length informed them that on finding himself
buried he waited for them to dig him out un-
til his patience was exhausted, when he set to
dig himself out, and only the day before had
succeeded for his ideas being confused by the
pressure Of the earth al the time he was buried.
be had dug veIy much at random, and instead
Of coming directly to ths surface he came out
in the town Of Holden six miles east OF the
Penobscot river!
No further explanation were sought for by
those who were 80 distressed and sorrowful
over his supposed final resting place.--[ Ban
gor Jeffersonian.