Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-26

4 CAPITAL SToRY.-Some years since an
eccentric old genius, named Barnes, was
employed by farmer living in a town
some six or seven miles westerly Of the
PenobscOt river, Maine, to dig a well. The
soil and substratum being mostly Of sand
old Barnes, after having progressed down
ward about forty feet, found one morning
upon going to work that the we'll had eS-
sentially caved III, and was full near to
the top So, having the desire which men
have of knowing what will be said of them
when they are dead md no one being
astir, he. concealed himself in a board fence
near TIA mouth of the well, having first
left his frock and hat on the windIess OF
the we'll At length breakfast being ready,
a boy was dispatched to call him to his
meal when 10 and behold it was seen
that Barne, was buried in the grave uu-
consciously dug by his own hands. The
alarm being given, and the family assem-
bled it was decided to first eat breakfast
and then send for the coroner, the minister,
and his wife and children. Such apathy
did not hatter Barnes sef-esteem a bit,
but he waited patiently, determined TO
hear what was to be heard and what was
to be seen.
Presently all parties arrived and began
prospecting" the scene Of the catastrophe,
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 his opinion that they
had better level up the well and let Barnes
remain ''for," said he, che is b, yond the
temptation Of sin, and in the day of judg
ment it will make no difference whether he
is buried five feet under ground or fifty,
for he is bound to come forth in either case
The coroner likewise agreed that it would
be a needless expense to his family or the
rown to disinter him when he was effeetu-
allv luried and therefore conceded with the
, minister.
His wife thought as ''hc had left his hat
and frock it would hardly worth while to
dig him out for the rest Of his clothes" and
so it was decided to let him remain. But
poor old Bornes, who had 10 breakfast and
was not at all pleased with the result of
the inquest, lay quiet until the shades of
/ evening stole over the landscape, when he
| departed to parts unknown. After remain
| ing incognit0 for about three years, one
morning he suddenly appeared (hatless
| and fruckleSs as he WENT at the door of
| the old farmer for whom he had agreed to
]
dig the unfortunate well To say that an
avalanche of questions were rained upon
him as to his mysterious reappearance,et etc,
would convey bat feeble idea of the ex-
citement which his bodily presence created.
But the old man bore it quietly, and at
| length informed them, that on finding him
self buried he waited to be dug out again,
until his patience was exhausted, he set to
work 10 dig himself ont, and had only the
day before succeeded, for his ideas being
much confused he had dug very much at
random, and instead Of coming directly to
the surface, lie came out in the town of
Holden, SIX miles east Of the Penobscot
river.
No further explanations were asked for
by those who were so distressed and sor-
rowful over his supposed final resting
place.