Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-04-23
Established December 18th, 1850.
A Capital Story.


Some years since, an eccentric
old genius, whom for convenience
sake call him Barnes was employ
ed by.a a farmer living in a town
some six or seven miles westerly
from the Penobscot river, to dig
! well. The soil and substratum
being mostly sand, old Barnes, af-
ter having progressed downward
about forty feet found one morning
upon going out early to work,
that the we'll 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 yet astir, he concealed
himself in rank growth of bur-
docks, by the side of a fence near
the mouth of well, having first
lett his hat and frock on the wind
lass. At length breakfast being
ready, a boy was dispatched to
call him to his meal, when 10!
it was found that Barnes was
buried in the grave unconsciously
dug by his own hands. The alarm
being given, and the family assem-
bled, it was decided first to eat
breakfast and then to send for the
coroner, the minister and his wife
and children. Such apathy did
not fatter Barnes self-esteem a
bit, but he waited patiently, de-
termined to hear what was to be
seen. @A >35ss saf ''sIia Zafi7 =
Presently all parties arrived and
began prospecting the scene of the
catastrophe, aspeople usually 90 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 O.
pinion that they had better level
up the we'll and let Barnes remain;
for said he, che is beyond the temp
tation to sin, and in the day OF
Judgment it will make no differ
ence whether lie is buried five
feet unoer the ground or fifty, for
he is bound to come forth IN ell
ther case" The coroner likewise
agreed that cit would be a needless
expense to his family or the town
to disinter him when he was so
efectually buried" and therefore
conceded with the minister. His
wife thought that as he had lett his
hat and frock, it would be hardly
worth while to dig him out for the
rest of his clothes; and so it was
settled to let him remain.
But poor old Barnes, who had
no breakfast aud was not at all
pleased with the inquest, laid quiet
until the shades of evening stole
over the landscape; then he
quietly decamped to parts un-
known. After remaining aaacognato
for about three years, he suddenly
appeared-hatless and frockless rs
he went-at the door of the farm
er for whom be had agreed to dig
the unfortunate well. To say that
an avalanche of questions were
rained upon his mysterious reap.
pearance, &C., would convey bnt a
feeble idea of the excitement
created. But the old man bore it
all quietly, and at length inform
ed them that on finding himself
buried he waited for them to dig
him out until his patience was ex-
hausted,, and set to work to dig
himself out, and only the day be-
lore had succeeded (! for, his ideas
being confused by the pressure Of
the earth at the time he was bu-
ried, he had dug very much at ran
dom and instead OF coming direct
fly to the surface he came out In
the town of Holden, sac males aoest
of Rsnobscot a'iver!'
No further explanations were
sought by those who were SO dis
tressed and sorrowful over his sup
posed final resting place.
A house keeper in Cincinnati
G.-1