St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-18
ECCENTRIC JOHN sAMMoNs.

Announcing Hts Oscn Funeral aud Then
Hiding Himself Iva an Oren-
John S. Sammons, the eccentric old farm
who on Thanksgiving day had paralytic fit
and. falling upon his redhot stove, was found
alone insensible with his face and head
burned to a crisp, and who now lies in a
critical condition, is known all over the coun
try. He lives In Crawford. Years ago he
provided himself with complete burial out
fit. He also purchased collins for the burial
OF his dogs and cats, his only companions.
he bought his own coffin and set the day for
his own funeral. His arrangements were
complete for the burial service. Even the
shroud was arranged and the undertaken en-
gagged to oificiate at the ceremony. He also
bought a dozen pairs of black gloves for the
pall-bearers, and it is said a clergyman was
engaged. The entire population Of the sur
rounding country became excited over the
event, and when the time arrived for the
ceremony plows we're stopped, farmers DON
ned their Sunday clothes, aud housewives let
their churns stand still in order 10 attend Il.
Hundreds con stegated at the old mans
house, and hardly farmhouse within fifteen
miles was unrepresented. great many
believed in the vagaries OF the old man, and
attended, not with the hope Of seeing him
dead, and laid out in the coffin attire that ne
had provided for himself, but with desire, II
he really was dead, to pay him a tribute OF
respect. Others made fun OF him and said
he was a lunatIc. Some four hundred con-
gregated for the funeral. The roads were
lined with wagons bound for his little old
farmhouse. and every tree, hitching-pOst,
and fenee-bar was utilized for the horses.
be Accommodated within the walls Of the two
story house, and as the visitors remained
about the place IL was discovered that even a
stone tomb had been built among the rocks
by the hands of the old farmer. He had pre-
pared the tomb both for himself and for bis
dogs aud cats. AS his friends and neigh
bOrs entered the house thew naturally looked
for the coffin They found the coffin and
the pall-bearers wearing the black gloves he
bad furnished, but the corpse was missing.
Everybody was mysti6ed, aud search was
made. Every nook aud corner in the old
farm house from cellar TO garrett was rsn-
sacked.
No one had seen him leave the place, and
all were sure that il had been impossible 10
spirit away the body either dead OF alive. At
last the dingy old kitchen was overhauled
Closets were thrown open, boxes uncovered,
and drawers pulled out, but no trace OF the
missing man could be found.
Look in the oyen," suggested sn old Ia
dy who had taken an interest in the search;
''maybe he might have crawled in there
The door of the huge oven soon swung
open, and the eccentric old farmer was dis
covered in his hiding place It was the last
place in the house 10 look for q person either
dead or alive, and but for the forethoueht of
the old lady would probably have been passed
by. The old man was pulled out by his heels
and found to be in good health. Then the
four hundred friends and neighbors silently
returned 10 their plows and ehurns, vowing
TO let John Sammons bury himself when he
did die. But this feeling has since died out,
and now the news Of the serious accident to
the old man has been received with much
regret among all his aequaintances.-New-
burg Cor. NewYork SlR.