Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-05-28
OLD BARNEY, THE NINE MULE.
Thirty-Five Years observation-disclosures TO
the Surface-He Seeks Death.

Thirty-Five Years Undergr0und-brougnt 10
the Surface-IIe Seeks Death.
Three years ago, writes Coalbrook
Pa.) correspondent to The Neao York
Sun, a mule known as "Old Barney,
having spent thirty-live successive
years in drawing coal-curs in the tun-
nels of Old Hickory colliery, was
taken out of the mine by his owner
and turned out to do AS he pleased.
Not having breathed any fresh air nor
had glimpse of daylight since 1850,
Old Barney did not take kindly TO his
new life, and for weeks hung around
the mine, recognizing the voices of
the miners as they went in and camo
out, and giving every evidences that he
was homesick and wanted TO go back
to the dark and gloomy chambers
where he had grown old. He was una
BILE to see in the daytime for several
days. but his sight gradually adapted
itself to the new conditions. After
Barney found that they were not dis
posed to let him back into the mine he
quit going near it, ana spent his time
wandering alone abuu; the ueighhor-
hood, making no spot his particular
habitation, but being welcome every
where, rs he was known for miles
around and respected rs the mule that
had lived thirty-fivc years in coal
mine.
He acted as if he had been turned
out as a useless appcndage, and he
had perpetual look OF melancholy
on his face, and chose the most soli-
tary spots, where he would sometimes
remain for days at time communing
with himself. In spite of his meian-
choly and his years, his eyes were
bright, his coat soft and glossy. and
his body in good flesh. Whenever he
appeared in the mining villages, which
he did frequently, he was always fol-
lowed and surrounded by troops OF
miners children, Juggling his stubby
tail. hanging to his mouse-colored
ears, and straddling his round back.
He tolerated children without pro-
test, no matter what they did to him,
but their merriment never dispelled
his melancholy for second.
For week or so past workmen have
been blasting in ledge of rocks near
Old Hickory Collicry for the purpose
of cutting a roadway through it. Last
Thursday Old Barney came saunter-
! ing along from some place in the hills,
and stopped to watch the men at work
in the ledge. He evidently remember
ed the days of blasting in the mines,
for every time the men made charge
ready and sought a place of safety to
await the explosion Old Barney would
take himself off, too, returning after
the blast had gone off.
After q half hour or so of solemn
enjoyment of this kind Old Barney
walked offand disappeared behind the
ledge, and the men soon forgot all
| about him. An hour later they put in
an extra large blast and retired as
| usual to their safe retreat. About the
time they expected to hear the report
and see the fragments of rocks flying
about. what was their establishment to
see Old Barney reappear around the
ledge and walk deliberately up to
within six feet of tho burning fuse. II
was too late to drive him away, fol
the fuse would be burned to powder
before the men could go ten feet to-
ward the mule. They turned their
heads. The blast went off like can
non, and poor Old Barney was thrown
a rod away and torn to pieces by the
mass of rocks the conclusion hurled
from the ledge. No one can convince
any one who ever knew Old Barney
that he did not place himself in the
way of the blast, knowing well what
the result would be, for the purpose
of ending life that had become bur-
densome to him.