News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-03-19
OLD BARNEY, THE MINE MULE.
Thirty-fvc Years Underground Brought
to the Surface-He Seeks Death.

Three years ago a mule known as
sold Barney" having spent thirty-five
successive years in drawing coal cars in
the tunnels of Old Hickory colliery, at
Coalbrook, Pa, 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
came out, and giving every evidence
that he was homesick and wanted to go
back to the dark and gloomy chambers
where he had grown old. He was unable
to see in the day time for several days,
but his sight gradually adapted itself to
the new conditions. After Barney found
that they were not disposed to let him
back into the mine he quit going near
it, and spent his time wandering alone
about the neighborhood, making no spot
his particular habitation, but being well
come everywhere, as he was known for
miles around and respected as the mule
that had lived thirty five years in coal
mine.
He acted as if he felt that he had been
turned out as useless appendage, and
on his face, and chose the most solitary
spots, where he would sometimes remain
for days at a time, communing with
himself. In spite of his melancholy and
his years, his eyes were bright, his coat
soft and glossy, and his body in good
flesh. Whenever he appeared in the
TplinInor VILLAGES xyhinh haI III
he was always followed and surrounded
by troops of miners children. Juggling
at his stubby tail, hanging to his mouse
colored ears, and straddIing his round
back. He tolerated children without
protest, no matter what they did to him,
but their merriment never dispelled his
melancholy for second.
For week or 30 past workmen have
been blasting in ledge of rocks near
Old Hickory colliery, for the purpose of
cutting roadway through it. Thurs
day Old Barney came sauntering along
from some place in the hills, and stopped
to watch the men at work in the ledge.
He evidently remembered the days of
blasting in the mines, for every time the
men made charge ready and sought
place of safety to await the explosion Old
Barney would take himself off too, re-
turning after the blast had gone off.
After half hour or SO of solemn en-
joyment of this kind Old Barney walked
off and 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 as
tonishment to see Old Barney reappear
around the ledge and walk deliberately
up to within six feet OF the burning
fuse. 1t was too late to drive him away,
for the fuse would be burned to the
powder before the men could go ten feet
toward the mule. They turned their
heads. The blast went off like can
non, and poor Old Barney was thrown q
rod away and torn to pieces by 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 burdensome to
him.