Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-04-18
OLD BARNEY, ME MINE MULE.
Thirty-FIve Years UndergrOund-BrOug
10 The snrEana. He saeI-a uaaEh-


to the Surface, He Seeks Death.
Three years ago a mule known as "Old
Barney" having spent So successive
years IN drawing coal carts in the tunnels
of Old Hickory COlliery, at Coal brook,
Penn, was taken out of the mine by his
owner and turned out to do as he pleas
ed. Not having breathed any fresh air
nor had a 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 mi
ners as they went in and came out, and
giving every evidence that he was home
sick 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 con-
dltiOns. 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 welcome
everywhere, as he was known for miles
around and respected as the mule that
had lived 50 years in a coal mine.
He acted as if he felt that he had been
turned out as a use ess appendage, and
he had perpetual look of melancholy
on his face, and chose the most solitary
spots, where he would sometimes remain
for days at q time, cOmmuning with him
self. 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 mining
villages, which he did frequently, he was
always followed and surrounded by
troops of miners children, Juggling at
his stubby tail, hanging to his mouse
cOlOred ears and straddling his round
back. He tolerated children without a
protest, no matter what they did to him,
but their merriment never disp6lIed his
melancholy for a second.
For a week or SO past WOrkmen have
been blasting in a ledge of rocks near
Old Hickory cOlliery, for the purpose of
cutting a roadway through it. Last
Thursday, says a dispatch in the New
York Sun. 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 a charge ready and
sought a place of safety to await the ex-
plosion, Old Barney would take himself
off too, returning after the blast had gone
of.
After a 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 blast, and retired as usual to then
safe retreat. About the time they ex
pected 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 90 deliber
ately up to within six feet Of the burning
| fuse. It was too late to drive him away
/ for the fuse would be burned to the
powder before the men could 90 10 fee
1 toward the mule. They turned theil
| heads. The blast went off like a cannon
and poor Old Barney was thrown a roc
away and torn to pieces by the mass o
rocks the conclusion hurled from the
/ ledge. No one can convince any one
who ever knew Old Barney that he die
not place himself in the way of thu
! blast, knowing well what the resul
would be, for the purpose of ending
/ life that had become burdensome to him