Barbour County index., 1885-06-05
OLD BARNEY. THE MINE MULE.
Thirty-Five Years Underground-Broughs
to the Surface He Seeks Death.
1Coal Brook (Pa-) SpeciaI1

TO the surface He Seeks Death.
local Brook (Pa-) special.l
Three years ago q mule known as "Old
Barney" having spent thirty I've success
siye years in drawing coal cars In the
tunnels of Old Hickory colliery, was
taken out OF the mine by his owner and
turned out to do as he pleased. Not hav-
ing breathed any fresh air nor had q
glimpse of daylight since 1850, Old Barney
did not take kindly to his new life, and for
weeks hnng around the mine, recognising
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 be quit going near il, and
spent his time wandering alone about
the neighborhood, making no spot his par
ticular habitation, but being welcome
everywhere, as he was known for miles
arou i'd and respected as the mule that had
lived thirty-fiv years In a coal mine.
He acted as ifhe felt that he had been
turned out as useless 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 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. When
ever he appeared In the mining villages,
which he did frequently, he was always
followed and surrounded by troops of
miners children, tugging at HIS stubby
tail, hanging to his mouse-colored ears,
and straddling his round back. He toler-
ated children without a protest, no matter
what they did to him, but their merriment
never dispelled his melancholy for q sec.
ond.
For week or so past workmen have
been blasting in a ledge OF rocks near Old
Hickory collievy, for the purpose Of cut
ting roadway through it. Last Thurs
day OH 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
nen made charge ready and sought a
place of safety to await the explosion Old
Barney would take himself Off too return
ing after the blast had gone of.
After half hour or so of solemn enjoy
ment 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 ex ra 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
Constituent tO see Old Barney reappear
around the ledge aud walk deliberately
up to within six feet of the Turning
fuse. 1t was too late to drive him away,
for the fuse would be burned to the pow-
der before the men coull go ten feet
toward the mule. They turned their
heads. The blast went Off like cannon,
and poor Old Barney was thrown a rod
away and torn to pieces by the mass of
rocks the concussion hurled from the
ledge. No one caa convince any ono 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 a life that had
become burdensome to him.