Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21
Old Barney, the Mine Mule.

Three years ago, writes Il CoalbroOk
(Pa. correspondent to the New York
San, a mule known as ssOld Barney. !"
having spent thirty-five successive
years in drawing coal-cars in the tun-
nels of the Old Hickory collery. 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 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
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 daytime 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 90
ing near it, and spent his time wander
ing alone about the neighborhood,
making no spot his particular habita-
ton, but being welcome 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 append
age, and he had a 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. Whenever
he appeared in the mining villages,
which he did frequently, he was al
ways surrounded and followed by
troops of miners children, Juggling his
stubby tail, hanging to his mouse-col-
ored ears, and straddling his round
back He tolerated children without a
protest, no matter what they did to
him, but their merriment never dis
PEELED his melancholy for 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 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 place of safety to
await the explosion, Old Barney would
take himself off, too, returning after
the blast had gone of.
After half an hour 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 extra
large blast and retired as usual to their
safe retreat. About the time they ex-
pected to hear the report and see the
fragments of rock flying about, what
was their establishment to see Old Bar
ney 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 90 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
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, know
inc well what the result would be, for
the purpose of ending life that had
become burdensome to him.