Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-03-24
LIKE Il HUNG CHANG, TBIs ECCENTRIC .ARKAEsAN CARRIED WITH HIM HIS
 OWN BURIAL CAsKTE.
OLD RUSS" BOWEN.
He is Quite Proud of His Coffin, and
 Took Great Pleasure in Showing it to Callers.

Here is an interesting story re- lated by the Fort Smith Times Demo- crat
 A wagon passed through the city yesterday which attracted a good deal of attention. It was an ordi- nary one-horse spring wagon, and its occupants would hardly be deem ed worthy of causing anyone whom they passed to bestow second glance upon them. It was the baggage the wagon contained which caused comment.
 It carried coffin.
 Who is dead2" inquired one of curious crowd which gathered around the wagon during one of it's stops.
 ''No one" replied gray-haired old man who was driving the wagon and exercised the authority which accompanies leadership over the party.
 "Who's that coffin for, then2" asked the inquisitive one whose curiosity had rot been satisfied by the first answer.
 Its for me. am going to be buried in it when I die, calmly and without emotion replied the old man.
 The old man was William Bowen, an eccentric character well-known through this part of the country. He has been living in Sebastian county for a number of years, but so close to the Logan county line that his postoffice is in that county.
 Mir. Bowen IS better known as aOld Russ" Bowen, but when or how he came by the sobriquet the reporter cannot tell. He arrived in the city Wednesday night accompa- nied by his daughter, her husband and young man.
 The coffin is made of very pretty piece of cherry. It has a beautiful grain, and will take very fine polish. The coffin is very neatly made, and is not finished, the old man intending to do that himself as soon as he reaches his destination, which is near Webber's Falls, in the Cherokee Nation.
 Mr. Bowen is quite proud of his coffin and took great delight in showing it to the many who visited the wagon yard to see it.
 T watched the growth of the tree from which my coffin was made for forty odd years, said Mr. Brown, in speaking of his gastly treasure, "and 8 nicer grained tree never grew. For six year l have been de- sirous of having my coffin made, for l am now P years of age, and liable to be called any time. Some time ago cut down the tree, Tom Cott- ner sawed it up, and got John Campbell to make it. l am as proud of it as if I were going to live to use it."
 The coffin was enclosed in a rough box, which had to be opened every time MT. Brown showed it to the visitors. The wagon was somewhat crowded, and MT. Brown was econo mixing space by using the coffin as trunk. He had all his clothing packed in it.
 Old Russ Bowen was misslon- ary among the Cherokees several years, and his wife and son died and are buried near Webber's Falls. It is to be laid by their side when the final summons shall come that is causing MT. Bowen to make the trip at this late day in his life. His ec- centricity is more pronounced in his religion than in other matters. He claims to be one of the Lords chosen elect, and his belief h this led him to name his son, now de- ceased, St. John the Baptist.
 MT. Brown is rather large man and carries himself upright despite his years. He talks very pleasantly and agreeably, but his body quivers as one suffering from the palsy. He attributes this to a nervous shock caused by fighting during the reign of the Cook gang when he was held up and robbed by party of out laws.