Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-03-23
TBIs ECCENTRIC ARKANsAN CARRIED WITH HIM HIS
 OWN BURIAL CAsKET.
OLD RUSS" BOWEN.
He is Quite Proud of His Coffin, and Took Great Pleasure in Showing
 it to Callers.

lated by the FortSmlth Times. .Heho 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 it's occupants would hardly be deem cd worthy of causing anyone whom they passed to bestow a second glance upon them. It was the baggage the wagon contained which caused comment.
 It carried coffin
 aWho is dead?" inquired one of a curious crowd which gathered around the wagon during one of it's stops.
 No one, replied a gray haired old man who was driving the wagon md exercised the authority which accompanies leadership over the party.
 Who's that coffin for, then2o asked the inquisitive one whose curiosity had sot been satisfied by the first answer.
 s'It's for me. I 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 postof1ice is in that county.
 Mr. Bowen IS better known as "Old 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 a very pretty piece of cherry. It has 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.
 MT. 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.
 q 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 nicer grained tree never grew. For six year have been de- sirous of having my coffin made, for am now 72 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. 1 am as proud of it as if I were going to live to use : it. ,
 The coffin was enclosed in rough box, which had to be opened every time Mir. Brown showed it to the :. visitors. The wagon was somewhat crowded, and MT. Brown was eeono. mixing space by using the coffin as a trunk. He had all his clothing packed in it.
 Old Russ Bowen was mission ary among the Cherokees several years, and his wife and son died and are buried near Webber's Falls. Ii is to be laid by their side when the final summons shall come that IS causing Mr. Bowen to make the triI at this late day in his life His ee- centricity is more pronounced n his religion than in other matters, He claims to be one of the Lord chosen elect, and his belief in 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 agrceably, but his body quivers as one suffering from the palsy. lie attributes this to nervous shock caused by fighting during the reign of the Cook gang when he was held up and robbed by party of out laws.