Nathaniel Hawthorne's Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe

Dominicus Pike can sure tell a story. Every day at every stop along his sales route he captivates listeners while passing on important news of the day. One day Dominicus hears about a catastrophe that befalls the beloved and esteemed Mr. Higgenbotham, so he relays that startling news immediately. But something doesn't add up with his account of the catastrophe as further details emerge. So was Dominicus relaying news or just telling a tale?