Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-29
WAS ENTOMBED
FIFTEEN DAYS
L. B Hicks Rescued After a Grue-
some Experience

Bakersfield. Cal, Dec. 24.-Lindsay
B. Hicks. released from an entomb-
ment of Is days in a cavedIn tunnel,
appeared well and happy after his
gruesome experience. spending much
time in receiving congratulations OF
friends and neighbors. TO whom he
related as best he could the feelings
he underwent within the dark, close
quarters OF his tomb-liSe prison near
the dead bodies of FIVE less fortunate
companions. while scores OF men
worked like beavers day and night
for more than two weeks to save him
from death by digging through many
feet Of earth and rock.
Hicks bravery under the trying con-
ditions won for him the admiration OF
hundreds OF persons who watched the
progress of his elimination. SO strong
was Hicks at the finish that he helped
TO scrape away the last barrier OF
earth. and crawled, with slight assist
ance. from death to life.
Hicks was not emaciated. He was
so strong that the stimulants that
had been prepared for him were not
needed.
No sooner was the last segment OF
debris removed and the way left open.
than Hicks began to scrape away the
rocks and earth and crawl toward the
opening With arms in front OF his
head. he went into the miniature tun-
mel and began TO work his way slowly
through TO the other side OF a dump
car. near which he has remained dur
ing the excsvaung. His arms were
seized by DR.. Sunchfeld and a miner.
The two. exerting all their strength.
pulled the miner into the main tunnel.
where he was placed in a sitting posi-.
tion. The blindfold that Hicks had
been ordered TO put on was removed.
as the tunnel was only dimly lighted
by candle.
And there. 100 feet from the face of
the mountain and within a few steps
OF the place where the miner had lain
entombed for nearly IS days. there oc-
CURED a patheucally joyful scene. DR..
Sunchfeld. with tears in his eyes. and
his hands laid anectionately on Hicks
shoulders. said: "Well. how are you,
old boy?"
And there were tears in the eyes
OF Hicks as well. the only tears that
ne had shed I'm all the days and nights
since he was entombed. as he re-
piled: Il am feeling fine can never
thank YOU, doctor. for what you have
done"
While working on a tunnel that was
building 10y the Edison Power company
near Bakersfield on December Z. the
vertical walls of a deep cut fell in on
Hicks and five fellow workmen. IL was
at first thought that an had persisted
under the hundreds OF tons OF rock and
earth.
Three days later a tapping on the
iron rail OF the little tramway running
through the drift gave the first intima-
ton that man still alive was buried
beneath the debris. a 70-foot pipe. two
inches In diameter. was Immediately
forced through the debris. IL reached
the spot whore Hicks was entombed. A
heavy dirt cart had become wedged i'm
u.a debris I'm such way as 20 keep
the immense weight from crushing
him.
When Hicks pulled the wooden plug
from Che iron pipe and called to the
men above him his voice sounded like
one FROM The gravc. Through the pipe
the men working on top learned from
Hicks that for several hours after the
cavc-in he had talked with his COM
panions. but that they had become
silent and he believed they were dead.
by means OF the pipe Hicks kept in
communication with a big force OF res
cuers which was at once organized.
MIX was poured down the pipe. This
was the only sustenance IL was possl-
BILE 20 give the man for nearly two
weeks. During the first two days
Hicks said he had existed on a plug
or tobacco he had with him at the time
OF the cave-in
He had just exhausted this when the
pipe was forced into the crevice In
which he was pinned Every day gal
Ions of milk We're poured down the
pipe 20 keep him alive.
Through the pipe he directed the
work Of rescue. guiding the course Ct
the tunnel the miners started toward
his prison. so that IL would not by
some chance disturb the equilibrium OF
the car. which was all that lay between
him and death.