The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-12-27

Bakersfield, Cal, Dec. al. B.
Hicks, the Edison Electric company
tunnel digger, has been released from
the living grave he has occupied for
nearly 16 days. He was taken from
his hole in the ground at 1l:25 O'Clock
Saturday evening.
The last cut on the second rail
was made at 11:12 p. m, and no
sooner was the section removed and
the way left open that Hicks began
to scrape always the rocks and dirt
and crawl toward the opening.
Then the man of iron moved a few
inches further toward freedom and
his arms were seized by DR.. Stinch.
field and a miner. The two exerting
all their strength pulled the miner
into the main tunnel, where he was
placed in a sitting position. The
blindfold had been removed as the
tunnel was lighted by candle only
and the light was dim.
There was great rejoicing among
the rescuing party that had worked
day and night for nearly l6 days to
release Hicks from what for a long
time seemed to be certain death.
Hicks was not emaciated as was
expected. He was strong and the
stimulants that had been prepared for
him we're not needed. His beard was
thick and stubby, but not grown out
as might have been expected. His
face and hands were dirty, but other
wise his clothing was fairly clean and
In good condition.
In less than twelve hours after be-
ing released from his tomb, where he
was confined Is days and half, Lind
say B. Hicks mounted saddle horse,
and rode to the hospital at the camp
nnmber two, mile and a half from
the scene of the disaster.
He will spend Christmas at the hos
pital the guest Of DR.. Strinchfield,
the physician to whom the praise for
the remarkable physical and mental
condition Hicks was found in when
rescued, is due.
After Christmas Hicks believes that
he will have regained his strength
To allow him TO leave the
care of the physician, but DR.. Stinch-
field has suggested that a week at
least be spent there.
The remarkable condition of Hicks
was a great surprise to DR.. Stinch-
field. The doctor said:
Il found that his temperature was
normal just after the rescue and his
pulse a trifle high which was I'M
doubleday due to the excitement under
which the miner was laboring. His
face is free from any lines or burrows,
and to look at him you could not see
any difference from an ordinary work.
man who had just done a few days
work in the shaft He is weak in the
legs and knees and his legs are sore,
caused by sitting in one position I'M
able to move. What little nervous
ness he displays will vanish just as
:sthon as he gre stronger.
Mter the reissue Hicks with a sill sht
support walked the 200 foot incline
from the mouth of the rescue drift to
the watch station at the head of the
SHAFT where he sat for several hours
'conversing with DR.. Stinchfield, Super
vetendent Frank Miller, Foreman
Clark and others. Hicks smoked a
cigar and talked freely of mis- adven-
ture and the interesting incidents con-
nected with it.
Eyes, had a long seige of It, and
now It Is over, he said. From the
Ticst knew that | would be brought
.out ;aM right. l Just had that feeling.
To everyone connected with the work
i owe something more substantial than
THANKS, and the best can do is to say
:that 7 appreciate the efforts made IN
,ny behalf. The only fear had when
Y found that was closed in was
that | might suffer from the lack Of
air when the timbers crashed in and .
cloud Of dust filled the space and near
" suffocated me. This dust In my
opinion caused the death OF the two
men above me. heard them strug-
Cling frantically for about three hours
and know their death was caused by
strangulation.
1.-THE tobacco was my staff Of life.
don't know what I WOULD have done
without 1t. Every piece Of 1t chewed
made last as long as l could and
when no more could be got out OF It
swallowed it.
1.-THE milk was great and certainl,
worked wonders with me. When
went into the tunnel weighed i5s
pounds. Sunday night tipped tn
scales at 1A9h. I really believe m!
stomach is larger than ever before
drank 80 much milk. 1t reached TN
right spot. One disagreeable thing wa
the stencil, that filled the shaft. Tn
rats also came close to me. and nj
some Of them a number of times Il
trying to get them away. ] am GA.
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