The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
EXPECT To REACH
HICKS TO-DAY.
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I If all goes we'll Like q turtle on
whose back mountain has fallen. he
has existed under the car that saved
his life when the great mass Of debris
madly night and day. are near enough
10 announce confidently that he will
be taken out alive.
The rescue drift has been dug to
position directly over Hicks place of
confinement. and by tomorrow morn
ing he will have been released from
his tomb.
Everything is In readiness for
the release Dr. Stinchheld with
a blindfold. streteher and such slim
uiants and medicines as he thinks
may be required. IS waiting in the drift
directly behind the burrowing miners
The ten stalwart friends of the en-
tombe6 miner. who are to carry him the
200 feet 10 the mouth of the rescue
drift, where he will be placed aboard a
car and rushed through six miles of
tunnel 10 the company hospital in the
hills behind. are waiting not many feet
away from the physician. with the
stretcher within easy reach As the
time approaches 4 feeling of nervous
excitement has overcome the workers
and watchers. and fearful lest some
. dire thing should occur that will pre-
vent the success OF ttfeir hard worked
plans. strange silence has fallen
over everybody. on the mountain side
GREATEST CARE USED
The work since early this morning
has been carried on in the loose earth
of the caved-in section. The granite
was tunneled through during the early
hours OF the morning, and although
this was slow and hard undertaking.
it proved TO be comparatively easy
when the work of strengthening seven
remaining feet of the loose debris was
undertaken. Every inch of the way
/ had 10 be heavily timbered. and 10
guard against any possible danger
from the one thing dreaded cave-in
1 Of the rescue drift-the timbers them
! selves have been reinforced with heavy
iron braces securely attached TO and
{ entwined around the supports The
work has been carried on with the
/ highest possible degree of precaution.
and straining eyes and beating hearts
have followed every move made by the
foremost workers. tearing down the
short hut treacherous barrier between
( them and the plucky miner under the
car q
During the day Hicks Informed DR..
Stinchfeld through the steel pipe that
the scratching Of the nearing miners
was becoming more audible I heard
them distinctly yesterday when they
were working in the granite" he said.
/ with his usual calmness, and today.
although the noise has not been SO
loud. IL sounds 10 be much nearer"
ESToNBED MAN PATIENT
Although the voice coming from the
mountain prison is still rnufaed il
bears not the slightest strain of i'm
patience DR. Stinchfieid feared that
4 --1e-r
as the rescuers drew near. but the
clever modes of entertainment 10 oc-
cupy the mind of the man 100 feet
below in the depths Of the mountain
have worked with great success Il
the prisoner is uneasy or fretfui these
feelings are cleverly disguised when
the ears of the doctor or his assistants
are at the ether end of the pipe
Hicks has proved himself 10 be a
man OF intelligence and remarka BILE
pluck
Speculation is rife as to the effect ex-
posture to the light and air will have on
the man. DR. Stinchheld said in an
swer TO an inquiry Il do not look for
an unusual development OF course. /
hardly expect Hicks 70 get up and
walk away. but / do not believe that
he win be particularly affected ! viii
place a heavy bIindfold over his eyes.
and as soon as we can get him to the
hospital light will be gradually intro
duced and they will be strengthened
We will nurse him back carefully
70 his former self al our hospital The
plug of tobacco he happened to have
kept his mouth and tongue in normal
condition l was surprised when I
first talked TO him TO learn that his
tongue was not swollen He has borne
Up rnarvelously. and TO all of our in
Quiries has always had a cheerful an
swer- Tomorrow we win see for our
!. selves