Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-24
California Miner Brought
Out After Is Days
Struggle
Is HERO OF THE HOUR
Relates Experience in Which He
fingered Between Hope
and Despair.

Bakersfield, CAL, Dec. 24.-Lindsay
B. Hicks, the miner who was rescued
late Saturday night from the tunnel
of the Edison Electric company, talk
ed almost merrily of his Is days liv-
ing entombment. He said there were
times when he really enjoyed himself.
imprisoned though he was in the bow
els of the earth, with rats, who feasted
on the dead bodies of his fellows, as
his only companions. Hicks was not
at all weakened by his experience.
Hicks was released at 11:25 Satur-
day night 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 than Hicks began to
scrape away the rocks and dirt and
crawl toward the opening.
With arms in front of his head he
went into the miniature tunnel and be-
gan to work his way slowly through to
the other side of the car When he
had progressed about half way he
stopped, and Superintendent Frank
Miller, who stood at the tube at the
mouth of the shaft, Immediately called
and asked what was the matter.
"Oh, nothing" Hicks called back.
I'm just going to stop. Pm out of
wind. My wind is very short, you
know"
The Rescue.
Then the man of iron moved a few
inches further toward freedom, and
his arms were seized by DIR. Stindfield
and John Gents. The two, exerting all
their strength, pulled the man into the
main tunnel, where he was placed in
a sitting position. The blindfold, which
he had placed over his eyes to prevent
shock from sudden light, had been re-
moved, as the tunnel was lighted by
candle only, and the light was dim
And there, a hundred feet from the
face of the mountain and within step
of where the man had lain entombed
for nearly sixteen days, there occurred
a pathetic scene DR.. Stindfield, with
tears in his eyes. and his hands laid
affectionately on Hicks shoulders, said:
''Well. how are you, old boy?"
And there were tears in the eyes OF
Hicks as well as he replied:
81 am feeling fine. can never thank
you, doctor, for what you have done.
welcomed by Employer.
And then came Superintendent Cone.
the man who had stayed by the work
day and night, directing every inter
est. personal and of his company as
well, to aid in the rescue of the miner.
He came forward and took Hicks by
both hands and said: Il am glad tol
see you again, old man."
Hicks, with voice choked with emo
ton. attempted to thank him also for
his efforts in his behalf.
The superintendent gazed steadfast-
" for a moment and then, unable to
speak further, he turned and walked
out of the tunnel and up the mountain
side. Later the superintendent said:
'tOf course, 1 am overjoyed that
Hicks is out. and l am rejoiced that he
is well and strong. 1t was a long. |
tedious task, and severe strain upon
all connected with the work, but /
would go through it all over again to
save that man."
Tells Story of Experience.
In excellent spirits, Hicks related
the following story this afternoon:
at was awful close in there. AT first
/ thought would die like the poor fel-
lows above me did. God, it was awful
to hear them moaning and twisting in
the debris, dying by inches from suffo-
cation But after a while cool draft
of air came sweeping up from below
and / knew then l would never be
without air, as there would always be
a current through the crevices.
when the crash came l started to
run up the shaft, keeping along the
right rail. A falling timber struck me
and | fell to the floor. When l tried
to get up I was closed in. The timber
didn't hurt me much, and in few days
| was all right again.
Death Struggles of Companions.
81 never had any fear. The death
struggles of the other men were awful
enough. After the fifth day / knew
that | would be saved. A feeling came
over me that God was with me- l am
grateful to God. and will never go to
he'll If praying will save me.
'.And maybe you. won't believe me,
but sometimes down there really en-
joyed myself. That tobacco saved my
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