The San Francisco call., 1906-12-19
Dread Fear in Bakersfield
That Miner May Never Be
Taken From Tomb Alive
WORKERS IN DRIFT
HAVE FOREBODINGs
Rescuers Close, but Go For
ward by Inches, Expect
ing Earth Walls May Cave
SPECIAL DISPATCH 10 THE CALL.

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
BAKERSFIELD, Dec. 1s.-sHeIp me:
Help me: God, il is so black in here.
/ can't stand this much longer"
From out the inky darkness where
Hicks, the miner, buried by the cave-in
in the Edison tunnel, in passing his
eleventh day under the car that pre-
vented him being crushed by the de-
brfs, come these excIamatfons as the
reScuers pursue their work 1t is evil
dent that the iron nerves of the man
who could heretofore joke at hfs terri
bic situation are giving way. IL is
feared NOW that II he Is ever rescued
he win be raving maniac when taken
out
The dread fear that Hicks may never
be removed alive is beginning to fall
upon those who are burrowing desper-
ately to reach him.
DREADED CREEPING GROUND
The rescue party at Edison Camp is
working tonight in loose dirt and de-
composed granite. but a few feet from
however. the chances for delivery are as
far removed as they were two days
ago. The engineers offer no hope of
rescue inside of twelve hours, and per-
haps twenty-four. The substance in
which the rescuers are working is de-
bris from the fallen tunnel, and it
yields TO the touch as readily as sand
Progress is delayed further by the
overpowering fear that at the last mo-
ment false jar will release the rock
that threatens Hicks and cheat the res
cuers OF the victory for which they
have labored so long.
The miners are directly above Hicks.
but they will cross the tunnel over his
head and attempt to reach him from be-
hind
Bakersfield is trying hard not to be-
lieve the latest reports from the scene
of operations. The company officials
have shut their minds to the thought
that the almost sup-rhuman efforts at
rescue will be in vain and are using
every means in their power TO prevent
the spread of such report. and the
men of the heroic band of rescuers are
gritting their teeth and bending to
their work like soldiers to a last on
slaught-
There is not the slightest hope that
row, and only then If everything favors
the rescue party and no unexpected OBJ
stacle is encountered in driving the
drift. The oaken constitution Of the
gritty miner who has borne his terrible
captivity with as great courage as ever
did any martyr face the stake. sue
cunbed last night to the fearful strain,
and tonight he is pouring out through
the pipe the most pitiful cries OF pain
and prayers for release.
URGED TO HOLD UP
DR.. Stinchfield, the engineers and the
corps of newspaper men gathered
about the mouth of the pipe are trying
to bolster up by soothing words the
breaking spirit Of the entombed man.
which. If allowed to waver unre-
strained, will inevitably bring the
long feared madness. Down the noun
tain in the drift the gallant laborers
are shoveling, timbering. cursing, pray
ing. Not a one Of them but would lay
down his own life for that Of his
friend and former companion.
Down in the little shanty at-the base
of the mountain the company officials
are gathered in a little group about a
great chart OF the mountain, the shaft
and the drift. At their ear hangs
telephone receiver and every few min
utes there flashes to them from the top
Of the mountain the result of every
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