Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-28
NEWS IN BRlk
Entombed Miners Wonderful
Escape from Death
Lindsay q. Hicks Was Buried 70 Feet
Deep, Wedeed In Debris, More Than
Two Weeks-story Of His Rescue.

Lindsay q. Hicks Was Buried 70 Feet
Deep, wedaed In Debris, More Than
Two Weeks-story Of His Rescue.
Lindsay B. Hicks, released Saturday
night at Bakersfield. Calf, from an en-
tombment Of Is days In caved-in tun-
mel, Sunday appeared well and happy after
his grewsome experience, spending much
time in receiving the congratulations Of
friends and neighbors, to whom he relat-
ed the feeling he underwent within the
dark close quarters of his tomblike prison
near the dead bodies Of FIVE less fortunate
companions, while scores of men worked
day and night for more than two weeks
to save him from death by digging
through many feet of earth and rock
Hicks's bravery under the trying con-
ditions won for him the admiration Of
hundreds of persons who watched the
progress of his exhumation. So strong
was Hicks at the finish that he helped
to scrape away the last barriers of earth
and crawled with slight assistance from
death to life Hicks was not emaciated.
He was so strong that the stimulants that
had been prepared for him were not need
ed.
While working on a tunnel that was
building by the Edison Power company
near Bakersfield on Dec. z, the vertical
walls of a deep cut fell In on Hicks and
five fellow workmen. 1t was at first
thought that all had persisted. Three days
later tapping on the iron rail of the lit
tie tramway running through the drift
gave the first intimation that a man still
alive was buried beneath the debris. A
70-foot pipe two inches in diameter, was
Immediately forced through the debris. II
reached the spot where Hicks was en-
tombed. A heavy dirt car had become
wedged In the debris in such a way as to
keep the immense weight from crushing
him. By means OF the pipe Hicxs kept
in communication with big force OF res
cuers. Milk was poured to him. This was
the only sustenance possible to give the
man for nearly two weeks. II was
thought at first that his rescue would at
the most be only a matter of a few days,
but as the work progressed It was seen
that the task was a much more difficult
one than was anticipated. In a narrow
space under the car there was just room
for Hicks to lie down. His prison did
not allow of the slightest freedom OF
movement, and for days the man lay on
his back not daring to move lest he might
disturb the car overhead and bring down
upon himself an avalanche Of dirt that
would mean his death. Through the pipe
he directed the work of rescue, guiding
the course Of the tunnel the miners start
ed toward his prison so that II would not
by some chance disturb the equilibrium of
him and death. II was found when the
rescuers had reached TO within a few feet
OF the entombed man that 1t would be
impossible to reach him from above.
Another tunnel had to be started, this
time directed underneath the spot where
he lay, so as not TO risk bringing down
the great pile of earth supported by the
car. This work required the most delicate
timbering and was SLOW Saturday after
noon a rescurer forced a small opening
in the remaining wall of debris and sew
eral men shook hands with Hicks in the
tomb. From that moment the miners
worked with fiendish energy. taking the
most desperate chances until finally they
were able to announce that Hicks was
saved. While the last steps were being
taken in his rescue. Supt Cone. who led
the rescue, called to Hicks and told him
he was still on the payroll. He said:
You have been a most faithful man.
Hicks: you have been on duty for Is days
and nights and never asked for a day off,
You have been drawing pay all the time"