Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
HICKS NEARLY SAVED
Hope to Reach Entombed Miner
Within a Few Hours.
NEWS CHEERS PRISONER
Watchers Always on Duty to Keep Up
His Courage.
FEAR EFFECTS OF THE STRAIN
Pathetic Scenes at Mouth of the Pipe
Great Boulders Removed by
Strenuous Effort.

BAKERSVILLE, Cal, December 20
Miner Hicks, who has been entombed alive
since December in the Edison Company's
mine here, was told again this morning
that his hour of deliverance was near at
hand. This assurance, shouted down the
iron pipe through which food has daily been
sent the man, had a most cheering effect
on Hicks.
DR.. Stanchfeld has increased the milk
supply, and after Hicks had consumed a
gallon he told the physician at the surface
end of the tube that he craved a chew of
tobacco. Il would about as soon have a
chew of tobacco as to get out" said Hicks.
The second great boulder that blocked
the way of the miners was split yesterday
and by slight deviation of the drift the
tunnel was pushed past the broken obstruc-
tons and is now in the old mine shaft.
The work from this time on will be through
loose dirt Uttered with broken timbers and
rocks.
The second boulder weighed over five
tons, and 1t required seven hours to dispose
of it. This work greatly disheartened the
rescuers, but everybody is putting his best
efforts into motion to get ticks out, and
they expect to reach him in few hours.
The ground where the reScuerS are now en-
gagged is loose and the greatest caution is
necessary.
A Pathetic Scene.
Every effort is being made to keep up the
courage of the entombed man. Men spe-
cially detailed read to him, tell him stories
and play the photograph to him. 1t is pa
thetic in the extreme to the grZZled
miners bending over the mouth of the pipe
shouting down rough jokes and laughing
uproariously. What the physicians most
fear is breakdown. Once the man gives
up hope, it is said he will succump quickly
and die of nervous fright.
Yesterday the watchers thought Hicks
had given up completely The watcher on
duty placed his ear to to pipe and the
buried mans so5s could be heard plainly.
The sounds unnerved the attendant DIR.
Johnson, the Edison companyS resident
physician, was summoned. He called down
to Hicks, and in a moment the reply came
back in a voice that showed great effort at
self-control.
Old Town Tonight" shouted the physi-
clan.
',All right, let her come" replied the en-
tombed man weakly.
within a few feet of him is having a terri
flying effect on Hicks. Once he called
through the pipe:
I'm afraid of these dead men,
"Ah cut it out" yelled back the miner
at the top of the shaft. You're all right.
But l see shoe sticking out over my
head" replied Hicks.
The entombed mans voice was tremulous
with terror when he made this announce
ment. He had four matches in his pocket
and by the light of one of these he thought
he saw the shoe of one of his dead COM
rades.
shut up, you're dreaming, said the
miner on watch, endeavorng to anger
Hicks into regaining his courage 'Tll
jump down this pipe and give you good
licking If l hear any more of this talk
Interest in Hicks.
Wide interest is shown for the entonbed
miner. kilograms have been received from
relatives and suggestions have been freely
offered. r. l.. Ashford, a physician at
Washington, Pa, who has had some eX-
perience at the coal mines, sent COM
munication explaining to the officials how
it is possible to keep Hicks alive for one
year.
Word was also received from the rela-
tives of several of the miners who were
killed in the cave-in that swallowed Hicks.
Gus Anderson, the foreman, had sister in
St. Paul. He was unmarried. John Will
bars was unmarried. He leaves a mother
at Ramona /. Z. George Warner and Pete
Robes were newcomers at the camp, and
their relatives have not been located. Harry
Paris made his home in Bakersfield. He
was skilled miner, twenty-siX years of
age and was to have been married here on
Christmas.
From Matteawan, w. Va, a telegram was
received from A. G. Hicks brother of the
entombed man, asking for particulars