Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-24
HICKS FREE AT LAST
Bakersfield Camp Goes Wild
 With Joy.
BURIED ALIVE NEARLY SIXTEEN DAYS
Rescue Party Victorious Tn Lens Fight With Death-Tears, Laugh- ter and Cheers Greet the
 Plucky Prisoner.

l.. BAKERSFIELD, Cal, Dec. 24.-Out of the valley of the shadow Lindsay B. Hicks, the miner who was buried nearly sixteen days in the Edison mine at this place, has been rescued from his living tomb.
 Surrounded by hundreds who have literally camped at the head of the mine shaft waiting for the outcome of the desperate battle being waged for a human life, the freed captive was carried, lying on stretcher, on the shoulders of the triumphant men who reached him to the hospital.
 Rough miners cheered, with tears in their eyes, as the procession reached the top of the mine shaft; women al- ternately laughed and wept and ey- cry one crowded forward for look at the rough, begrlmed, sunken checked workman whose name has been on the lips of nearly 60,OOO000 people for more than a week.
 And above 1t all the mine whistles, factory whistles, locomotive whistles and every other thing that could be in duced to make noise shrieked wei come back to earth of the man who had been buried alive and twice given up for lost. Every one who could grasped the hand of him who had been saved from almost certain death after a Herculean struggle.
 After twice changing plans on ac- count of great rocks that blocked their path, the rescuers by careful timber work to keep the soft dirt and rock from raining down upon their heads came upon the top of the car which covered Hicks.
 Bits of rock were torn out, and final ly the buried man could be seen. They had heard him for three days. Through a hole a candle was drop ped in to Hicks. His eyes have been bandaged for two days to keep the sud den glare from affecting him, but he took the cloth off and blinked at the candle. I'm all right" he said. "Pd give you one of these eyes to get a good look at the sun right now, | though"
 It was 11:25 o'clock at night when Hicks was released. The last cut on i the drift was made at 11:12 o'clock, and no sooner was the segment of debris removed and the way left open than Hicks began to scrape away the | rocks and earth and crawl toward the opening.
 With arms in front of his head he weAt into the miniature tunnel and began to work his way slowly through to the other side of dump car, near which be has remained during the ex- cavating. When he had progressed about halfway he stopped, and Super intendent 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. 'T'm just going to stop. I'm out of wind. My wind is very short, you know"
 Then Hicks moved few inches fur. ther toward freedom, and his arms were seized by Dr. Stinchfield and Miner Gents. The two, exerting all their strength, pulled the miner into the main tunnel, where he was plac. ed in a sitting position. The blindfold that Hicks had been ordered to put on was removed. as the tunnel was only dimly lighted by candle.
 And there, hundred feet from the face of the mountain and within a few steps of the place where the miner had lain entombed for nearly sixteen days, there occurred 6 pathet ically joyful scene. Dr. Stinchfield with tears in his eyes and his hands laid affectionately on Hicks shoulders said:
 Well, how are you, old boyg'
 And there were tears in the eyes of Hicks as well, the only tears that he had shed in all the days and nights since he was entombed, as he replied:
 T am feeling fine. can never thank you. doctor, for what you have done'
 And then Superintendent Cone oi the Edison Power company. the mar who has stayed by the work day and night directing every move in the res cue of Hicks. came forward and tool Hicks by both hands and said:
 ''I am glad to see you again. old man."
 Hicks. his voice choked with emo ton. attempted to thank him also fol his efforts in his behalf.
 The superintendent gazed steadfast ly for a moment and then. unable {, speak further turned and walked ou of the tunnel and up the mountain side.
 Hicks appears well and happy afte his grewsome experience and is spend ing much time in receiving the congrai ulatious of friends and neighbors, t whom he relates as best he can tn feelings he underwent within the dark close quarters of his tomblike priso near the dead bodies of five less fortu nate companions while scores of me worked like beavers day and night 10 more than two weeks to save him fror death by digging through many fee of earth and rock
 He was once a soldier and is said { carry some Indian blood in his vein, His bravery under the trying cond tioEs has won for him the admiratio