The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-28
Hicks Thought He Was
Dead and Had Reached
a Spirit World.
ALMOST MADE INSANE.
Sudden Influx of Fresh Air Made
Him UnconsciouS--After That lie
Was Getting Milk and Water from
Pipe and Helped Dig Away
the Last Earth About Him.

Bakersfield, Cal, Dec. 27.-Breath-
ine again the free air, although
through a hospital window, Lind
sav B. Hicks, the miner who had
been entombed for fifteen days and
was rescued, told of his experiences
while lying beneath hundreds Of
tons of rock with only a small hand
car between him and death. In sim
pla terms the miner told his story,
but so dramatic was the recital that
those who listened to it were thrilled
bl the description he gave of his suf-
fel.ngs and of the manner in which
h. bore up under the terrible strain
to which he was subjected,
Almost uncanny was Hicks's mar
ratWe at times, and the listeners felt
that they were hearing a story that
came direct from the lands OF shades
For two days after the cave-in in the
tunnel of the Edison company, il
which five Of the miners companions
were killed, and in which he was
sa ed only because a small handcar
kent the tons of rock from crushing
him. Hicks thought he was dead
Darkness enveloped him, but it was
not the darkness of night. All the
thoughts that surged through his
mind all the pictures that fitted
before his mental gaze, he thought
were incidents OF the other world, OF
which he thought that he was now 4
member Hicks said that his senses
were benumbed, but he felt vague
curiosity as to what would happen,
believing that he was dead.
Dripping Noise Housed Him.
How long he remained in that state
the miner did not know, but after
many hours waiting he heard drip
ping noise, and that recalled him
partly to his senses. Gradually he
realized that he was alive, and when
finally the pipe that brought him air
and sutenance reached him he said
that he had recovered almost all Of
his faculties.
The last hour OF the miners en-
tombment also was crowded with
Incidents. The men who
were working to rescue him were
shoyeling like machines, without
thought of rest. The. entire town was
gathered about the tunnel, every one
awaiting the time when Hicks would
leave his prison with feverish anX-
iety. The cheers that went up when
finally the miner was taken out of
the tunnel must have been echoed
and re-echoed throughout the noun
famous region here.
Hicks wds lying on cot in the
Edison company's hospital when he
told his story.
After the cave-in | suddenly found
myself wedged in small space, and
/ did not know what it was. | was
in total darkness and | also was stun
ned For a long time | knew | was
but / could not figure out
where. My thoughts were very hazy,
and then | remembered that there
been cavern in the tunnel. Sud
denly the thought occurred to me
that | was dead and | wondered
whether / was in heaven or hell.
THE air | was breathing was aw-
full. and | feared that | would choke
to death. Then one day or one night.
don't know which, for it was TO-
tally dark where | was, there came a
rush of fresh air. tell you that air
felt fine. | just bathed in that cool
air, and then l believe | tainted.
When | came to | grabbed the pipe
and then they sent the water and
milk to me.
"Oh, but that meal tasted fine! 1t
tasted SO good that began to laugh.
why don't know But | smiled and
then | thought of my poor compan-
Ions who were dead and | stopped
laughing. Suddenly | heard voice
through the pipe At first | could
not make out what was said but la
ter heard some one tell me to brace
up. | did the best | could, consider
ing | was nailed down, but from that
moment fought hard for my life.
Il knew that | had been saved by
the handcar under which | lay The
car had kept the rock from crushing
me, and was careful about moving,
for | knew that wrong bulge might
move the car and then | would be
buried under the tons of rack and
dirt. Well, it seemed to me that
was in that hole for an eternity"
Rescuers Worse or Than Hicks.
Great credit is due the rescuers,
several of whom are in vorse physi-
cal and mental condition than Hicks.
These men not only worked night
and day, but they displayed unusual
Intelligence in devising methods to
Keep Hicks mind off of his sur
roIndings.