The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-24
HICKS FREE
AT LAST
Bakersfield Camp Goes Wild
With Joy.
BURIED ALIVE DAYS.
Rescue Party Victorious in Fight
With Death-Cheers Greet
Prisoner.
BURIED ALIVE DAYS.

BAKERSFIELD. CAB. Dec. 2i.-ou
Of the valley Of the shadow Lindsay
II. Hicks. the miner who was buried
nearly sixteen days In the Edison mln'
nj 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 wagcd FOR
n human life. the freed captive was
carried. lying on stretcher. on the
shoulders OF the triumphant men who
reached him 10 the hospital.
Rough miners cheercd. with tears In
their eyes. as the procession reached
the top OF the mine shaft; women al
ternately laughed and wept. and ev.
cry one crowded forward for look NJ
the rough. bcgrlmed. sunken checked
workman whose name has been on the
lips OF nearly G0OOO.OOO people for
more than n week.
And above Il all the mine whistles.
factory whistles. locomotive whistles
and every other thing that could Ice In.
duced 10 make a noise shrlclled 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
Herculcan struggle.
After twice changing plans on ac-
count OF great rocks that blocked their
path. the rescuers by careful timber
work 10 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 he seen. They
had heard him for three days.
Through hole n 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 or and blinked at the
candle. I'm all right" he said. I'D
give you one OF these eyes TO get a
good look at the sun right now,
though"
1t was ll:25 o'clock at night when
Hicks was released. The last cut on
the drift was made at HIP 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
went into the miniature tunnel and
began to work his way slowly through
TO the other side of dump car. near
which he has remained during the ex-
cavatlng. 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.
ooh. nothing" Hicks called back.
I'm just going to stop. I'm out of
wind. My wind is very short, you
know"
Then Hicks moved few inches fur
Their toward freedom, and his arms
were seized by DR.. Stinchfeld 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 a pathet-
ically joyful scene. DR.. Stlnchfield,
with tears in his eyes and his hands
laid alfectionately on Hicks shoulders,
said:
well, how are you. old boy?"
And there We're tears in the eyes of |
Hicks as well, the only tears that he |
had shed in ali the days and nights |
since he was entombed, as he replied
81 am feeling fine. can never
thank you, doctor, for what you have
done"
And then Superintendent Cone of |
the Edison Power company, the man
who has stayed by the work day and |
night directing every move in the res
cue of Hicks, came forward and took |
Hicks by both hands and said:
81 am glad to see you again, old |
man"
Hicks, his voice choked with emo
ton, attempted to thank him also for
his efforts in his behalf.
The superintendent gazed steadfast-