Named after a brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith Hickman was born 26 October 1861 to William Adams Hickman and Mary Jane Hetherington Hickman. The following article appeared in the Deseret Evening News in 1899:
STOCKTON.
-------
Messrs. Hyrum Hickman and Fred Linebach Overpowered by Firedamp.
Special Correspondence.
Stockton, Utah, Aug. 21 [1899].---Mr. Hyrum Hickman, a well known citizen of this place, with a companion, Mr. Fred Linebach of Ophir, were found over-powered by foul air in a prospect shaft between West Dip and Ophir on Saturday morning about 11:30. Their lifeless bodies were discovered by a searching party, lying in the bottom of the shaft, having, it is thought, to have been since late Friday night.
Mr. Hickman left home about 3:30 on Friday afternoon without leaving any word as to his intentions, and the only information that could be gleaned, was from a friend from whom he had borrowed a horse and saddle and told that he desired to get his tools from a shaft near the old Baltic upon which he had been doing some work. Before leaving town, Mr. Linebach was seen to join him, both men riding the borrowed horse. Arriving at the shaft, it is supposed that the men started down and became overpowered by "black damp."
When night came on and Mr. Hickman had not returned, his wife became worried, and early the next morning a searching party started after the missing men. Arriving at the prospect it was found to be filled with "black damp." Five hours were occupied in clearing it out before the bodies of the men were found.
Hickman had been a resident of Stockton for over twenty years, and was very popular. He was 37 hears of age, and leaves a wife and four children. Linebach lived with is parents on a ranch near Ophir, and was 30 years of age. They will be buried at Stockton tomorrow.
--Deseret Evening News, Mon Aug 21 1899 p.7
Burial of Suffocated Miners.
(Special Correspondence.)
Mercur, Aug. 22.--Friends of Hyrum Hickman and Fred A. Lineback, who were suffocated in the Old Baltic shaft, returned yesterday from performing the last sad office for the departed. The men had completed a contract on the Old Baltic and last Friday went to get their tools. Failing to return that evening, a searching party went to find them. It was found that in the bottom of the shaft, which is sixty feet deep, was fifteen feet of foul air. Evidently Lineback was the first to go down and was overcome immediately by the foul air and fell some distance to the bottom of the shaft. Hickman had gone down to assist his comrade, and shared the same fate.
Pipes were put down, and by the aid of a fire on the surface the foul air was drawn out and C. McEntire went down and brought up the bodies. Lineback was lying in the bottom of the shaft and Hickman on top of him, as if in the act of trying to lift him.
Fred Lineback was a man about 29 years of age, and his parents are old settlers in Ophir. He was buried in the Ophir cemetery Monday.
Hyrum Hickman was about 39 years of age, and his people live in Stockton. He was buried at Tooele cemetery.
--Salt Lake Herald Thurs Aug 24 1899 p.5
---o0o---
I learn Hyrum Hickman, my cousin, has been suffocated in a mine at Stockton. He and his brother James lived at our home when they were small boys. Hy and I are about same age.
--Josiah Edwin Hickman, Journal C, Sept 10 1899
To see a map and pictures of the mining camp of West Dip, click here. (Be wary of sneaky ads!)
To learn about Hyrum's brother, James Barton Hickman, click here.
To return to the Hickman Family index page, click here.
