IIRC Kirk Douglas was an ace reporter down on his luck. he was lucky to get a job in some hick paper out in the midwest somewhere. he got a lucky career break when news reached him about a mantrapped in a cavein in a local mine. He knew a gold mine when he saw it.
By his careful questions and leading commetns, he managed to turn a simple rescue into a week long circuis complete with tourist trappings, a ferris wheel, food booths, etc. as people came from all over to watch the rescue effort continue. Meanwhile KD's star kept on a-rising. he was getting all kinds of offers to come to NYC and write, etc..
The trapped miner? he died of exposure.
It would be interesting to follow this thing to conclusion.