The Working Man

I don't know how many of y'all are watching the increasingly sad mining-disaster story out in Utah. Things are looking worse with each passing day.

All political disagreements aside - 'cause most miners would probably want to strangle me - I just want to pay respect to the guys that keep our entire country running. Those of us who work in offices really DO NOT KNOW what "hard work" is. Truly "hard work" is doing back-breaking labor, day in and day out, with skill and dedication and leaving the house everyday, saying goodbye to your little girl or boy, not knowing if you'll see either of them again the next day.

I don't know HOW these guys do it. :eek:

Without them NOTHING would happen. There would be no USA as we know it today.

http://www.synthstuff.com/mt/archives/bertrand-miner.jpg
American Hero

http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2007/08/12/utahprayers.jpg
Sunday morning at the Utah Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in Huntington, UT

http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2007/08/12/utahminex.jpg
A 8 5/8 drill bores a hole outside the Crandall
Canyon Mine where rescue miners are trying to reach
six coal miners still trapped 1,500 feet beneath the
surface.


By Brian Passey, USA TODAY
8/12/07
HUNTINGTON, Utah — Rescue workers on Monday were preparing equipment to begin drilling a third hole into Crandall Canyon Mine after two attempts failed to locate six trapped miners.
Robert Murray, chairman of Murray Energy and part owner of the mine, said that he expected drilling could take three to four days.

Murray said the hole will bore 1,414 feet into a ventilation shaft where rescue workers think the miners may have gone. Two previous holes were more than 1,800 feet.

There has been no response from the men since the mine collapsed a week ago. Two earlier holes penetrated areas near where the men should have been working, but listening devices did not pick up any sound from them.

A camera lowered in the second, 8 5/8-inch hole, showed some mining equipment, including a tool bag and a chain, but no signs of life. Richard Stickler, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, said the camera will be lowered into the hole again using better lighting.

Despite their disappointment, rescue workers said they are continuing to operate as if the men are alive.

"Our attitude is that we always have to have hope," said Stickler. "It would be a terrible mistake to ever give up hope unless you know for sure."

One of four miners who got out of the collapsing coal mine alive said Sunday he didn't feel or hear a thing as the mountain shook and caved in, trapping his six colleagues....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-12-utahmine_N.htm

MY hearts go out to all the miners....

I think they are actually digging in the wrong spot... I believe that mine is pretty big...

Thank you for starting this thread. These men and their families have been on my mind every day since I first heard of the accident. I do pray for them and hope for them all that there is a possibility that some/all of them are alive. I can't even imagine the horror of what they are all going through. :(

Yes, thank you Harrison for starting this thread. I think each of us has been thinking of these men and their families since the news of the mine collapasing.

Thanks Harrison.

When i see this kinda thing on the news, it reminds me that i sometimes forget what some people do for a living. Pretty amazing. To bring home money to support their families...

I pray for them too. Those poor guys... what a horrible way to have to die. I do hope that at least some are alive when they can finally get to them.

Good post. My heart goes out to both the miners and their families.

Good post. My heart goes out to both the miners and their families.


./echo these words

praying for a miracle. :prayer:

God bless these men and their families.

CNN News Break!!

Ambulances seen racing to the mines - not sure if it's a recovery of survivors or if it's rescuers themselves who've been injured.

Keep them all in your prayers!

It appears that some rescuers have been injured somehow.

1 rescue worker dead and at least 8 hurt in Utah mine accident (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/16/utah.mine/index.html) :(

Miu, this is SO sad.

But I'm also glad the news is so prominent. We need to realize our cheap electricity sometimes comes at a terrible human cost. From what I've heard, this is a radical kind of mining out West called 'retreat mining,' and it's way more aggressive and far deeper than what the folks out in KY and WV typically do.

That's partly why it's taking so long. Pillars need to be continually reinforced to prevent collapse and even then it's not enough sometimes - as the latest accident shows.

I live near Salt Lake City. It is a huge disappointment and heartbreaking to everyone here. All we can do is pray. It's comforting to know that people outside of here care.

...It's comforting to know that people outside of here care.

Certainly, Baglady. You and all the mining families have our condolences and prayers.

Three rescuers have been killed in the effort. :(

Three rescuers have been killed in the effort. :(

Yes, and it's very sad, Jellybean.

I have to admit that I'm getting a little angry now. :mad: Because there is technology out there that allows miners to have some sort of personal device that is either a beacon or a communication device - letting rescuers know WHERE a miner is. So you don't waste time digging where he isn't.

A CNN commentator said it's in use in OTHER COUNTRIES but isn't mandatory in the USA. WTF??? :eek: Let me guess: It's "too expensive." Well, we'll see what happens in the next few weeks and whether or not our mine owners learn anything.

Well, we'll see what happens in the next few weeks and whether or not our mine owners learn anything.

They will learn nothing from this. Sadly their lives cost less to pay out this way then to protect them on a daily basis.

The mine collapse in WV convinced me of that.

And I don't think it's as rare as they'd make you believe. My next door neighbor was killed in a coal mine collapse (we live less than a mile from it, but it's no longer active).

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this.

I would be so furious if I were relatives of the original 6 trapped miners.

The mine company and the government are throwing the miners under the bus, possibly burying them alive... talking about "They may never be found."

My opinion is that as long as there are men who volunteer to go in there, the digging should continue. Of COURSE it's dangerous. So is firefighting and logging and so much else. But as long as we have workers who volunteer for the dangerous work, then it gets done. :mad:

When all is said and done there are going to be some hellacious lawsuits filed.