1 Sole Survivor From Mining Accident

[BRYAN]

The devastating news came more than three hours after Gov. Joe Manchin announced he had been told 12 of the miners survived the disaster. Rescue crews found the first victim earlier Tuesday evening.

"About the confusion, I can't tell you of anything more heart-wrenching than I've ever gone through in my life. Nothing," Manchin said.

The sole survivor of the disaster, identified by mining officials as 27-year-old Randal McCloy, was hospitalized in critical condition early Wednesday, a doctor said. When he arrived, he was unconscious but moaning, the hospital said.

"It's sorrow beyond belief," International Coal Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield said during a news conference.

Families gathered at the Sago Baptist Church began running out of the church and crying just before midnight, yelling "They're alive!" After two days of keeping vigil, they celebrated joyfully as church bells rang in jubilation.

As an ambulance drove away from the mine carrying what families believed was the first survivor, they applauded, not yet knowing there were no others.


http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060102114609990005&ncid=NWS00010000000001

[RET]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180507,00.html

I know people feel awful about the misunderstanding ... but this is unfathomable, unbelieveable and unexcusable.

My heart goes out to the families and friends.

[Adster]

Ret,

Got it on here on the news in the UK. How sad, very sad. Awful way to die. :crying: :crying: :crying: :crying:

[RET]

The whole thing is an awful mess. The more I read, the angrier I get.

What is up with the HIGH number of failed inspections?
How can MISCOMMUNICATION of that caliber happen?

I'm telling you, I wouldn't blame anyone if they wanted to see heads roll for this.

I know that's blunt. Sorry.

[BigE]

:mad: i live in WV, and IMO about the communications is as:

The governor left the SUGAR bowl, ---WHY OUR ASK---to show a face. Once there, he was all over TV Hugging, etc. After they said they found them (he claimed he was caught up in the histeria (sp)). I HEARD ON ONE CHANNEL (not fox) he made a personal contact with the church people to inform them of the good news. as quoted "he wanted to be the one to tell of the good news".

Darn-it HE IS THE GOVERNOR----HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE HOLE STATES SAFETY PROGRAMS, STATE RESCUE TEAMS ETC. Now they want to point fingers at the company----AND SOME POOR SHOP FOREMAN.

THIS IS CRAP......You know his people were watching the TV.....Why didn't someone whisper in his ear.....what was going on, was he worrying about how to SPIN it?:shhh:

HE IS THE GOVERNOR----HE SHOULD HAVE GONE AND TV AND TOLD EVERYONE TO SHUT UP THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE. OR BE PATIENT.

NO HE WAS NO WHERE TO BE SEEN. BUT BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT HE WAS SEEN ON TV IN ATLANTA AND WV.

ASK YOURSELF THIS----COULD HIS PEOPLE HAVE BY-PASSED THE COMPANY AND PUT THE WORD OUT.....TO MAKE HIM SHINE... ., if not why was he not on TV for 3 hours......he was the

ULTIMATE MAN IN CHARGE-----EVEN OVER THE COMPANIES RESUE TEAMS, AS STATE AND FEDERAL TEAMS I'M SURE CAME IN.

IF NOT THE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ALSO.

SORRY about caps, i'm just pissed at why the press is covering for him and trying to FRY some "AVERAGE:mad: JOE" SHOP FOREMAN.:mad:

[RET]

Thank you to Baghdad Bob for a good pm ...

I was pretty upset earlier. I realize that misunderstandings are going to happen, especially with wearing a breathing apparatus, technology that may not have a clear connection, etc. May this be a lesson that information should be confirmed several times before statements like that are made (maybe it had been?). Those poor families ... celebrating one minute and then trying to understand the tragic news the next. I know that those who didn't do this intentionally feel awful.

It's a terrible accident from so many angles.

Know what else is sad? I hate to say this, but you know it's going to happen ... someone is going to make a movie out of this. They always do.

[BigE]

Know what else is sad? I hate to say this, but you know it's going to happen ... someone is going to make a movie out of this. They always do.
I kinda agree with you , but in this case I think it may be a good thing. as long as it is down the road. Here is my reasoning.

1. These guys put their lives on the line to feed their family. There are some poor really poor mining towns around here. Sure they made decent money but odds are that money's spent ---

2. Secondly, I hope that if there is a movie (most of) PROFITS will get these families (including close relatives) out of the mountain town, so they don't have to look at that place another day.

3. Litigation money could be years down the road, in the mean time, if the company folds due to law suits, compensation could be years down the road.

Ret, this is one case I would argue for a movie for the families benefit (if they agree)., not only if it is to show the HARD/Brave work these guys do for the rest of our country only to be made fun of as dumb ole hillbillies.

Sincerely.
me, IIF's dumb ole hillbilly.

So

[RET]

If it's for the family's benefit ... then I will jump on that bandwagon with you. You make good points.

I have ranted a little much today. Sorry.:(

[BigE]

If it's for the family's benefit ... then I will jump on that bandwagon with you. You make good points.

I have ranted a little much today. Sorry.:(
your not ranting as far as i'm concerned......I was the one ranting about this.

What people don't realize IMO this will impact coal operations throughout the whole state of WV. There are going to be inspections on top of inspections., which may lead to companies closing :( , then coal prices going up, then energy prices going up as WV supplies 35% of the nations coal usage. Most importantly, more brave minors may lose their job :( ....if we have knee jerk politicians demanding tougher laws on these companies due to the media's over coverage of the inspection issues.

This was an accident...a bad chain of events. Those guys were good most had worked for over 20 years under the mountains, I'm sure they would have refused to enter a unsafe area, if it was unsafe for human life.

[MunnyBaggs]

I went to bed thinking they had survived. I woke up to shocking news. I only can imagine the grief the families went through. Whew.

[Soliel]

Big E

I live in California and many don't forget to tell me that I am in a "Blue state". I get really angry when anyone, puts down people who do not live in the big cities, are mid westerners, Southern folk, or "hillbillies". I don't think it's right. My gardener is a hillbilly type....he is so honest and friendly and humble. I really like him and he is such a breath of fresh air compared to those who think they are more sophisticated and better and sneer at those who have simpler lives, traditional values and believe in God. And his hair is red and his whole face and neck gets red....a redneck! hahaha

Anyway, I have lots of respect for hillbillies, Appalacian folk and other "salt of the earth" types in this country. People need to remember some of the best music came from this area and the greatest gospel, too.

Soliel


I kinda agree with you , but in this case I think it may be a good thing. as long as it is down the road. Here is my reasoning.

1. These guys put their lives on the line to feed their family. There are some poor really poor mining towns around here. Sure they made decent money but odds are that money's spent ---

2. Secondly, I hope that if there is a movie (most of) PROFITS will get these families (including close relatives) out of the mountain town, so they don't have to look at that place another day.

3. Litigation money could be years down the road, in the mean time, if the company folds due to law suits, compensation could be years down the road.

Ret, this is one case I would argue for a movie for the families benefit (if they agree)., not only if it is to show the HARD/Brave work these guys do for the rest of our country only to be made fun of as dumb ole hillbillies.

Sincerely.
me, IIF's dumb ole hillbilly.

So