US coal mine collapse traps six-Utah - Thread No. 2

[JanetElaine]

In support of the families of the coal miners, Helper City will be hosting a benefit (auction, food, prayers and song) on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Main Street Park in Helper. Any contributions that the public wishes to make towards this fund raising event would be greatly appreciated. Contact Debbie Jones at 435-650-1882 or Mava Farrell at 435-472-5954. Donations can be picked up on request, money donations can be made payable to Helper Crandall Canyon Fund at Wells Fargo Bank.
http://www.ecprogress.com/index.php?tier=1&page=happenings

 

[JanetElaine]

Would you be Ok with losing your husband AND son in a recovery effort for deceased people you didn't even know?

What you're forgetting is they all DO know them. One of the killed rescuers was related to one of the trapped miners and other relatives of these two are right now ready to get in there and search for them whenever they get the okay. Not saying they will get an okay, but they would go in there in a heartbeat.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Aug 21, 2007 4:34 pm US/Mountain

Dale Black’s widow didn’t want his funeral to turn into a showdown with the co-owner of the mine where he died, and most went along with her request to avoid confrontation.

Frustration is high with six miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine – men Black and two others died trying to rescue – all but left for dead. But even now, when people in this mining community criticize the officials whose businesses pay their bills, they often do it in whispers.

At Tuesday’s funeral, held in a campground in the shadow of the mountain mine, one man waited for Bob Murray, the mine’s co-owner, to accept the thanks of one woman, and then stepped forward, his hand outstretched.

While hundreds of mourners waited in line nearby to sign a guest book, Murray reached out, expecting to shake hands.

But the man, who declined to be identified, didn’t want to shake hands. He said his friend was waiting to be rescued, and he accused Murray of skimping on the rescue efforts.

He tried to pass Murray a dollar bill. “This is just to help you out so you don’t kill him,” he said.

Murray’s head snapped back as if slapped. When the man wouldn’t take back the bill, Murray threw the money on the ground. “I’ll tell you what son, you need to find out about the Lord,” Murray said.

As Murray walked away from the scene, his son picked up the dollar.

“We’ll give it to the church,” Ryan Murray said.

More at link: http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_233184116.html

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

August 21st, 2007 @ 6:00pm

Alex Cabrero Reporting

One of the three rescuers killed last week was buried this afternoon. Dale Black was trying to find the original six trapped miners, when the Crandall Canyon mine collapsed on him and his team.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people came out for the funeral service. His friends and family didn't want today to be a sad day; instead they wanted it to be a happy day because they were celebrating Black's life. Dale Black was somebody everybody in the community knew; they liked him. One of the popular phrases we heard was that's "Dale just being Dale." The guy really had a lot of fun in life and lived life to the fullest.

He worked in the coal mines where his co-workers knew him as "Bird." When they all heard he died in the collapse last week, they couldn't believe "Bird" was gone. One person said, "Just about every day I do something, I say to myself, ‘You know, I learned this from Dale.'" Black's friend, Alan Childs, said, "We live life sort of here, and Dale lived life sort of here; in a different sphere, a sphere that had life on steroids." Black's nephew, Kim Lilly, said, "All the fishing trips, hunting elk, deer, birds, and even my first rabbit you made me clean. You were laughing as I puked all over the place."

There were a lot of laughs at Dale's funeral because many said he was just that type of person, always having fun, always laughing and always trying to get others to join him.

There were also some touching words from his family. His brother spoke during the ceremony. Guy Black said, "I know God must have a great a plan for this fun-hearted, ordinary man because heroes make the best angels, I've heard." Dale's daughter, Ashley, said, "I have had more time with my dad in 23 years than most people have in a lifetime. We'll get through this because that's what dad taught us. He'll be loved and he'll be missed. But he will never be forgotten." Friends said Black was never scared to go into the mine, especially to search for those trapped miners because he felt it was his job to find them. Ashley agreed. She said, "My dad worked as hard as we knew he would to get those miners out of there, and he never gave up hope. There were times when he was up there that he didn't even need to be, but he just wanted to do his part in the rescue efforts."

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1672208

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Fifth Borehole Expected to Break Through Tonight
August 21st, 2007 @ 6:00pm
Read it in Spanish

Sam Penrod and Courtney Orton Reporting

All rescue efforts to reach the miners underground remain on indefinite hold after an outside group of experts concluded the mountain is still too unstable.
So now, all that is going on at the mine is the drilling of the fifth borehole, work that should be finished this evening. "We'll decide after this is down and the microphone is inserted and the camera is inserted as to what we do next, and we will do it in conjunction with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. I can tell you this, they and we won't give up until there is no hope," said Robert Murray, co-owner of Murray Energy Corporation.

This latest hole being drilled is the deepest of any of them at more than 2,000 feet down into the mine. But the hope left is dwindling fast because the fourth hole showed low oxygen levels inside the mine.

There has been some talk in recent days of drilling a 30-inch hole down into the mine, which would allow for a rescue capsule. But unless a miner is found alive, there are no plans to do this.

And talk of drilling the hole to send rescuers down into the mine to recover bodies is apparently not going to happen either. "We also believe that the significant risk is unacceptable to send mine rescue teams underground 1,500 and 1,600 feet for the purpose of exploration," explained Richard Stickler, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The families of the miners told us yesterday not only do they believe the 30-inch hole should have been drilled days ago, they want it to be drilled now. They want to at least see if it is possible, instead of waiting even longer, in case the miners are found alive.

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1672137

 

[SeriouslySearching]

The funerals are no place for people to be attacking Murray. It shows a huge lack of respect for the deceased, the family, and for themselves. That was a low class/no class move with the dollar bill. He should be ashamed! Bob Murray should be at the funerals along with everyone involved with this incident, unless the family requests differently.

The funerals should be about the heros who sacrificed everything to save their fellow man. Their lives should be celebrated and their families should be proud of the men who bravely risked it all. It is terribly sad, but they do have great reason to be very proud of them. I applaud them all! May they rest in peace.

 

[cheko1]

Would you be Ok with losing your husband AND son in a recovery effort for deceased people you didn't even know?

Your forgetting the men wanting to go in are friends of the moners. Some have grown up together & are more like brothers.

And to get NO compensation for their sacrifice because they signed waivers?

The waver would be for Murray Energy & to free them of liability.

Is your son married? Have children? Yes & Yes

Are THEY willing to for him to sacrifice his life to TRY to give a stranger's remains to his family?

If my sons felt they were right & wanted to do something to help someone I'd hate to be the one who stood in either of thems road.

You'd be willing to lose your husband's and son's support and financial contributions forever? To waive ALL life insurance payments, future pensions or health benefits and pay for the funerals fully yourself?

I don't control my sons or my hubby. If they felt they shouldn't / they wouldn't. I may not like what they was going to do & I'd voice my opinion but they'd do what they felt they had to do. Like it or not.


To go into debt perhaps? Lose your home perhaps?
And what if your son and husband should die during their attempts without recovering ANY remains and die in a collapsed tunnel 2000' underground - would you then expect OTHER men to risk their lives and their family's main income forever to recover your family member's remains?
I would never ask anyone else to risk there lives for my loved ones bad decisions. Never ever....

And if THOSE men died would you then expect MORE men to waive all compensation and step forward to recover the remains? How many more dead men with grieving and financially destitute families left behind are "acceptable" then? 3, 5, 12, 20? Read above it would be there choice & I'd have to deal with it. They would die doing what they felt was right..

It isn't the MONEY - it's the LIVES at risk. There is not enough compensation in the world to make losing a husband, father or brother "OK" again. That equipment doesn't operate itself and the recovery can't be done remotely. PEOPLE are going to risk their lives. Brotherhood is wonderful and admirable but you will NEVER convince me that those miners are sitting up in Heaven wanting even ONE MORE MAN to die on their behalf. We will have to agree to disagree because its all about the money & Murray Energy.


And I would not expect THAT for MY husband's remains and I would not allow even ONE man to risk life and limb to recover the empty shell of my husband (or sister, or parents). And I would NEVER agree to my husband risking EVERYTHING to recover even a family member's remains. NO WAY.

That's like saying that a dead body is worth more than a living, breathing person - how selfish.

My Opinion!

This is just my opinion & my opinion only!!!

 

[concernedperson]

August 21st, 2007 @ 6:00pm

Alex Cabrero Reporting

One of the three rescuers killed last week was buried this afternoon. Dale Black was trying to find the original six trapped miners, when the Crandall Canyon mine collapsed on him and his team.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people came out for the funeral service. His friends and family didn't want today to be a sad day; instead they wanted it to be a happy day because they were celebrating Black's life. Dale Black was somebody everybody in the community knew; they liked him. One of the popular phrases we heard was that's "Dale just being Dale." The guy really had a lot of fun in life and lived life to the fullest.

He worked in the coal mines where his co-workers knew him as "Bird." When they all heard he died in the collapse last week, they couldn't believe "Bird" was gone. One person said, "Just about every day I do something, I say to myself, ‘You know, I learned this from Dale.'" Black's friend, Alan Childs, said, "We live life sort of here, and Dale lived life sort of here; in a different sphere, a sphere that had life on steroids." Black's nephew, Kim Lilly, said, "All the fishing trips, hunting elk, deer, birds, and even my first rabbit you made me clean. You were laughing as I puked all over the place."

There were a lot of laughs at Dale's funeral because many said he was just that type of person, always having fun, always laughing and always trying to get others to join him.

There were also some touching words from his family. His brother spoke during the ceremony. Guy Black said, "I know God must have a great a plan for this fun-hearted, ordinary man because heroes make the best angels, I've heard." Dale's daughter, Ashley, said, "I have had more time with my dad in 23 years than most people have in a lifetime. We'll get through this because that's what dad taught us. He'll be loved and he'll be missed. But he will never be forgotten." Friends said Black was never scared to go into the mine, especially to search for those trapped miners because he felt it was his job to find them. Ashley agreed. She said, "My dad worked as hard as we knew he would to get those miners out of there, and he never gave up hope. There were times when he was up there that he didn't even need to be, but he just wanted to do his part in the rescue efforts."

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1672208

Bless the people that give up so much for others. I think they are known as saints and are God's emissaries on earth. We may not be as strong and we may not be able to do as Dale has done but it is a lesson for us to learn. Someone is constantly trying to tell us that people are the most importent thing. Otherwise, there would be no risk takers to save lives.

It isn't Wall Street driving heartfelt issues it is the human heart. These thoughts need to be resounded throughout the country. Tragedy happens daily but real people help not color coded barcodes. Not overstuffed pompous advertising executives and not Fortune 500 when their margins are on the line. This is a different world than before, there is no glorifying this business acumen when so much is at stake. People are tired of it and know that being amenable to keep your job doesn't mean much.

 

[cheko1]

Bless the people that give up so much for others. I think they are known as saints and are God's emissaries on earth. We may not be as strong and we may not be able to do as Dale has done but it is a lesson for us to learn. Someone is constantly trying to tell us that people are the most importent thing. Otherwise, there would be no risk takers to save lives.

It isn't Wall Street driving heartfelt issues it is the human heart. These thoughts need to be resounded throughout the country. Tragedy happens daily but real people help not color coded barcodes. Not overstuffed pompous advertising executives and not Fortune 500 when their margins are on the line. This is a different world than before, there is no glorifying this business acumen when so much is at stake. People are tired of it and know that being amenable to keep your job doesn't mean much.

Thank you Concernedperson...........Thats just what I've been trying to say.....people are the most important thing to us all. Without frineds & family & risk takers what would life really be about? I know when I go to bed at night I have tried in some way to make someone feel good. To me thats what life is ALL about!

All the money in the world means nothing if your miserable & unhappy. Money can't buy love or happiness.

RKNOWLEY: READ THIS PLEASE.......

I truely felt sorry for Murray & what happened to him at Dale Black's funeral..... to me there is a time & a place for everything & that wasn't the time or the place.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Cheko, I'm reading you. I agree it shouldn't have taken place at Dale's funeral/remembrance. The whole thing should have been in honor of Dale. The rest can wait.

 

[JanetElaine]

Cheko, I'm reading you. I agree it shouldn't have taken place at Dale's funeral/remembrance. The whole thing should have been in honor of Dale. The rest can wait.

For sure.

 

[dingo]

My thoughts and prayers to the families of the deceased rescuers today......may no more lives be lost in this tragedy.

 

[JBean]

I think it is hard for some of us to imagine that there are those that are willing to give their lives to save others and that is what gives their life here on earth purpose. That IS the compensation so to speak.
I know as sure as I am sitting here that my sons would be the first ones in there risking their lives to save their friends and family. I know it with my heart.They would not leave one of their loved ones behind.
Some of us sitting at our computers are not feeling the passion and emotion that is running through the veins of these brothers.
It is easy to sit here and rationlize the pros and cons of what is safe or not safe, easy or hard, risky or not risky etc. But to some of those people down there that all means nothing and I say God bless them.
Not saying it is right or wrong because it is not my place to say whether it is or isn't.
It is each of their own decision to make with their own families. As long as their heroics do not physically endanger the innocent, then let them do as they will.
If they cannot do it on their own, they will know soon enough and they will then be satisfied that they did all they could.
JMHO of course.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

JBean,
I agree with your post 100%

I think it is hard for some of us to imagine that there are those that are willing to give their lives to save others and that is what gives their life here on earth purpose. That IS the compensation so to speak.
I know as sure as I am sitting here that my sons would be the first ones in there risking their lives to save their friends and family. I know it with my heart.They would not leave one of their loved ones behind.
Some of us sitting at our computers are not feeling the passion and emotion that is running through the veins of these brothers.
It is easy to sit here and rationlize the pros and cons of what is safe or not safe, easy or hard, risky or not risky etc. But to some of those people down there that all means nothing and I say God bless them.
Not saying it is right or wrong because it is not my place to say whether it is or isn't.
It is each of their own decision to make with their own families. As long as their heroics do not physically endanger the innocent, then let them do as they will.
If they cannot do it on their own, they will know soon enough and they will then be satisfied that they did all they could.
JMHO of course.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

HUNTINGTON -

Under sheer sandstone cliffs dappled with tall pines, 18 archers pulled bows taut and let arrows fly toward the heavens in a tribute to a coal miner they called "Bird."

Coal country folks, a thousand or more strong, gathered under huge cottonwood trees at Little Bear Creek Campground in Huntington Canyon on Tuesday to pay homage to Dale Ray Black, 48. The veteran miner died a short distance away Aug. 16 in a rescue operation to save a half-dozen men trapped in the Crandall Canyon mine.

The funeral services were not held in a building, and that's fitting, said Black's brother-in-law, the Rev. Carl Sitterud of the Desert Edge Christian Chapel. The outdoors was Bird's church.

He was a hunter and archer, a fisherman and loved to lead his friends on adventures in the mountains and deserts of Emery County and central Utah.

"He might not have been a religious man, but he believed in God," Sitterud said. "When the name of Dale Black is spoken, it will bring images of unselfishness. He gave his life for his friends."

More at link: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6680038

 

[cheko1]

I think it is hard for some of us to imagine that there are those that are willing to give their lives to save others and that is what gives their life here on earth purpose. That IS the compensation so to speak.
I know as sure as I am sitting here that my sons would be the first ones in there risking their lives to save their friends and family. I know it with my heart.They would not leave one of their loved ones behind.
Some of us sitting at our computers are not feeling the passion and emotion that is running through the veins of these brothers.
It is easy to sit here and rationlize the pros and cons of what is safe or not safe, easy or hard, risky or not risky etc. But to some of those people down there that all means nothing and I say God bless them.
Not saying it is right or wrong because it is not my place to say whether it is or isn't.
It is each of their own decision to make with their own families. As long as their heroics do not physically endanger the innocent, then let them do as they will.
If they cannot do it on their own, they will know soon enough and they will then be satisfied that they did all they could.
JMHO of course.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[cheko1]

Cheko, I'm reading you. I agree it shouldn't have taken place at Dale's funeral/remembrance. The whole thing should have been in honor of Dale. The rest can wait.

Did you see I said, I truely felt sorry for Murray? :doh:

I wanted you to take note of it!!! :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Don't you worry dear friend. I took note of it. Wrote it down with my Sharpie pen and dated it...still trying to decide if I should frame it and hang??

Did you see I said, I truely felt sorry for Murray? :doh:

I wanted you to take note of it!!! :banghead: :banghead:

 

[JanetElaine]

I think it is hard for some of us to imagine that there are those that are willing to give their lives to save others and that is what gives their life here on earth purpose. That IS the compensation so to speak.
I know as sure as I am sitting here that my sons would be the first ones in there risking their lives to save their friends and family. I know it with my heart.They would not leave one of their loved ones behind.
Some of us sitting at our computers are not feeling the passion and emotion that is running through the veins of these brothers.
It is easy to sit here and rationlize the pros and cons of what is safe or not safe, easy or hard, risky or not risky etc. But to some of those people down there that all means nothing and I say God bless them.
Not saying it is right or wrong because it is not my place to say whether it is or isn't.
It is each of their own decision to make with their own families. As long as their heroics do not physically endanger the innocent, then let them do as they will.
If they cannot do it on their own, they will know soon enough and they will then be satisfied that they did all they could.
JMHO of course.

What a wonderful post! Best I've read in a while (no offense to others ).

 

[cheko1]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Don't you worry dear friend. I took note of it. Wrote it down with my Sharpie pen and dated it...still trying to decide if I should frame it and hang??