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These are the men who crawl deep into the earth and mine coal so I can sit here with my air conditioning, computer, lamp and big tv, just killing time. My dad was a miner, and he's told me all I've ever needed to hear.

Anyone who wants a deeper appreciation of the character and bravery of these men should read Orwell's "Road to Wigan Pier." It is a paean to socialism, true, but it also describes the intolerable subterranean journey the miner would take just to get to the vein where he would work his shift.

Eleven feet left to go! Every inch is precious.

These are the men who crawl deep into the earth and mine coal so I can sit here with my air conditioning, computer, lamp and big tv, just killing time. My dad was a miner, and he's told me all I've ever needed to hear.

There are alot of miners in my family as well. This story breaks my heart. I had an Uncle, and I keep remembering hearing him say he hoped 'no more of his' relatives would have to mine (ie., get an education). Moving west, closer to Pittsburgh, meant getting a steel mill job (which made more money and unbelievably was safer work). My Uncle Owen died when I was a teenager (from black lung). I have thought alot along your same lines Petronski.

While watching the local coverage earlier today, Gov. Schweiker commented that he had received a telegram from the family group that was formed for the relatives of Flight 93 (that crashed not that far from the Quicreek Mine on 9/11) keeping the miners,' their families and the rescue workers in their prayers (they had received alot of support from the Somerset County residents they had encountered when they came to see the site post 9/11). I thought that was really a nice gesture.

"These are the men who crawl deep into the earth and mine coal so I can sit here with my air conditioning, computer, lamp and big tv, just killing time. My dad was a miner, and he's told me all I've ever needed to hear."

What's happened to them is on the heads of every vile anti-nuclear power greenbag.

Thanks, I'll check it out. My Father was given a Presidential Citation by Truman for saving other miner lives. My heart goes out to these families. I still remember my mother rocking me while we waiting for news,when my Dad was trapped several miles down. He worked in iron mines. One of my Uncles was trapped once for several days. Dad hadn't worked in mining for 25 years when he died, but many men that had worked for him came to his funeral. They all made a point of telling me how much they respected him. I guess the bravery they showed each other established a special bond.

My daughter read "Road to Wigan Pier" earlier this summer. She expressed much these same sentiments while watching the coverage on Fox News this evening.

Prayers continue here in Southern Illinois coal country.

>>...These are the men who crawl deep into the earth and mine coal so I can sit here with my air conditioning, computer, lamp and big tv, just killing time. My dad was a miner, and he's told me all I've ever needed to hear....<<

My father was a miner in PA for a few years until WW2 when he enlisted in the Army. His father mined all his life until he died of black lung disease at the age of 45.

My father once took me to visit a friend of his who mined all his life. I remember the drapes were all closed in the day and there were no lights on in the house.