All Nine Trapped U.S. Miners Rescued - Officials

Reuters | 7/28/02

[kattracks]

SOMERSET, Pa. (Reuters) - All nine miners trapped for three days in a flooded Pennsylvania coal mine were hauled to safety on Sunday, officials said.

Using a U.S. Navy capsule, rescuers pulled the miners one by one out of a flooded shaft 240 feet underground and up through a 26-inch wide hole that had been drilled down to the men.

The last of the nine men -- who were all in good condition -- was pulled to the surface at about 2:40 a.m., the officials said.

"All nine. All nine," Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker shouted in celebration as he pumped his fist in the air.The men were trapped in the Que Creek mine in rural Somerset County, about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, on Wednesday when they inadvertently broke through into an abandoned, water-filled shaft. The rescue brought a jubilant climax to an agonizing drama in which rescue operations overcame a series of troubling equipment problems that caused an 18-hour delay on Friday.

[My back yard]

When they told us that the water temperature was 55, I was pretty concerned. I tried to remember how long someone can live in that cold of water. Not very long, I think. I used to know.

Thank you God, for the answered prayers.

[Catspaw]

When there were no reports of additional soundings from the trapped miners by Friday evening, I had accepted that they were probably done for. Am I glad to hear different! This is great news. Thanks so much for the report.

Count me in that group. When I found out last night that they were alive, I said, "they're alive? THEY'RE ALIVE!"

I hope their recoveries are speedy and they're back home with their families in short order.

[Valin]

Families Rejoice at Miners' Survival

By LARRY NEUMEISTER
.The Associated Press

SOMERSET, Pa. (July 28) - Cheering and waving their hands in the air, families and friends of the nine coal miners discovered alive celebrated after their torturous three-day wait came to an end.

``I don't want to use the term loosely, but it was a miracle,'' said David Streets, a distant relation of Robert Pugh, one of the miners.

Hundreds of people had gathered in the Sipesville Fire Hall, where many family members had been keeping vigil for days. When news came Saturday night that the men were safe, the room exploded with euphoria.

``There was so much hope in that room it was incredible,'' said Sandra Watkins, a friend of trapped miner John Unger.

On Friday night, the families of the victims of Flight 93 sent along words of support and encouragement to the loved ones of the miners. The mine several hundred feet underground was not far from the Sept. 11 crash site.

``During our time of tragedy, you extended yourselves to us and tirelessly continued to do so. We consider you our family, and we sincerely hope and pray that the recovery effort will be successful in bringing your loved ones home,'' said the e-mail, which was signed ``The Families of United Flight 93.''

At a news conference Saturday, Gov. Mark Schweiker held up a copy of the e-mail from the Flight 93 victims' families sent to a group they called ``the Somerset mining families.''

``It was uplifting to know that families that had suffered on Sept. 11 by virtue of that plane crashing ... into the Somerset County hillside took the time to express their sentiments and be supportive,'' Schweiker said.

Schweiker called the e-mail ``exemplary of how the nation has responded with incredible support'' for the victims of Wednesday's accident.

The family members had made several trips to the rescue site and officials met with them every hour.

Although it had been a long wait, friends said the families never gave up hope that the miners were alive.

``In the room there was a gamut of emotions and hope,'' Streets said. ``When the drill bit broke, some of those hopes were dashed, but there was never any despair.''

07/28/02 00:56 EDT

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.

[PJ-Comix]

WOO HOO! Good News!!! I just heard about it here on this thread! From the grim talk I thought those miners had little chance so this is great news.

[PJ-Comix]

When there were no reports of additional soundings from the trapped miners by Friday evening, I had accepted that they were probably done for.

I had the same thought so this is a great turn of events.

[Mudboy Slim]

Truly excellent news...the Medyuh had about convinced me that these folks had to be frozen to death or drowned, but I shouldda known better to believe their hype...MUD

[DoughtyOne]

Same here.

[DoughtyOne]

From what I hear they're in pretty good shape. Wow!

[DoughtyOne]

Isn't it! Sorta like Christmas in July....

[csvset]

This rescue was fantastic!

The local rag did have a big headline about the miner's rescue w/out any pics, however, they ran an article w/a large pic of NC's Edwards and how "presidential" he is.

What a crock. I like the pics in posts in posts #12 & 17.

Fwiw, I'll e-mail the slugs and blast them.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Thank God! I had given up hope after it was reported nothing had been heard from them. Talk about miracles!

[Mudboy Slim]

"...they ran an article w/a large pic of NC's Edwards and how "presidential" he is."

I hope beyond hope the RATS run that Ambulance-Chasin' Faux GoodOl'Boy Edwards...the Vast RightWing Conspirators will have the Sheeple unable to tell the difference 'tween he and Der SchleekMeister before Election Day!!!

Hallelujah on the Rescue, though...the PA Guv'nah ain't camera-shy, is he?

LOL...MUD

[maestro]

Rejoice.........with Prayers of Thanksgiving!

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

Everybody,..........GO TO CHURCH........!!!

[TxBec]

Isn't it nice to have a happy ending for a change?

[philman_36]

Big Bad John
Through the dust and the smoke of this man-made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well
Grabbed a saggin' timber, gave out with a groan
And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone-Big John
(Big John, Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)

And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shove
Then a miner yelled out "There's a light up above!"
And twenty men scrambled from a would-be grave
Now there's only one left down there to save-Big John

[TxBec]

the last line of that song always gets me.

[RobFromGa]

For those Freepers that missed this story last night live, I suggest reading this thread, it is like experiencing it in real time...

Miners Rescue Mission [BREAKING Update- 11:11 PM EDT- Foxnews says "Nine For Nine" Yee Ha!]

[estpeter]

Hey Michael! Stupid white guys huh!!

[wita]

Yes! Miracles take some time, sometime.

[.30Carbine]

This is the best news we've had in a very long time.

I was so privileged to be on the live thread last night, following along in real-time. We don't own a TV set, so hole_n_one's pics and Petronski's up-to-the-minute news flashes were joyfully received here in VT. Praise the Lord.

Semper911 said this on that thread, "God moves mountains, but you better bring a shovel." That says it all, doesn't it? God was in this, from beginning to end, and our prayers were most certainly heard for our brothers; but it took the refusal of those nine men to despair, and the refusal of the rescuers above ground to quit to make it happen. Many heroes here: the mine owner, the Governor, the men in the mine and the men above-ground, the families, CNN, FReepers...a long list of grand Americans.