Posted on 07/28/2002 6:40:05 AM PDT by Isara
SOMERSET, Pa. –– Rescue workers on Sunday pulled all nine miners one by one from the watery, 240-foot-deep shaft where they had been trapped for three days, a jubilant reward for an effort fraught with one gut-wrenching setback after another.
After three grim days of frantic drilling delayed by broken bits and busted seals, defiant crews – with no signs of life to encourage them since Thursday – bored a giant auger through the ceiling of 4-foot high chamber at 10:16 p.m. Saturday. The breakthrough allowed workers to drop a telephone line to the miners through a small air pipe.
Moments later, rescuers were seen hugging and giving the thumbs-up.
Then the word came from an unidentified, mud-caked rescue worker who shouted up from the pit near where they dropped the communication device: "They're all down there. They're waiting to come up. There's nine of them. We talked to them on the telephone."
The first words from the miners were blunt. "What took you so long?" one of the miners asked, according to a rescuer.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I think that the wrong guy from PA is the Homeland Security Czar.
He's the son of former Senator Richard Schweiker. Why he declined to run for Gov. this year is beyond me.
Same here. I watched some of the miners being brought up. Had tears running down my face and didn't realize it for a long time. Thank the Good Lord for this miracle. And a big round of applause for the rescue workers that saved them.
I've been trying to look his background up but have not been too successful. With my luck, after spouting off here, I will find out that he used to be member of the Communist Party or something.
What I did see was that he really grew during this short crisis and presented the persona of someone who makes sure the job gets done.
Admittedly the ending of this crisis was quite satisfactory and had the result been worse I may not feel the way I do.
To be truthful I really have never totally liked Gov. Ridge on a personal level. Unfair, but there it is. I just have the gut reaction that I would rather have Schweiker in my foxhole.
Although he's my governor, I really can't say I know alot about him. I dare say, though, that he's probably not ideologically pure enough for the hard-core around here. But he has my support, he impressed the hell out of me these past few days.
I'm sure we'll be hearing much about this man in the future.
I had a chance to drive by the site this morning and was amazed by the amount of equipment they had. Much of it in reserve. The Gov really pulled out all the stops.
In a victory like this, there is always enough credit to go around. Hell, even Heraldo is probably taking credit for a part. He was unwatchable, of course, but multiple cable channels all broadcasting the same pool coverage does give the viewer choices not elsewhere available in media.
Schweiker did, indeed, come across well. I believe he runs in his own right in November and can see his TV ads with last night's tape.
We have a national/international feel good story. Let's see how the democrats can pee in this pool.
No, he's from the STATE DEP.
pissed at the grandstanding.
What grandstanding are you talking about? I saw nothing of the kind.
. I believe he runs in his own right in November and can see his TV ads with last night's tape.
He isn't running for governor, or anything else for that matter.
We have a national/international feel good story. Let's see how the democrats can pee in this pool.
Well, they could just follow your example.
Sadly...looks like Rendell will have a walkover.
The old fashioned concept of actually producing a critical good or service is just outdated and low-tech. Unless of course it is your arss in need of American genius, I thought it had all but vanished. Thank god they were not in the bottom of a mine in China! They would hold the funeral if lifting them out cost more than a bucket of coal.
Thank You Haliburton!
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