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Trapped Miners Pulled From Pa. Shaft (Details)
Washington Post ^ | July 28, 2002 | Judy Lin

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.

More

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: miner; miners; pa; pennsylvania; trappedminers
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To: Miss Marple
Nope, he didn't say they thought they were going to die because the rescuers had given up..........they thought they were going to die when the water left them only with their noses and chins out of the water.

Miners know that they won't be left in the mine without EVERYTHING possible done to resuce them.

81 posted on 07/28/2002 1:56:07 PM PDT by OldFriend
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To: winnipeg
Go back to playing at DU......
82 posted on 07/28/2002 1:58:52 PM PDT by OldFriend
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Comment #83 Removed by Moderator

Comment #84 Removed by Moderator

To: Isara
The Washington Post conveniently leaves out the rest of the miners quote. He said 'Get us the hell out of here and get us some chew.'
85 posted on 07/28/2002 2:02:38 PM PDT by fiftymegaton
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To: Irene Adler
Have a check already written. The heart of those miners was an inspiration to all Americans.
86 posted on 07/28/2002 2:03:57 PM PDT by OldFriend
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
At least Sinise, if he is a lefty, apparently keeps his mouth shut about it. I don't mind performers being lefties, if they don't shove it in my face a la Baldwin, Sarandon et al.
87 posted on 07/28/2002 2:05:27 PM PDT by Tony in Hawaii
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To: Miss Marple
They showed Gov. Schweiker on TV actually testing the rescue pod before they sent it down.
88 posted on 07/28/2002 2:07:52 PM PDT by fiftymegaton
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To: Isara
"There's nine men ready to get the hell out of here. We need some chew."

Man, I love that quote...

89 posted on 07/28/2002 2:14:59 PM PDT by FenianOfEire
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To: Miss Marple
"it is guys like that, as well as the military, the cops and the firemen, that will keep us going. "

UGH. Don't you realize that the guys saved were (I hate to even say it on this site) lazy union members and environment destroying coal miners at that. (/ sarcasm)

These Reagan Democrat types were run out of party by the Country Club Corporate Wall Streeter supporters of Bush the Elder, Viagra Bobdole, and Bush the Younger. Maybe they can be brought back again by more than a just verbal 'atta boys'.

90 posted on 07/28/2002 2:17:28 PM PDT by ex-snook
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To: winnipeg
What's DU?

Democrat Underground... a fanatical website from the opposition... Don't worry, anyone with an "unapproved" view point is branded an infiltrator with sabotage on their mind... You'll be flamed repeatedly, etc., etc... It's almost a rite of passage around here. When you can't argue the facts, "ad hominem", as I always say... That's all it is...

91 posted on 07/28/2002 2:20:33 PM PDT by FenianOfEire
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To: OldFriend

Sun Jul 28, 6:05 AM ET Sipesville Fire Chief Mark Zambanini gives the thumbs up sign as miner Mark Popernack, the ninth and final miner, is rescued from the Quecreek mine early Sunday, July 28, 2002, in Somerset Pa. Nine miners were pulled one-by-one from the watery, 240-foot-deep shaft where they had been trapped for three days, a jubilant reward for an effort that had been fraught with one gut-wrenching setback after another.

92 posted on 07/28/2002 2:20:43 PM PDT by mickeylee
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To: capt. norm
I just hope he gets out there and pumps for Fisher who is way down in the polls to Fast Eddie Rendell.
93 posted on 07/28/2002 2:22:01 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Miss Marple
In honor of all the rescuers!

Miners at the Quecreek Mine embrace July 28,2002 after nine of their co-workers were rescued after being trapped in the mine since late Wednesday. At left is Larry Summerville, and Doug Custer is right. Both men were in the mine at the time of the accident, and escaped by being warned by the team of miners who were trapped.

94 posted on 07/28/2002 2:28:16 PM PDT by mickeylee
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To: Kaslin
My personal favorite!


95 posted on 07/28/2002 2:33:14 PM PDT by mickeylee
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Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

To: mickeylee
Indeed he does
97 posted on 07/28/2002 2:45:51 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: winnipeg
Are you serious?

Are you? After all, you seem to be in a very small minority who seems to think Schweiker exploited the situation.

You didn't see his obvious effort to put himself in front of the cameras as the last miner was coming up?

Considering I live 20 miles from the mine and have seen most of the local coverage from the scene, no, I didn't see any effort at all. As a matter of fact, the continuous refrain from the news people at the scene was "we're waiting to interview the Governor, but he's tied up at......" He very seldom was seen running around the media, which is where you want to be if you are "explioting" the situation.

His obsessive fist-pumping, hugging, hooting and hollaring?

Obsessive? The only person "obsessive" around here is YOU.

I got the feeling from some of the smileless faces looking at him that the miners knew exactly what he was doing.

Now you are hallucinating. I saw nothing of the kind, and only heard tremendous words of praise for him from all involved.

The guy's a politician, right?

Who isn't running for office. And considering the next major elections won't be for another 2 years, I fail to see how this could help him that far down the line.

98 posted on 07/28/2002 2:49:17 PM PDT by TomB
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To: Hacksaw
As long as it doesn't star Alec Baldwin with his pompadour 'do, I might watch it.

I nominate Mel Gibson for the roll of Governor!

99 posted on 07/28/2002 3:33:59 PM PDT by sneakers
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To: Isara
LOL!! Looks like you beat me to it! I guess great minds think alike! I definitely could see Mel Gibson in the roll!
100 posted on 07/28/2002 3:36:36 PM PDT by sneakers
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