Rescued PA Miners Recount Ordeal (***PICTURES***)

AP ^ | July 28, 2002 | Larry Neumeister

[Alouette]

SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) - The nine coal miners who were rescued from a cramped, flooded shaft Sunday decided early in their 77-hour ordeal that they would "live or die as a group," tying themselves together so all their bodies would be found if they drowned.

They also scrawled last messages to loved ones as they huddled together to keep warm 240 feet below the Earth's surface.

"I didn't think I was going to see my wife and kids again," a teary-eyed Blaine Mayhugh told reporters, hours after being pulled out of the Quecreek Mine in western Pennsylvania.

He, his father-in-law and the seven others were stuck for more than three agonizing days, often in darkness, after water from an abandoned, water-filled mine flooded the shaft where they were working.

A desperate rescue operation that included more than 150 workers, tons of heavy equipment and 18 medical helicopters finally paid off when rescuers reached the miners Sunday morning and pulled them up a narrow shaft, one by one, in a yellow cylindrical capsule.

Though they were covered in coal dust and their heavy-duty clothes were soaked through, the miners emerged in surprisingly good physical condition.

"If you were to meet any of these guys on the street right now, you would not know that they were trapped in a cavern full of water for three days," said Dr. Russell Dumire, a trauma surgeon at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, where six of the men were taken.

One of the miners was in a decompression chamber after experiencing early symptoms of the bends, an excruciating condition caused by sudden changes in pressure, Dumire said. Two others were under observation, including Mayhugh's father-in-law, Thomas Foy, 51.

Foy told family members "he'll never go underground again," said his daughter, Tonya Butler, 26.

At the White House, President Bush "was thrilled to know that all of the miners had been rescued," spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

The miners had two working lights but saved them for forays into the shaft. Mayhugh, 31, said the men were "snuggling each other, laying up against each other, sitting back-to-back to each other, anything to produce body heat."

The miners also huddled around a pipe funneling down warm air.

The miners, Dumire said, "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group."

Around noon Thursday, Mayhugh asked his boss for a pen when the water in the shaft was rising. "I said, 'I want to write my wife and kids to tell them I love them,'" said Mayhugh, choking back tears.

By 10:16 p.m. Saturday, rescuers had bored through the ceiling where the miners were trapped. The breakthrough let workers drop a telephone and confirm they were alive.

One of the miners reportedly requested chewing tobacco. As a result, Conemaugh hospital was inundated with chewing tobacco though doctors wouldn't immediately allow it, or the beer some miners requested, for fear of dehydration.

At the hospital, hunger overtook the miners, who "pretty much devoured anything that was put in front of them" — doughnuts, sandwiches, soup and coffee, Dumire said.

David Hess, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, promised a joint federal-state investigation to help determine why underground maps apparently showed the abandoned Saxman Mine some 300 feet away from where the miners were working.

The first miner was pulled through the 26-inch wide hole at about 1 a.m. Sunday — to the wild applause of rescuers. His comrades emerged in roughly 15-minute intervals, with the last one appearing at about 2:45 a.m. Some had chipped American flag decals on the sides of their helmets.

The first to come out, 43-year-old Randy Fogle, had reported feeling chest pains in the mine. Hospital officials said he has a history of heart problems and would remain hospitalized until at least Monday.

The miners surprised medical personnel who had prepared to treat them for symptoms of hypothermia or the bends. Decompression chambers, ambulances and 18 helicopters were at the scene 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

After word came the men were alive, the Sipesville Fire Hall, where the families of the men had been gathering, erupted in celebration.

Though the miners had not been heard since Thursday because of the noise of rescue equipment, mining company spokesman John Weir said they "were tapping the whole time they were down there."

The rescue attempt transfixed the nation and the region, a rural area where the hijacked Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11.

The miners became trapped about 9 p.m. Wednesday, when they inadvertently broke into an abandoned, water-filled mine that maps showed to be 300 feet away.

Mayhugh said a 4-foot wall of water — as many as 60 million gallons — came crashing through the breached wall. "We tried to outrun it, but it was too fast," he said.

But they were able to warn a second crew, which escaped.

"They are the heroes. If not for them, there'd be dead bodies," said mine worker Doug Custer, among the group who escaped.

The trapped miners spent roughly five hours in the water, at one point attempting to break through another wall to try to bring the water level down. Instead, the level rose, forcing them to swim in their heavy miners' clothes, Mayhugh said.

Drilling a rescue shaft to the men, who ranged in age from early 30s through early 50s, began more than 20 hours after the accident when a drill rig arrived from West Virginia. Drilling was halted early Friday morning because a 1,500-pound drill bit broke after hitting hard rock about 100 feet down, delaying the effort by 18 hours.

A second rescue shaft was started, and it wasn't until Saturday that measurable progress was being made on both shafts.

Mayhugh's wife, Leslie, said she prayed throughout the ordeal. "I knew I couldn't lose my dad and my husband. I just knew it. It wasn't their day," she said.

Mayhugh said he "feels great" physically. "But emotionally ... it's going to take time to heal."

Sun Jul 28,12:34 PM ET

The third of the 9 trapped miners at the Quecreek Mine is helped out of the rescue capsule in Somerset, Pennsylvania on July 28, 2002. Despite hunger, fatigue and dangerously cold temperatures, rescuers found all nine men alive and in good condition. (Guy Wathen/Pool via Reuters)

Sun Jul 28,12:30 PM ET

Quecreek miner Harry B. Mayhugh prepares to talk to reporters as his wife, Leslie, accompanies him after his release from Somerset Hospital, at the hospital in Somerset, Pa., Sunday, July 28, 2002. Mayhugh is one of the nine trapped miners who were rescued early Sunday morning. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Sun Jul 28,12:24 PM ET

Quecreek miner Harry B. Mayhugh talks to reporters as his wife, Leslie, cries after his release from Somerset Hospital, at the hospital in Somerset, Pa., Sunday, July 28, 2002. Mayhugh is one of the nine trapped miners who were rescued early Sunday morning. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Sun Jul 28,10:06 AM ET

A sign in front of a business proclaims thanks on July 28, 2002, for the rescue of miners from a mine collapse in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped for three days in a flooded mine traveled one-by-one to safety Sunday in a cramped yellow rescue cage hauled up from the shaft 240 (73 metres) underground. REUTERS/Jason Cohn

Sun Jul 28, 9:00 AM ET

A sign near Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pa., shows a message of thanks Sunday July 28, 2002, for the lives of the nine miners who were rescued early Sunday at Quecreek Mine, after being trapped for over three days underground. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Sun Jul 28, 6:34 AM ET

Rescue workers look on as Miner Dennis J. Hall is hoisted from the Quecreek Mine near Somerset, pennsylvania early Sunday July 28, 2002, where eight fellow miners and he were trapped since late Wednesday. Rescuers began hauling one-by-one the nine Pennsylvania coal miners trapped for three days in a flooded shaft 240 feet (73 metres) underground to the surface in a rescue capsule, officials said on Sunday. Despite hunger, fatigue and dangerously cold temperatures, rescuers found all nine men alive and in good condition late on Saturday. REUTERS/POOL

Sun Jul 28, 6:10 AM ET

Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker takes off his hat to the miners early Sunday, July 28, 2002, in Somerset Pa., after 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.(AP Photo/Cesar Laure, POOL)

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.(AP Photo/Cesar Laure, POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 6:01 AM ET

Riggger Tim Martin walks past the empty escape capsule early Sunday, July 28, 2002 in Somerset, Pa. after 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.(AP Photo/Cesar Laure, POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 5:23 AM ET

Miner Dennis J. Hall is hoisted from the Quecreek Mine early Sunday July 28, 2002 where eight fellow miners and he were trapped since late Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 5:11 AM ET

The second of the nine trapped miners at the Quecreek Mine is helped out of the rescue capsule in Somerset, Sunday July 28, 2002. Despite hunger, fatigue and dangerously cold temperatures, rescuers found all nine men alive and in good condition. (AP Photo/Guy Wathen, POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 5:07 AM ET

Rescue workers applaud as the ninth and final miner, Mark Popernack is carried to the medical tent at Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pa., early Sunday July 28, 2002. Nine miners trapped since Wednesday evening were successfully rescued.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 5:04 AM ET

Miner John Phillippi is rescued from the Quecreek Mine, Sunday July 28, 2002 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. All nine miners trapped since Wednesday evening were successfully rescued. REUTERS/POOL-Gene J. Puskar

Sun Jul 28, 4:51 AM ET

Rescued miner Robert Pugh is carried to the medical tent at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pa., early Sunday July 28, 2002. Nine miners were rescued after being trapped since Wednesday evening.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/POOL)

Sun Jul 28, 4:27 AM ET

The last miner gives a thumbs up as he is removed from the Quecreek Mine July 28, 2002 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped for three days in a flooded mine traveled one-by-one to safety on Sunday in a cramped yellow rescue cage hauled up through a 26-inch (66-cm) wide rescue shaft. (Pool/Reuters)

Sun Jul 28, 4:23 AM ET

Miners at the Quecreek Mine embrace early July 28,2002 after nine of their co-workers were rescued after being trapped in the mine since late Wednesday. Larry Summerville (L), Doug Custer (C) and Jim Weiland right. Custer and Summerville were in the mine at the time of the incident, and escaped by being warned by the team of miners who were trapped. Weiland was about to begin his shift in the mine at the time of the accident. REUTERS/POOL/Gene J. Puskar

Sun Jul 28, 4:17 AM ET

Onlookers cheer as an ambulance carrying the last of nine rescued miners leaves the site of a mine disaster in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on July 28, 2002. All nine miners, who had been trapped 240 feet below the surface since July 24, were safely rescued. REUTERS/Jason Cohn

[blam]

"Then I remembered these poor men trapped 100+ feet underground."

My grandad said it a different way:

" I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet."

[Mfkmmof4]

It was wonderful news for a change. Thank God for this miracle.

[blam]

"But what really made silicosis and black lung disease bad is that most people who got it also smoked cigarettes."

I read a science study on that, that said just the opposite. The smokers seldom got Black Lung Disease.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

...what was the deal with the governor? Making political hay, or is he an alright guy?

Schweiker was Lt Governor and became Governor when Ridge went to Washington. He has already said he will not run for the office. Seems clear he is a concerned leader.

[justshe]

From those on a thread I was on last night, sounds like the Governor is a good guy. He was the Lt. Gov. when Ridge left to take the job in the Bush administration. He is NOT running for re-election, however.

Also........and I'm probably going to spell this wrong, pneumonaultramicrosopicsilicovolcaniconiosus used to be the longest word in the English language. My understanding is that this is some sort of the 'black lung' disease.

Pneu-mona-ultra-sil-i-co-vol-can-i-con-i-o-sus.
New-moan-a-ultra-sill-i-co-vol-cane-i-cone-i-o-sus

Just a fun word to teach my grandkids to say. (g)

[justshe]

Great job! Thanks!

[Miss Marple]

Fox interviewed the Sipesville Fire Chief this afternoon. He was quite complimentary of Governor Schweiker (who is not running for re-election) and said he NEVER would have imagined a governor wading through the slurry, climbing on drill rigs, hugging drillers and miners. Gave him all sorts of credit.

Laurie Dhue asked the Fire Chief what his biggest worry was. He told her (remember...this is a very small town) that he had no idea how they would get the resources they needed and coordinate things to get the guys out. He said the only way it happened was because of two men...Governor Schweiker and President Bush. Apparently the federal part included the navy decompression chambers, the rescue cage, and waiving environmental regulations so they could pump the water from the mine directly into the nearby creek. Those are the things I know about, I am certain there were other things.

Schweiker never hesitated to talk up the rescue workers and the miners. He was very effective and according to all accounts is the real deal. Shame he is leaving public life.

[justshe]

LOL..........up to late last night! Try this again.

Pneu-mon-a-ultra-microscopic-sil-i-co-vol-can-i-con-i-o-sus
New-moan-a-ultra-microscopic-sill-i-co-vol-cane-i-cone-i-o-sus

[justshe]

What a GREAT thing to hear about the involvement of President Bush. Of course, I would expect NO less. I also am NOT surprised that we had to hear this from someone else, rather that the White House tooting their own horn.

God Bless ALL that helped in this rescue.

[jdontom]

Merci, Alouette. I appreciate your work in posting these human drama photos.

This is really FReepen Fun for a change, the very reason this web site appealed to me! You FReepers are great, just like our family, after reading all the great posts last night had a hard time :^).

[Alouette]

I appreciate your work in posting these human drama photos.

You're welcome.

Usually I post picture of the results of all the terror attacks in the Holy Land. It's a real pleasure to post something with a happy ending!

[Carolinamom]

I read on another thread that the drill equipment was made by HALLIBURTON!!

[TomB]

With all due respect to these fellows, mayne they should have spent some time in the decompression chamber.

Considering the Navy sent physicians who specialize in treatment of decompression sickness, I don't think they would have foregone the treatment unless they felt it was appropriate.

[agrace]

GREAT pictoral, Alouette, and it's so wonderful to see such joyful pics for a change, must feel good for you to do so too. The article has great details too, thanks for posting both. They brought the tears yet again. And although I don't comment too often these days (too busy chasing my kids), I so much appreciate being on your flag list!!!

[Exit148]

Thanks Alouette!

I hope we can see the faces of all these men and fit their names to them. When I saw them in that little capsule -- in great stress, yet some gave a little wave of a thumb's up ---- well, I nearly lost it.

Every once in a while I switched to CNN or MSNBC to see if their report was better than Fox, (Rivera was driving me crazy with his dramatics) but I always switched back. Rick Leventhal gave some balance.

Hearing the story of the delay, because of the broken bit, is really something. I remember thinking of what the lost time would do to those poor men. In the end, it saved them!! Miraculous!

And I can't say enough about Governor Schweiker. I hope there is some sort of appointment for him down the line. Good men like him are needed!

[The Coopster]

You're right. It is a black lung-type disease, but you get it from inhaling volcanic ash.

[facedown]

Thanks!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Praise be to GOD ALMIGHTY

[skr]

The broken bit certainly wasn't good news. I was wondering why they didn't have a spare for such occasions and then I heard that they had to send to W. VA. for the first one to begin the rescue!

[harpo11]

Nine Alive bump! God Bless the miners and their families and friends and the men and women who worked around the clock to bring them up.