Please say a prayer for the families

[digger]

The Upper Big Branch coal mine is 45 minutes or so from the house.
I can't think of anyone I know working there. A lot of the employees live in the area. One of the guys that works with me, his grandfather was 30 minutes from going in when the explosion happened. Another one has a brother-in-law on the rescue team. My brother-in-law works for Massey, but at a strip mine. Most of my family have worked in a coal mine at one time, including me.

Governor Manchin has been right there since the beginning. Not just flying in saying hello, been at every press conference I have seen.
He all but came out and told the press not to bother the family's involved. That was sweet. I can see him bitch-slapping some reporter for getting out of line. Just seems like the press will do anything for a story.
And the one from MSHA, Kevin Stricklin.
Nobody sees the rescue teams. I couldn't stand it. Just sitting there waiting for the OK to go in.


So many people involved. I know they are doing their best to get the families some closure.

 

[HPIguy]

I've been semi keeping up with it digger. When I was a kid, my parents rented a house from an older couple, the husband was an ex coal miner, and one of the best people I've ever met. Guy was LOADED from his wife investing the money he made, but you'd never know it. He wore overalls, boots, and what is now known as a truckers hat every day. I will definitely be keeping them in my thoughts and prayers sir.

 

[slowngreen]

Horrible thing to of happened, definitely send thoughts and prayers to the family's.

 

[digger]

http://wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=77876
My Dad worked in the mines most of his life. He had a few. Used mules to pull the coal out when he first started. I'm not that old, just heard the stories. I did learn to drive at a surface mine he had.

Can't imagine what these families are going through.
One guy was 6 weeks from retirement.
One family lost 3 in the explosion. They were found together.

Called the rescuers back out again this morning when they ran into smoke. Did make it to one of the rescue chambers.
This was the third time they have had to call them back out.

 

[WoodiE]

Digger it's pretty horrible to hear about this - as 3 of my offices are around that area I too have been keeping a close eye on developments out there even though I don't know anyone that works there.

 

[alien13]

I'm not a prayin man, but my thoughts are with them.

 

[godale03]

Definitely my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this terrible tragedy.

Tom

 

[Rolex]

Another tragic mine accident. The last 4 found. How sad. EVERY family in that entire town is effected by it. Prayers are needed for the surviving family members who now need the strength and resources to go on without the main providers. Fathers, husbands, brothers gave their lives to feed their families while working a very tough and very dangerous job.
Sad, indeed.

 

[Lessen]

Man, this is like the second major accident down there in the past couple years. Scary line of work.

 

[digger]

That was Sago, 06. 18 were underground when it exploded. 5 made it back to the surface. 1 of the remaining 12 survived.
I had to look it up.

I couldn't stand to be underground. I'm claustrophobic. And to hear some people I know working in "low coal," and have to lay on your back to work. Hell no!
Been in an underground mine before. Was probably 7 or 8 years old. Dad had went in to check a pump (I think).
Maybe in 150, 200 yards. I remember he made me stand at a timber while he went in farther. I could see daylight at one end and nothing but black at the other end. Yeah he was old school, but he wouldn't have put me in any danger.
I said I learned to drive on a surface mine... Was about 14. At 15 I was loading fertilizer (blasting agents http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9755 ) in a 3/4 ton Ford and hauling it to a shot. Maybe had to bring a case of dynamite, or a few sticks, maybe some blasting caps.
Never bothered me or any of the guys I was around. They were teaching me to earn a living. 48 now and the only thing that ever bothered me about dynamite was messing with something that was old. It would sweat. Give ya a hell of a headache.

The coal mines have always been a way of life here. You can still drive around and see the company stores from the '50's if ya know what to look for.

Sorry guys. Don't know why, but this has hit me pretty bad.
Gonna be a lot of funerals here tomorrow. http://wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=78015
They found the rest of the bodies yesterday morning.

I hate country music, but they are playing this song a lot here.

If your not a praying person, think about them.
They age from 21 to 61.

 

[HPIguy]

If that vid doesn't stir some kind of emotion in you, I got bad news, you're a heartless person. It's not from a coal mine, but my Great Aunt passed this along to me when she went. Probably isn't worth the dollar that's stamped on it, not that I'd ever sell it, but I have a lot of old stuff like this that has been handed down to me that I think is really cool.

 

[digger]

Neighbor is at 50 seconds on the vid. He worked at Performance a year ago.

HPIguy, that is called "script." You had to spend it in the company store. From what I've heard they had everything, but since they were the only place the prices weren't that competitive. You could also sell it for so many cents on the dollar. Don't know how much, but I've heard my Dad talk about it.

Have ya did any research on it? They are still mining on that site. Not for talc though. http://mcneelycompanies.com/loc.php?location=7
Look under "Quarry History." That's pretty cool.

 

[HPIguy]

Neighbor is at 50 seconds on the vid. He worked at Performance a year ago.

HPIguy, that is called "script." You had to spend it in the company store. From what I've heard they had everything, but since they were the only place the prices weren't that competitive. You could also sell it for so many cents on the dollar. Don't know how much, but I've heard my Dad talk about it.

Have ya did any research on it? They are still mining on that site. Not for talc though. http://mcneelycompanies.com/loc.php?location=7
Look under "Quarry History." That's pretty cool.

Sorry to hear about your neighbor digger, it always makes it harder when you knew them personally.

Yeah, the mining companies back then were basically modernized indentured servitude. No matter how many hours you worked, you'd never pay off what you owed the store, and thus, they always had laborers. Hence the song, I Owe My Soul to the Company Store. I knew the Nantahala mine was still there, rode by it a couple weeks ago on a motorcycle outing. I haven't really done any research on it, thanks for the link. Looks like the name changed around 1936, so that script is OLD. Thanks digger, I've got some cool old stuff that I've inherited.

My prized possession is a pocket watch that was my Grandpa's. I did research it, according to the serial number, it was made in 1901 and still runs like a champ. He was a watch / clock smith among other things, and my Mom and I lived with my Grandparents until I was 4. I usually wind it up at night and lay it on my nightstand. Funny thing is, I sleep better that way.

Here it is, we don't make things like this anymore, sadly

 

[digger]

Sorry to hear about your neighbor digger, it always makes it harder when you knew them personally.

Misunderstood me Bro. I said he worked at that mine a year ago. He wasn't in it.

Thought it was interesting that they are still mining on that site.
Sweet watch.

 

[HPIguy]

Misunderstood me Bro. I said he worked at that mine a year ago. He wasn't in it.

Thought it was interesting that they are still mining on that site.
Sweet watch.

Aha, I gotcha, glad to hear it. Yeah, it's pretty impressive they're still able to get useful aggregate (I think that's what they called it) from that site after mining it all those years. Thanks man, I like old obscure stuff.