pache100
01-11-2006, 01:39 PM
I know there was a lot of speculation as to why they just sat and waited for rescue; apparently they didn't. One comment caught my attention:
"This ain't hearsay. This came from Hatfield's mouth."
These people are still so naive. Hatfield is the one that told them their men were alive. I would be very hesitant to put any weight in anything he says after that.
And this: "Hatfield said if the trapped miners had wireless communication devices, it would have been possible to tell them of a safe way out."
Ok. So why the hell doesn't the mine provide miners with "wireless communication devices"?
Family: Miners tried to escape in mine car
Wednesday, January 11, 2006; Posted: 7:05 a.m. EST (12:05 GMT)
TALLMANSVILLE, West Virginia (AP) -- Footprints found at the scene indicate the men trapped inside the Sago Mine tried to use a mechanized mine car to force their way out after the explosion, family members of the sole survivor said.
Rick McGee, the brother-in-law of survivor Randal McCloy Jr., said Tuesday that International Coal Group Inc. chief executive Ben Hatfield had shared the information with the family.
"They found footprints," McGee said. The men "tried to go back out of the mine. This ain't hearsay. This came from Hatfield's mouth."
By the time rescue workers reached the 12 trapped miners more than 41 hours after the Jan. 2 explosion, all but one had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. It was West Virginia's worst coal-mining accident in more than 35 years.
McCloy remains in critical condition, in a partial coma and still fighting a fever. His doctors at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown said that tests showed a lot of activity on both sides of McCloy's brain. (Full story)
"It is probably too early for us to tell what that means, but it is very important to us that he has a lot of brain activity," said Dr. Julian Bailes.
Doctors didn't express concern Tuesday that the 26-year-old has yet to fully awaken from his medically induced coma, saying it could be a lengthy, gradual process. They have suspended daily briefings until there is a significant change in his condition.
Lara Ramsburg, a spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin, said Tuesday that it's also the state's understanding the men tried to escape.
"They couldn't get that accomplished...," Ramsburg said. "They then, being trained, turned around and went back to the face, where they barricaded themselves."
In a mine, the "face" is where miners are removing coal.
Hatfield did not return repeated requests for comment about whether the miners made an escape effort. In a statement issued to The Associated Press, he said it was probable the miners believed a fire or debris from the explosion was blocking their path.
In the days since the accident, Hatfield has said it's possible the men could have walked to a section of the mine with clean air, and then made their way out.
In an interview with USAToday, Hatfield said if the trapped miners had wireless communication devices, it would have been possible to tell them of a safe way out. The only method of communication at Sago, a wired phone, was destroyed in the blast.
Hatfield told USAToday his company would consider issuing radios to miners. In response to questions from the AP, the company declined to say if it has made changes in safety procedures at its other mines.
Richard Gates, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's lead investigator into the accident, said he hoped the venting at the mine, including the removal of methane gas in a section of the mine where the explosion apparently occurred, would be complete within a week. Until then, no one will be allowed inside.
Also Tuesday, mourners gathered for the final two funerals. A morning service was held for 59-year-old Fred Ware at Sago Baptist Church, the small church near the mine where families gathered to await word on the fate of their loved ones.
The last funeral, for 50-year-old Terry Helms, followed in Masontown. Other funerals were held Sunday and Monday.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/11/mine.explosion.ap/index.html
"This ain't hearsay. This came from Hatfield's mouth."
These people are still so naive. Hatfield is the one that told them their men were alive. I would be very hesitant to put any weight in anything he says after that.
And this: "Hatfield said if the trapped miners had wireless communication devices, it would have been possible to tell them of a safe way out."
Ok. So why the hell doesn't the mine provide miners with "wireless communication devices"?
Family: Miners tried to escape in mine car
Wednesday, January 11, 2006; Posted: 7:05 a.m. EST (12:05 GMT)
TALLMANSVILLE, West Virginia (AP) -- Footprints found at the scene indicate the men trapped inside the Sago Mine tried to use a mechanized mine car to force their way out after the explosion, family members of the sole survivor said.
Rick McGee, the brother-in-law of survivor Randal McCloy Jr., said Tuesday that International Coal Group Inc. chief executive Ben Hatfield had shared the information with the family.
"They found footprints," McGee said. The men "tried to go back out of the mine. This ain't hearsay. This came from Hatfield's mouth."
By the time rescue workers reached the 12 trapped miners more than 41 hours after the Jan. 2 explosion, all but one had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. It was West Virginia's worst coal-mining accident in more than 35 years.
McCloy remains in critical condition, in a partial coma and still fighting a fever. His doctors at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown said that tests showed a lot of activity on both sides of McCloy's brain. (Full story)
"It is probably too early for us to tell what that means, but it is very important to us that he has a lot of brain activity," said Dr. Julian Bailes.
Doctors didn't express concern Tuesday that the 26-year-old has yet to fully awaken from his medically induced coma, saying it could be a lengthy, gradual process. They have suspended daily briefings until there is a significant change in his condition.
Lara Ramsburg, a spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin, said Tuesday that it's also the state's understanding the men tried to escape.
"They couldn't get that accomplished...," Ramsburg said. "They then, being trained, turned around and went back to the face, where they barricaded themselves."
In a mine, the "face" is where miners are removing coal.
Hatfield did not return repeated requests for comment about whether the miners made an escape effort. In a statement issued to The Associated Press, he said it was probable the miners believed a fire or debris from the explosion was blocking their path.
In the days since the accident, Hatfield has said it's possible the men could have walked to a section of the mine with clean air, and then made their way out.
In an interview with USAToday, Hatfield said if the trapped miners had wireless communication devices, it would have been possible to tell them of a safe way out. The only method of communication at Sago, a wired phone, was destroyed in the blast.
Hatfield told USAToday his company would consider issuing radios to miners. In response to questions from the AP, the company declined to say if it has made changes in safety procedures at its other mines.
Richard Gates, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's lead investigator into the accident, said he hoped the venting at the mine, including the removal of methane gas in a section of the mine where the explosion apparently occurred, would be complete within a week. Until then, no one will be allowed inside.
Also Tuesday, mourners gathered for the final two funerals. A morning service was held for 59-year-old Fred Ware at Sago Baptist Church, the small church near the mine where families gathered to await word on the fate of their loved ones.
The last funeral, for 50-year-old Terry Helms, followed in Masontown. Other funerals were held Sunday and Monday.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/11/mine.explosion.ap/index.html