Unfortunately three rescue miners where recently lost tryin to rescue the six other miners who have been trapped for several days. I would like to take this time out to send condolaces to the familys at this most unfortunate time.

I too have been watching this story. After 12 days now, hope is waning.

My family worked the mines in Western PA in the early days.

I just read about the rescue workers this morning. I was chatting with Red last night. He works for the same company that owns this mine. We need to keep the families of the trapped miners and the rescue workers who were killed or injured in our prayers. I can't imagine how tough this is for them knowing their family members are trapped in the mine and no one has been able to get to them.

why is it that these mines are all of a sudden just collapsing i didnt hear about any around the millinuem but after that then a bunch just started collapsing WHY????????????

They have always had mine collapses and fires, there have been a few in Southern Illinois. Since underground mining in So IL is not as prevalent as it used to be you don't hear about it as much as you use to aroudn here. Wasn't there a big mine explosion or fire in one of the Freeman mines near Sesser in the late or mid 80's? I was born in the 80's so I don't remember much of the mine stories from then but maybe one of you elder guys can shed some light on it.

There was also an earthquake in Utah August 6. Rather unusual for them. It was a 4.0, but that would be enough to cause some collapsing in mines.

according to the scientist the earthquake was caused by the mines collapse, but that doesn't explain all the little ones that are accurring now. What caused the mine to collapse again last night was called a Mountain bump or as many miners call it a bounce. The guys down there were not looking at the obvious things going on around them or they would have known something was going to happen soon. a day before the second collapse the walls of the mine were shooting coal, when this happens the coal pretty much turns into bullets and it comes at you with much force. That was happening cause of the mountain shifting above them(first sign of get out of there), second sign the ceilings were sagging more and more everyday no matter how many stabilizer columns were put up or left up, another sign of something going to happen soon. To me this mountain was not meant to be mined and the more people they send down to find these 6 guys the more will be hurt or even killed.

Don't get me wrong miners are a close knit group and we don't like to leave any man behind, and it hurts to know that guys are stuck underground no matter dead or alive you want to bring them home. There is much more to being a miner then just it being hard work everyday. Them 6 or 7 guys you go down with or however many go down with you are your family while down there, they are your life line if something was to happen. Sure when ya go down you know what could happen, that's put in the back of your mind, but you always take that one last look up to that blue sky cause you don't know if you will ever see it again.

That's why its considered the second most dangerous job next to Crab fishing in the Barin Sea which is next on my things i want to do before i leave this earth.

Sorry for the long post guys.

Sorry for the long post guys.

Great post. Thanks

I went in an underground mine when I was in an Industrial electronics course in college. It was an experience, when we were going down the instructor for our class said "look up guys, you may not see it again." He worked underground for 32 years as a maintenance man before he retired and went into teaching. He had told us of the dangers before we went on the trip and of the 8 of us in the class we all wanted to go, but he also said after 32 years he never was trapped in there.

He was kinda like and we all called him "Big John" (the song), so we knew he'd hold the walls up if they started caving in!

Thanks for the info Red. There's a lot the news media either doesn't know about or doesn't think is important. I don't think any of us mind the length of your post. (If anyone did, Bob would've either said something to you or told them to shut up.)

Sounds like they have the same feelings as the military...do everything you can to not leave anyone behind.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070819/ap_on_re_as/china_mine_flood;_ylt=AkKjh7J1OsZPvhi0u7xAMm6s0NUE :(

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I was thinking pretty much the same thing about the miners in China Funguy.