Quecreek Mine Rescue
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The Quecreek Mine Rescue took place when nine miners were trapped underground for over 78 hours, July 24–28, 2002. All nine miners were rescued.
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[edit] Accident and rescue
On July 24, 2002, coal miners at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania owned by Black Wolf Coal Company accidentally dug into the abandoned, poorly documented Saxman mine, filling the room and pillar mine with an estimated 50 million gallons of water. A group of nine miners became trapped 240 feet underground. They used the mine's phone system to notify another group of nine miners to evacuate immediately.
As pumps worked to drain the shaft, failed rescue attempts and several failures of drilling equipment caused worry for the miners' families and friends, as well as supporters from across the nation and the world. Pennsylvania governor Mark Schweiker stated that anything less than the rescue of all nine men would be unacceptable. The pumps used to drain the mine shaft were provided by Godwin Pumps.
Finally, hours after a hole 30 inches in diameter began to be drilled, rescue personnel were able to lower a cage down to the void where the men had languished in fear and anticipation for 77 hours. At 2:45 a.m. on July 28, 2002, the last of the nine men was pulled up.
The site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001, is located just ten miles from the Quecreek Mines, in Shanksville.
[edit] The miners
In order of rescue:
- Randall Fogle
- Harry "Blaine" Mayhugh, Jr.
- Thomas Foy
- John Unger
- John Phillippi
- Ron Hilemand
- Dennis J. Hall
- Robert Pugh, Jr.
- Mark Popernack
Randall Fogle was the most seriously affected of the nine miners and complained of chest pains upon his rescue. All have since made full recoveries. While some are still in the industry, Fogle, however, is the only member of the group who still works underground. Dennis Hall retired from the industry and vowed never to mine again.
[edit] Aftermath
Governor Mark Schweiker convened an investigation committee in the days after the rescue was completed, paying particular attention to the actions of the Black Wolf Coal Company, which had been previously cited 25 times for violations.
In 2002, the story was dramatized by ABC in a television movie, The Pennsylvania Miners Story. [1]
The Dropkick Murphys song "Buried Alive" on their 2003 Album "Blackout" is a tribute to the Quecreek Mine rescue. Buddy Miller's song "Quecreek" from his 2002 album "Midnight And Lonesome", chronicles the accident and rescue.
Local singer/songwriter, John Larimer, provides an intimate account of events surrounding the rescue in his song "He Said Yes" which became a local favorite on WMTZ radio, Johnstown, PA.
Singer/songwriter Anaïs Mitchell recorded a song entitled "Quecreek Flood" on her 2004 album "Hymns for the Exiled." The song explores the political and personal implications of the mining disaster.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Quecreek Rescue Foundation website
- 'All Nine Alive!' special report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Final report of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Deep Mine Safety (PDF)
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