From Deseret News archives:
Idahoans still scarred by mining disaster
Book offers account of '72 Sunshine Mine fire that killed 91
But deadly carbon monoxide killed 91 men in one of the nation's worst mining accidents.
A new book, "The Deep Dark," provides a gruesome moment-by-moment account of the disaster that began on May 2, 1972, when unexplained smoke began pouring out of the mine near Kellogg, Idaho.
Three decades after the fire, author Gregg Olsen found that many residents of the Silver Valley remain scarred by a tragedy that left some 200 children without fathers and prompted big changes in the nation's mining laws.
"The most difficult thing was talking with the people and crying with those people as they told me stories they kept inside for 30 years," Olsen, who lives in Olalla, Wash., said.
The nation was gripped for a week by efforts to rescue the 93 miners who were trapped underground by the fire. People didn't realize that many of the miners dropped dead where they were working as toxic smoke overcame them almost instantly.
Olsen said the two were lucky to stumble into some fresh air. From nearly the moment they were rescued, Flory and Wilkinson faced irrational resentment and anger from the families of men who died, Olsen found.
Flory, 29 at the time of the fire, visited with Olsen at a recent book signing in Wallace.
"It's not something I dwell on. I don't have flashbacks. I never did," Flory told The Spokesman-Review newspaper in brief comments before leaving.
Flory went back to mining and retired several years ago with a medical disability. Wilkinson left mining after the fire to work for the Forest Service, Olsen wrote.
The book at times has a ghoulish quality, with horrifying descriptions of the bodies of the victims being discovered by rescuers in the hot, wet mine. Many of the miners could be identified only by their clothes or the stickers on their helmets.
For Olsen, the book was a welcome change from his previous volume, an account of the lurid affair between teacher Mary Kay Letourneau and her former sixth-grade pupil, Vili Fualaau.
Comments
- Tiger withdraws from tourney 8:51 p.m.
- Chaffetz: Leave Afghanistan 8:45 p.m.
- Becker, Corroon urge buying local 8:43 p.m.
- Internet shoppers beware 8:42 p.m.
- Software, security issues pop up 8:40 p.m.
- Woods could learn from Letterman 8:39 p.m.
- Pressure on mortgage industry 8:38 p.m.
- Union wants oversight in slots swap 8:37 p.m.
- Dubai not putting onlookers at ease 8:36 p.m.
- Qwest CEO's case not heard 8:35 p.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- U. eyes bowl for redemption
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
375 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
355 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
306 - Utes won't respond to Hall
245 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
119 - Religion in politics is tiresome
106
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
This news about the rabbit isn't new. Louree talked about this in 2003. Btw...
I'm embarrassed for the Utah fans if they are treating his family like...
This is all very entertaining.....and childish. Go Boise State
Emery will be key if the Cougars are to beat the aggies Wednesday.
Actually, I love BYU football always have. Last year I had season tickets....
This whole "your fans are worse than our fans" is pointless. More than 90%...
A large portion of the overall (non-Mormon and Mormon), population is sick...
Can't we remember that this was us, the fans not the teams let's not be...
I'm sorry, but if you had any intelligence at all you would realize that Ute...
Max's comments took away from his win, he came across sounding entitled, I'm...




You can be the first to comment on this story.