Stickler would not speculate on the cause of the mine collapse or whether so-called retreat mining had anything to do with it.

"I assure you, by the end of that investigation, we will have the answer," he said.

Murray also lashed out at some news media outlets for seeking comment from union leaders — "lackeys" as he called them — he alleged were trying to unionize the non-union Crandall Canyon Mine. Clearly irritated by a news helicopter flying overhead, Murray halted his news conference to demand the Emery County sheriff get the helicopter removed.

Families await word

The families of the missing miners remain hopeful that they will be rescued.

"There's a lot of truth in that old saying, 'No news is good news,'" said Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon. "I'm hopeful."

The mayor and others, along with the Red Cross, were working together to provide support for those waiting for news of their loved ones.

Huntington City Council member Julie Jones' son, Elam, 23, has been a miner for three years and is one of the men helping to dig out the miners, whose names had still not been released Tuesday morning. Jones' husband has been a miner for 30 years.

"They're doing what they can from all sides, even digging with their hands at times," Jones said. Monday night Jones hugged her son, who told her, "'Mom, it's scary.'"

Murray said no expense is being spared in efforts to reach the miners.

"This is the first major accident I ever had in one of my coal mines in 20 years," he said. "I will not leave this mine until these men are rescued dead or alive."

Despite that, Murray said the progress has been "too slow, too slow."

"It will take three days if everything goes right to get to these miners," he said.

The families of the miners are being updated on the latest developments by mining officials and Murray himself. Some of the missing miners are believed to be Mexican nationals.

Mexican Consul Salvador Jimenez was in Huntington Canyon to lend his support wherever he could, hearing that three or four of the miners are Hispanic. After a briefing where media was gathered, he headed back to Huntington to meet with family members of trapped miners, hopeful he could bring good news.

"We want to verify information, every detail," Jimenez said, confident rescue crews were doing everything possible to save the miners. "We have more than confidence, we are hopeful."

Politicians arrive

The assistant secretary of labor is on the scene of the mine tragedy. So is Utah Sen. Bob Bennett and Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Bennett was at the entrance of the Crandall Canyon Mine this afternoon, where the Emery County Sheriff's Office has a command post set up.

"I simply want to make it clear to rescue workers and families that they have my deepest concerns and my full support," the Republican senator said.

If any federal action is required, Bennett said he will help make sure it happens.

Huntsman said he believes rescuers will do what it takes to free the trapped man.

"Everything that can be done is being done," the governor said. "The rescue efforts are in the hands of professionals and they are working jointly and collaboratively with the officials here."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com; bwinslow@desnews.com