Coal-mining community comes together amidst tragedy

HUNTINGTON, Emery County — Despite the heartache suffered over the past two weeks by the folks here, Huntington is — and always will be — a coal-mining town.

When asked, most residents will freely discuss their mining heritage, which generally goes back at least two generations, with obvious pride.

"It's an honest profession," said one man, a local coal miner with 23 years of experience.

Added the man's wife: "Until they find something to replace coal, somebody's got to go in and get it."

The Cleveland, Emery County, man, who wanted to share his feelings but not his name, said the collapse of the Crandall Canyon Mine was heartbreaking, but not entirely unexpected.

"It's just the way it is," he said. "We lose somebody every two or three years."

Coal miners know well the risks of the profession, he said, and accept them just the same.

The couple sat on the front row of a Friday night concert at the city park to benefit the miners' families. Lighted candles represented each of the direct victims of the Crandall Canyon Mine incident — six for the trapped miners, three for rescue workers who died in a Thursday night collapse and six more for the other rescue workers injured on Thursday.

But the benefit concert, sponsored by the Huntington Lion's Club, was meant for more than just those 15 men.

"We dedicate this to all the miners in the world that have gone through this," said Lion's Club president Judy Lang.

Throughout the evening, Huntington residents arrived at the benefit concert, older couples walking hand-in-hand and young families with antsy toddlers in tow.

Most everyone dropped donations in water jugs near the stage, everything from $20 bills to a handful of change, before picking up a free soda and sitting to listen to a local band play old-time country songs.

One of those songs, lest anyone forget why they were there, was Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter."

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com