Deseret News | Reader comments: Hopes dim as borehole finds nothing

Reader comments
Hopes dim as borehole finds nothing

Jim Leonard | 5:17 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

What does "similar but dissimilar" mean? Perhaps only a laywer would say that and expect mortal man to understand what the heck he's saying.

ugh... | 7:28 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

Bring in the lawyers....that will make a horrible tragedy even worse.

J. Murray | 7:41 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

Someone please make it clear why, in the effort to save precious human life under extraordinarily complicated geophysical conditions, all the relevant rescue and recovery resources of our nation are not already at the mine in force and at work; and why it seems that the responsibility to conduct rescue and recovery falls on one apparently well-intended individual with limited analytical ability and his one small company with limited response capacity. Thank you.

Comments continue below

Hawkeye | 7:46 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

Way to go familes, get Lawyers ready $$$$$$

Megan | 8:03 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

I understand that the families are upset, that they want closure. However, it is pretty apparent that the miners are dead. Why do they insist on risking more people's lives to recover a body? Is it really worth it to cause more tragedy to others? I actually like Murray's idea of sealing off the mine as a tomb for the miners. What is disrespectful about that? I would think the families would have closure, at least they know their loved ones are in the mine. I also think it is sad that it appears the families have hired a lawyer who is going to take Murray and MSHA for everything they can. What a sad world we live in when because someone has been deeply hurt they insist on making others lives just as miserable. I come from a mining family. You know the risks when you step foot in the mine. Its part of the job and if you work there, you make the decision that yes, someday, I might not come out. And contrary to media reports, mining safety has improved and will continue to improve. But when you mess with mother earth, you have to expect the unexpected. I give my condolences to the families, but honestly, are they going to feel any better if someone else dies or if they get millions from Murray?

Anonymous | 8:48 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

I just continue to pray for the miners and their families.

Patience | 9:12 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

So sad that people (including the Governer) will not budge from "The Promise" even after the 2nd mine cave-in, loss of rescuers' lives, and continued mine instability would require jeopardizing additional lives to keep that promise.

Desert Rat | 9:40 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

Looks to me like there are two, and only two ways to find those miners. One is to try to clear the rubble from below, which has already killed three would be rescuers. The other is to tunnel from above, but what can one guy with a shovel dropped down a 30 inch shaft do? Lawyer King need to get a dose of reality

Daphne | 9:53 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

Coal miners need a union. As do the rest of us.

AT | 9:59 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

It would be nice to recover the trapped miners but are you going to send more of your loved ones into the mine for the rescuce or would you rather sacrifice someone you do not know for your personal peace of mind?

Denise Spurlock/Indiana | 10:15 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

My prayers go out to all involved in this horrible tragedy. My heart drops everytime I try to imagine what family and friends of all miner accidents are going and will continue going through. Bless you all!

Helen | 10:44 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

My prayers go out to all the families involved in this tragedy. Megan, Patience and AT have made some good points. I feel Mr. Murray had confidence that the men would be rescued. The second collapse shows the mine is very unstable. Why risk more lives in trying to recover the bodies? Sealing the mine and placing a marker on it would be very appropriate. It could act as a memorial for the miners.

Peter | 10:45 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

The reason "all the relevant rescue resources" of America are not at the mine is pretty straightfoward: the government is not in the business of digging mines. There is no federal agency with a big chain link fenced lot full of mining equipment. Thank goodness for that too. The "one well intentioned" individual has a thousand times more mining experience than all the government employees combined.....

Patience II | 11:03 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

I agree with the statement by Patience, "So sad that people (including the Governer) will not budge from "The Promise" even after the 2nd mine cave-in, loss of rescuers' lives, and continued mine instability would require jeopardizing additional lives to keep that promise." I don't believe we should risk further lives looking for miners that probably have not made it. I realize the families are hurting and want closure, but do they want it at the cost of other lives? Three have already died trying to help. I believe that everything that could be done is being done. I also believe that the words from the Govenor were so inappropriate. It sounds to me like the families are angry because Mr. Murry did not deliver on a promise... made before the 2nd accident. How can the families of the original 6 look at the families of the 3 miners who died trying to find them and demand that efforts continue to be made?

Lisa | 11:14 a.m. Aug. 26, 2007

"...asked MSHA for a copy of a report completed Monday by a panel of mine safety experts...we certainly are not going to second-guess their qualified experts,...We would like to see for ourselves & be able to analyze and talk to our own experts."
I personally would like to see this report also & see some experts other than Bob Murray's and MSHA's hand picked ones look at this situation. But apparently we have to take Bob Murray's word for it this is what "they" concluded. Who are "they"? What are their credentials? Why hasn't one of them appeared before the public to tell us what "they" concluded? And why--if "they" are such experts--did Bob Murray, as his VP Rob Moore reported, have to meet with them & give them HIS expert opinion? Maybe the families, & others in the Carbon & Emery areas, could accept that these men cannot ever safely be brought out of this mine if some of the actual "experts" were to actually come out & tell us. I don't believe anything that comes out of Bob Murray's mouth. He had been caught in too many lies covering up things he has said as all of this has played out & if he finds himself backed against a wall & can't cover his comments up then he places blame on others stating they are spreading rumors to discredit him. To J. Murray's comment above, this all rests on one man and one small company because he turned additional help away & more than likely still is. He wanted HIS employees and HIS rescue crews doing the work. At least that is what he kept saying on TV "this work is being done by MY employees and MY rescue teams."

Ken | 2:02 p.m. Aug. 26, 2007

The lawyers and Governor Huntsman keep asking for the miners to be rescued by more high tech means. The only alternative I have heard suggested is to dig a large diameter hole into which a rescue pod can be lowered. I think they should do this but they need to make sure Harry Potter is present so that he can wave his magic wand and tell the rescue workers where to dig the hole.

johnm | 3:43 p.m. Aug. 26, 2007

I think that there has beennumerous people affected by this tragedy as a coal miner myself I think that the idea of sending more men and women to there possible dimize to save six bodies is unthinkable why do people think that one life is more valuble then the life of another. MSHA has the final say in whatever happens at crandall canyon. I also beleave that mr. murray has done everything he can the man is not god and cant work miracles as much as we all wish he could I thank all the rescuers and there families for this has been very hard on all of them. I pray that the families of the six will find god in there hearts and get through this because I know they also have people that look to them. I think that this lawyer provided by the UMWA needs to take a lookaround and see that his polcies and comments our those of an orginazation only needed to protect the lazy. and has no bearing on finding anything other than there political ambitions.

Citizen of Carbon County | 9:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 2007

I feel for the grieving families of the original six but when you have to watch as other families grieve for loved ones, it makes you stop and think about what is really happening. Does anyone out there really think that Mr. Murray would purposely stop the rescue and then run and hide? His hands are tied by MSHA as are those of the would be rescue crews. Someone there is using common sense and not running off emotion. I have heard people say "if it were their family in there, they would still be going". Not true. They, like the families are currently doing, would like the effort to continue but someone would step in and let common sense and rationality take over. The families keep asking for the larger borehole but they must not understand that the mountain is still moving. Even a small shift in any of the rock strata, would very possibly cause the loss of the hole and anyone down in it. The hole is no better than the underground version. It seems the mountain wants to and will take anyone else that tries to aid in the "underground" rescue, whichever way they may go. I personally know most of the men trapped on 8/6 and two of the three we lost on 8/16. I do feel for their families loss but I also don't want anymore families to endure the same pain. I don't know about them, but I could not live with myself if I were to blame for anyone else to die. May my Brothers all rest in peace and may their families find peace in their hearts. God Bless them all.

PS- Governor Huntsman needs to grow up and quit trying to gain votes. More important things need done now.

Labor | 4:34 p.m. Aug. 28, 2007

I can only tell you all that i'm praying for you guys and have been. Just "let the lord have his way in your life and everything will be alright. He won't give you something you can't handle". My prayers are with you all!

Labor | 4:42 p.m. Aug. 28, 2007

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2 photos

August Miller, Deseret News

Martha Sanchez, center, whose husband Manuel Sanchez is trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine, and her family wait outside a church for news from mine officials.

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Hopes dim as borehole finds nothing

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Reader comments Hopes dim as borehole finds nothing

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Hopes dim as borehole finds nothing