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Auburn Annie · 01-07-2006, 08:21 AM

Brian what little I know of mining (present-day) is from googling on mine evacuation training, mining safety etc. My paternal grandfather worked the mines near Clarks Summit PA as a child (pre child labor laws) when HIS father died young (40ish) and gramp was about 9. He was the 'man' of the family, helping to support his widowed mother and two younger siblings. He got out of it as soon as he could and eventually made a living in a shoe factory, hand piecing soles to uppers.

Sometimes the force of the explosion pushes the methane gas between them and the mouth of the mine so that heading for the opening would run them smack into the gas. You can't run full-tilt in pitch blackness into unknown air quality, and it was 13,000 feet from where they were to the mine portal. As reported in the New York Times, "They could not have known it, but there was breathable air inside the mine, possibly just 2,000 feet away.

Cut off from communications with the outside, surrounded by thick smoke and deep darkness, they might have believed a fire was raging ahead of them, or that the mine roof was in danger of collapsing. They might have become disoriented by carbon monoxide poisoning."

So, if they had some light, more oxygen, and most critically, knowledge that the way out was clear and safe, yes, some or all might have made it. The problem is they had no way of knowing what was there (or not).

01-07-2006, 08:21 AM	#7
Auburn Annie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,101	Brian what little I know of mining (present-day) is from googling on mine evacuation training, mining safety etc. My paternal grandfather worked the mines near Clarks Summit PA as a child (pre child labor laws) when HIS father died young (40ish) and gramp was about 9. He was the 'man' of the family, helping to support his widowed mother and two younger siblings. He got out of it as soon as he could and eventually made a living in a shoe factory, hand piecing soles to uppers. Sometimes the force of the explosion pushes the methane gas between them and the mouth of the mine so that heading for the opening would run them smack into the gas. You can't run full-tilt in pitch blackness into unknown air quality, and it was 13,000 feet from where they were to the mine portal. As reported in the New York Times, "They could not have known it, but there was breathable air inside the mine, possibly just 2,000 feet away. Cut off from communications with the outside, surrounded by thick smoke and deep darkness, they might have believed a fire was raging ahead of them, or that the mine roof was in danger of collapsing. They might have become disoriented by carbon monoxide poisoning." So, if they had some light, more oxygen, and most critically, knowledge that the way out was clear and safe, yes, some or all might have made it. The problem is they had no way of knowing what was there (or not).