Sago Survivor, Families Pray for Miners Trapped in Utah

kward@wvgazette.com

Sago Mine disaster survivor Randal McCloy Jr. and families of some of the Sago victims are praying for the six miners who remained trapped Tuesday deep inside a Utah coal mine.

McCloy and his wife, Anna, said in a statement they “were very sad to learn of the mining collapse in Utah.”

“Almost two years ago, when we were faced with the same crisis, we relied heavily on our family and the power of prayer. The miners and their families are in our constant thoughts and prayers and we are hoping for the very best,” Anna McCloy said in the statement.

Peggy Cohen, the daughter of Fred Ware Jr., who died at Sago, said she has been watching television news reports of the rescue effort at Murray Energy’s Crandall Canyon Mine.

“I have shed many tears this evening,” Cohen said in an e-mail message Monday night. “It was almost like reliving Sago.”

Cohen said she was trying to get a message to the families of the Utah miners to let them know “my heart aches for them.”

She wanted the Utah families to know “they will be in my thoughts and prayers and may God be with them.”

“I have been there and it is not a situation that you want to live over,” Cohen said in the message. “I will continue to pray that they make it out alive so they can be reunited with their families.”

Gov. Joe Manchin talked to Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Monday night and again on Tuesday morning, said Lara Ramsburg, Manchin’s communications director.

Manchin offered any help West Virginia could provide to the rescue effort, and told Huntsman about his experience waiting with families at Sago and at the Aracoma Alma No. 1 Mine, Ramsburg said.

“Our hearts go out to them,” she said. “We know how difficult a situation like this can be, especially for the families.”

Pam Campbell, the sister-in-law of Sago disaster victim Marty Bennett, said the Utah roof collapse shows there still isn’t enough being done nationwide to protect coal miners.

“The fines have been minimal, and until MSHA starts cracking down with stiff fines for violations that are putting these miners at risk, more and more miners are going to die,” Campbell said. “Repeat violations should not be tolerated at any of our nation’s mines.

“Enough is not being done,” she said. “How many more miners have to die before someone listens?”

To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348- 1702.

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