Utah Rescuers Drilling For Signs Of Life Hit Active Mining Area But Find Little Hope

Friday, August 10th 2007, 7:14 am

By: News On 6

HUNTINGTON, Utah (AP) _ The effort to find six coal miners caught in a cave-in took a disheartening turn Friday when a narrow hole drilled more than 1,800 feet down into the earth yielded no sounds of life and barely any oxygen.

The drill entered an area where the miners were thought to be working at the time of Monday's collapse. Mine officials had earlier though their drill had simply hit a sealed, abandoned area of the mine that had little oxygen.

Readings of air composition at the bore hole showed there was not enough oxygen to support life. But officials kept up hope, saying the miners may have fled to another area that could have more oxygen.

``It's difficult to say. I'm not going to speculate,'' Rob Moore, vice president of Murray Energy Corp., a co-owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine, said after a news conference Friday evening.

Initial readings showing oxygen levels above 20 percent _ a breathable atmosphere _ were samples from the bore hole itself and not the mine, said Bob Murray, chief of Murray Energy. There was no sign of carbon dioxide to indicate the exhalations of people.

When the drill was raised a few feet to clear it from debris, the oxygen readings fell to just over 7 percent and have remained there, said Richard Stickler, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

``Normal oxygen is 21 percent,'' he said. ``Once you get down to 15 percent you start having effects, and at 7 1/2 percent, it would not support life very long.''

Mine officials said the drill drifted on its long descent through the hard sandstone and speculated that it had penetrated an old, sealed-off work area, where low oxygen levels would be expected. Further measurements showed the drill actually hit an active mining section.

A second, wider hole being drilled into the same area of the mine had come within about 240 feet of breaking through as of Friday evening. When it does, rescuers will drop down audio and visual equipment that could pick up signs of life. The 1,886-foot hole would also be big enough to send down food and water, Stickler said.

Separately, rescuers tried to make their way horizontally toward the miners, struggling to remove the rubble from the mine shaft. But it could take another week to actually reach the men and bring them out.

The mother of missing miner Don Erickson refused to be discouraged.

``We keep getting these other bits and pieces that are encouraging, so we're going to hold onto that for now,'' said the 69-year-old woman, who asked that her name not be used because she did not want to receive calls.

Around Huntington, a rugged town of around 2,000, the men's plight evoked a similar, understated reaction, reflecting perhaps the stoicism of a community well-acquainted with the risks of digging coal deep below the earth's surface.

The six-man mining crew was a ragtag combination of personalities _ longtime residents and recent Mexican immigrants; grizzled veteran miners and a rookie who had put in just weeks on the job; a ``bullheaded'' older guy and a ``sweet, sweet'' young man.

Huntington displayed signs of hope for the miners. Red, yellow and blue ribbons hung from light poles, and over Earl's Bargains furniture store a sign declared, ``We believe.'' Another sign read: ``Light up your porch until they come home.''

Huntington is a town of wide streets lined by small single-story homes with tidy green lawns and some trailer parks. Multiple churches represent various denominations. The lone movie theater shows films four days a week. Yard sales are held on Main Street to support the Boy Scouts.

Its residents have sought to protect the privacy of the missing miners' families, posting a sign on a Main Street market asking the news media not to bother asking questions.

The mining company has not identified the miners, but The Associated Press has learned they are a crew of veterans and novices. According to family, friends and other sources they are: Carlos Payan, in his 20s; Kerry Allred, 57; Manuel Sanchez, 41; Brandon Phillips, 24; Luis Hernandez, age unknown; and Erickson, 50.

Erickson's mother described the eldest of her four children as solid, loving and considerate. ``He's my wonderful son,'' she said, breaking into tears. ``You couldn't ask for better.''

Married to wife Nelda for about a dozen years, Erickson is a father of two and stepfather to his wife's three children, she said. Nelda Erickson told the AP that her husband loved the outdoors, camping and four-wheeling.

``Don is a husband, a father, a son, a grandfather and a friend,'' she said.

Payan had not worked very long at the mine and planned to return soon to Mexico, according to two friends. A sister lives in Huntington, and their parents traveled from Mexico after the cave-in.

``He wasn't out a lot. He just worked and worked and worked,'' said family friend Iliana Sebreros, 13.

Sanchez, 41, has been a miner for 15 years, said a sister, Maria Buenrostro.

``He is a great human being. He's a family man and a brother who can't be replaced,'' said brother Cesar Sanchez. ``He is a person who has lots of friends and is an enormous worker.''

The brother said they were both born in Casas Grandes in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

Phillips and Allred had attended high school in Castle Dale, near Huntington.

Allred, who played in a rock band while in high school, has three children, all adults, acquaintances said.

Bill Tucker, a 60-year-old former miner who lives in Huntington, described Allred as a ``bullheaded'' guy who plays guitars and sings _ George Jones and country western music are his favorites. Tucker and Allred grew up together in Cleveland, Utah. Allred's father taught them both to play guitar, and they often sat around jamming together.

``He's always happy. He's just an all-around good boy,'' Tucker said. ``He's a tough kid. It's just his disposition. If something were in the road, he'd move it.''

Earlene Mason of Huntington said she met Allred six years ago while she worked as a mini-mart cashier. She said his family attends a Baptist church in Castle Dale. ``He likes to joke around,'' she said. ``He's always smiling.''

Marcey Wilson, a neighbor of Phillips in Orangeville, said her husband, who works at the mine, trained Phillips three weeks ago. ``He was a sweet, sweet guy,'' Wilson said.

In high school, ``he was just a skinny little kid and always had those baggy jeans on,'' Emery High School secretary Paula Gordon said. In his yearbook photos, his head is shaved.

Hernandez was identified by the Mexican newspaper El Universal, which said he was hired by the mine about two months ago. Relatives in Utah told an AP reporter they did not want to be interviewed.