West Virginia Mining Accident Brings Back Memories of Quecreek
By: Angie Koehle
Updated: April 8, 2010
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY - It will be 8 years ago in July.
"Everyone who was part of the rescue will tell you everyone hung on to the that hope. We clung to the fact that we didn't care what the odds were, we're going to do what it took to make this a successful rescue," Bill Arnold said about the rescue at Quecreek.
Arnold will tell you the odds were against them too. After he was awoken in July of 2002 to find out 9 men were trapped in a flooded mine shaft beneath his family farm, he barely rested for the next 4 days straight.
"We had drilling operations. We had fuel deliveries and drop-offs. We were trying to manage crowd control with the state police and local police. The fire department was here for fire prevention and injuries," Arnold said.
The miracle at Quecreek had setbacks also. 2 days after the mine shaft flooded, a drill bit broke, delaying efforts. Still, Arnold said, they held on and so should the families in West Virginia.
"As dark as it seems, I would say cling to that hope and when hope is failing cling to faith, as dark as those days might be," he said.
The Quecreek site is now a memorial site that is open to the public. Arnold said since Monday, when news of the West Virginia mining accident spread, there have been more visitors to Quecreek.
