Only 1 survivor in W. Va. coal mine (MSNBC updated AP story)

[gauguin57]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10682163 /

a snip ...

BREAKING NEWS

Updated: 3:14 a.m. ET Jan. 4, 2006

"TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - Family members of miners trapped in a West Virginia mine say only one of the 13 miners survived.

International Coal Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield told the families that only one miner, Randal McCloy, had survived the explosion.

Hatfield told the families gathered at the Sago Baptist Church that "there had been a lack of communication, that what we were told was wrong and that only one survived," said John Groves, whose brother Jerry Groves was one of the trapped miners.

At that point, chaos broke out in the church and a fight started. ..."

[rucky]

1. Oooooops.

After over 1000 Google News hits reporting that 12 survived.

Proof that the press is incredibly lazy in checking facts.

[rberger909]

8. Sad...

While I agree with you mostly, I was caught with my pants down as well. I run a small news site and depend on other "more respected" sources for my news. I reported on my site that 12 of the 13 were alive only to have to retract that a couple hours later. My point is alot of these news sources rely on the AP or Reuters for their headlines, it can be viewed as lazy or being realistic depending on your point of view. I'm inclined to subscribe to both opinions.

[EuroObserver]

76. Same thing happened on Spanish radio this morning n/t

[Blue_Tires]

106. welcome to the site!

[Pert_UK]

10. I disagree entirely...

Although it wasn't an "official" announcement from the mining company, the news that emerged from the scene was that 12 had survived. This was what family members were told and what at least one mine employee was saying.

Unless you're suggesting that the Press should actually take a pulse before announcing whether the miners are alive I can't see how you can fault them on this occasion.

[rucky]

68. Journalism 101: Verify from more than one source.

Coroners confirm deaths. Easy enough.

I am awake at this ungodly hour because I work part-time as a freelance news researcher.

[EFerrari]

72. Exactly. And you know that in these situations, people will

be emotional and rumors will fly and the job is to stay calm and sift, for pete's sake. They must all feel pretty terrible -- those that reported at the scene.

[Pert_UK]

81. I still think you're wrong...

Consider the chain of events...It wasn't the media that caused the families to celebrate by wrongly reporting that the men were alive.

The families started celebrating when "news" reached them from the mining company, and this news also leaked to the press.

The press could hardly ignore a church-load of celebrating families, ringing bells and talking about how happy they were that theire relatives were alive, could they?

Basically, the news came unofficially but from an official channel and people in the area believed it. The mining company didn't officially contradict is straight away.

Given all available evidence I don't think that the media were irresponsible in this instance...

Are you SERIOUSLY saying that the media should never report anybody dead until it's confirmed by a coroner?

[hang a left]

111. Before I went to bed...

The story was sourced to the families. Which I thought was weird. The story stated that the Mining Company and someone else would not confirm.

[architect359]

117. I thought that was weird too

The initial headline (see post #116 below by Rocknation)) indicated that the news was breaking from the families' side rather than from the rescuers themselves. Than came the bells ringing and all that. Didn't help matters much that the news agency went with this rumor tho. That's the problem I guess, everyone wants a scoop. Just a bad, bad situation. Hope the only fella to survive makes it OK in the end...

[rocktivity]

120. DING DING DING! Architect359, you're our grand prize winner!

The initial headline indicated that the news was breaking from the families' side rather than from the rescuers themselves...That's the problem I guess, everyone wants a scoop...
And since the reports ADMITTED that the story came only from the families, that's all the MORE reason why it should have confirmed it with the minining company and governor--Journalism 100, folks. They were more interested in getting the scoop than getting the facts. They fell down on the job here. They owe us an apology.

:grr:
rocknation

[Pert_UK]

127. I see your point but still don't agree entirely...

It was a very odd situation - the news stations were faced with a churchload of rejoicing relatives, claiming that the mining company had said everyone survived, versus a mining company that refused to confirm (or deny) that claim.

I'm not surprised that this happened - it would have been very strange to read a headline like "Families say miners all OK - mining company refuses to confirm"...

Who knows? I just don't think that it's particularly bad journalism in this instance - it's not like Florida and Gore where the media actually all jumped the wrong way for no good reason whatsoever, and it's not like they had anything at all to gain by misreporting the story.

[Spazito]

129. I think the headline you say would be weird is, in fact, exactly

the one a responsible media should have gone with.

"Families say miners all OK - mining company refuses to confirm"...

It would have been a cautionary heads-up that was very much needed, imo. Instead, the media went full steam ahead on rumours without any caution as to where the rumour had come from, etc.

[KamaAina]

141. The REAL headline: "Bush** mine safety cuts kill 12"

maybe the CBC or the Guardian might go with that. The US "press" sure as hell won't.

[Spazito]

147. Yep, that surely should be today's headline but won't be

sadly. All of today's headlines will be trying to point the finger of blame about the 'miscommunication' instead.

[Marie26]

128. I blame the mining company

The company CEO apparantly personally told these families that the miners were alive, and even that the families would be reunited at the church. This is direct information from a knowledgeable, trusted (ha) source. So the families felt like they could celebrate, and began ringing the bells, talking to reporters, etc. It would be hard for a journalist not to report this. Yeah, it's from the families, but they heard it directly from the CEO & the governor. The mining company misinformed both the families & the media. That said, warning bells should've been going off for reporters once the company refused to officially comment on the "good news".

[Critters2]

151. The CEO says he didn't tell the families

He says the report was overheard at the rescue site--but not confirmed--and then just spread like wild fire. I thought it was odd that the families were saying the victims were going to meet them at the church as soon as they came up. I couldn't imagine they'd be in that good a shape, and I began to be skeptical.

[Historic NY]

145. I stayed up until almost 3 am waiting for the news conference...

but finally went to sleep. I thought it was strange that CNN reporters said they had left and went to bed around 11 pm and were awaken at midnight with the news they had been found. There were no officials to be seen at one point one of the female CNN reporters went down through where the command posts were and no one was around. They kept sending ambulances down toward the mine, which would indicate something else was afoot. At one point the police were pushing the news media people back even further from the scene. All the interviews were from family members who said they heard it from other family members....strange. The entire incident was handled unprofessionally as far as communications with the media. There was no real spokesman present to answer to deflect questions to the media. I woke up at 7am and my newspaper had the alive headlines....but when I checked the internet I learned otherwise.

[serryjw]

134. News NOT families should be logical

not emotional, not hoping for miracles. When I heard that 12 were alive I looked at the TV report and said HOW? It wasn't that a 'miracle' would not have been wonderful but It didn't seem possible. They were down there way to long and they had sent a line down there to test for air quality and came back with VERY high levels of carbon monoxide. The possibility that they were alive was slim...should have been verified BEFORE telling the families...IMHO!

[Renew Deal]

2. wow

What else can be said at this point?

[Cascadian]

3. It's just horrible.

It's just like getting punched hard in the stomach. I can only imagine what these people are going through. It's a sad ending. My only hope is somebody answer to this mess and the families of the dead are compensated in some way.

John

[gauguin57]

4. CNN STILL hasn't corrected the full story ... just a banner.

Good lord

[MrSlayer]

5. That is so fucked up.

Apparently the company knew right away that these guys didn't survive yet said nothing about it for hours.

[drhilarius]

6. Of course they didn't say anything...

Because they had to first call their PR department to craft a speech that would spin it the right way while giving just the slightest hint of something that resembles genuine human emotion.

[MrSlayer]

9. Yes.

That is the cold hard truth.

[Marie26]

118. Also to call their lawyers

So they could be sure to craft a speech that would appear to show compassion, while carefully avoiding admissions of fault. Bastards.

[alarimer]

125. I bet the mining company really doesn't give a rat's ass

I bet they are more worried about hom much profit they have lost due to the explosion.

[Ilsa]

95. And that's where they screwed up -- waiting to retract.

I'm not ready to assign blame about how the wrong info got to the families. Good news can spread like wildfire also. But they should have told them immediately not to celebrate prematurely.

[Psephos]

164. That's not true

Rumors caused this problem of misreported rescue - let's keep our emotions in check and stifle the urge to "report" what we don't know.

JMHO.

Peace.

[Up2Late]

7. Anderson Cooper was just talking with someone saying that...

...the rescue team was shouting Found Alive! Found Alive! But it was all miscommunication.

With 12 of 13 found dead, let's not start blaming the rescuers or the reporters, If anyone deserves blame it's this mining company with all it's safety violations.

[Streetdoc270]

11. Breaking on CNN Only one Miner alive

Anderson Cooper interviewing lady saying that there has been a mistake and there is only one surviver, link to follow

[Not_Giving_Up]

12. Also saying that a fist fight broke out in the church

This is awful.

[vanboggie]

49. I feel so badly for those families

and the billionaire will probably try to silence them with his spare change - and Congress would approve a one-time only tax break to cover the expense for him.

[saigon68]

85. Nice Place to Fight --ie Who would Jesus "PUNCH OUT--STOMP ON" ???

YIKES

[Ilsa]

100. ah shucks, Saigon, these are desperate people, hoping for their loved

ones, having had little or no sleep.

Besides, Baptist churches are not iconic by nature or philosophy. That's why their buildings are generally so plain. (My personal experience is that Baptists will pick a fight anywhere; they just won't dance during it. ;-) )

[AspenRose]

143. Yep - They're only human. And grieving.

eom

[EFerrari]

13. Oh, no. I'm listening now. n/t

[deadparrot]

14. A 26-year-old was the only survivor, apparently.

:cry:

RIP to the families and friends of the 12 miners who apparently didn't make it.

[beam me up scottie]

15. How do they make a mistake like that?

Dammit dammit dammit

Those families have been through enough.

[Erika]

16. Governor left - No Miracle

This is a blanking nightmare.

[Tinksrival]

17. Absolutely Bazaar

Awful......just awful.

[Roxy66]

18. This is horrible...how could the officials let this go on like this

[Marie26]

119. Horrible

The families knew to go to the church, as did the head of the mining company. So the mining company must have told these families to meet there - knowing all the while that the good news wasn't true. What was the company waiting for? Instead of "refusing to comment" before the meeting, why didn't the company or officials quickly correct the story as soon as they found out? Why torture these families any longer? And I simply do not understand how there can be "miscommunication" on something so fundamental & simple as whether the miners were alive or dead. There is something very shady about this whole story.

[aquart]

19. CNN website still says 12 Alive!

WTF is going on?

[Not_Giving_Up]

21. It just broke

They haven't had a chance to update yet, apparently.

[Tinksrival]

26. Cooper was going on and on

for two hours about the miracle,
and a woman who lives behind the church had gotten her kids out of bed to hear the news at the church. She came running out to tell Cooper the news was wrong and there was fighting and shouting at the church.

[grumpy old fart]

102. If 12 "alive" was a miracle, are the 12 now dead God's work also?

I mean, God gets credit for every good thing that happens. Seems to escape blame for the bad. Not a bad gig.

[kath]

136. yeah, why'd ol' God let the explosion happen in the first place?

[Critters2]

152. Cooper is a jerk

I just felt the need to say that...and that I'm not surprised he didn't check facts more carefully.

[Marie26]

161. He should've

I love Anderson Cooper, & thought he did a wonderful job during Hurricane Katrina. He dropped the ball here. I didn't like how he seemed to be almost interrogating the woman who told him the miners weren't alive. Why wasn't he that skeptical of the initial reports? Then, when the woman finally said that the CEO had confirmed this, he just lamely said "oh". Cooper's normally very compassionate, but in that instant he seemed mostly concerned w/the loss of his false "scoop". He did recover & seemed genuinely upset & concerned for the families, etc. But I've lost a little bit of respect for him after this. (By the way, where is he? He disappeared from the scene faster than the WV governor!)

[cynatnite]

20. Gov called it a miracle...

Told family that and said it to the press, IRRC.

How in the hell can they do this to these poor families?

[rucky]

48. whoever decided to lie: what were they thinking?

like it wouldn't have gotten found out. I've heard of faking a death before, but how do you fake a life?

[laylah]

22. Mistake? I don't have the "tube"

on. Would someone please clarify? What a horrible tragedy!

Jenn

[Renew Deal]

46. Mistake. "Miscommunication" 12 dead

[Divine Discontent]

23. So, this isn't true??? talk about dewey beats truman reporting! HORRIBLE!!

ONLY RANDALL L. MCCLOY JR. SURVIVED. SO SAD www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10682163/


This is the wrong report from a few hours ago - look how happy they were, sick!

12 workers found alive in W. Va. coal mine
One hospitalized in critical condition, another found dead earlier in day


Jeff Swensen / Getty Images
Family and friends react to the news that 12 of the 13 coal miners trapped in the Sago Mine were found alive about midnight Tuesday.



very very sad... I was very happy for them. God bless them in their suffering, and further suffering from the faulty news of someone seeing or hearing there was someone alive, and then calling the families and saying "they're alive". I hope this story is wrong now, that's just come out, and if it's not, may they find a way to get through this horrible news..


and seeing this family so relieved and joyful is soooo saddening right now.. really, I can't even imagine there suffering right now, but probably they're in bed getting sleep and will be told in the morning, and at least have some peace for a few hours.

[LiberteToujours]

158. That's the saddest picture I've ever seen

[angee_is_mad]

24. How Could this HAPPen?

My God, these people have been told for the last few hours that 12 are alive.

[laylah]

30. I understand

the "mistake" now. How in the HELL did this happen? Those poor folks! To believe many had survived only to find out it was a "mistake". I cannot fathom the heartbreak and outrage. My thoughts and prayers are with them :cry:

Jenn

[cynatnite]

25. Daughter on CNN talking about unsafe working conditions

Her father was due to retire in April. :cry:

[northzax]

146. and under West Virgina law

they company is only liable for the remainder of the salary this man would make in his career. ahh, tort reform.

to be clear, unless the miners were deliberatly sent to their deaths (you have to prove someone in the company knew there would be an explosion and sent the miners down anyway) all the company is liable for is the salary of each miner until the age of 60. Three, I believe, were 59.

and the survivor gets nothing.

[TheDebbieDee]

27. Well, it looks like our sorry, piss-poor excuse for

a news media has screwed it up again!

Can't the people in our MSM just tell us what happened....about anything????

[cynatnite]

29. Wasn't corporate media's fault this time...

They told families and media alike that 12 were alive.

It sounds like it's a major cluster fuck there with no one really in charge.

[EFerrari]

38. But the CM were not careful. They ran with it when they

should have double checked. They're not children. They bear a portion of the blame here.

Dammit.

[cynatnite]

40. But if they are continually told by various people...

there were 12 survivors how can they take a portion of the blame. You're talking about ALL of them. They were ALL told this and no one bothered correcting the media or family until three hours later.

[EFerrari]

41. I do see the problem. But this is how sloppy they are.

Someone with a brain should have checked with the bastards now in the press conference. That's their job, no matter who around them gets excited.

If they had, they could be confronting their @sses right now.

[cynatnite]

45. I don't know...I have a hard time blaming the media for what they get told

by other people who all said the same thing.

Either way, this company's ass is in a sling. Someone's gonna lose their job at the very least.

[EFerrari]

50. Yeah, somebody is going to be unemployed.

Terrible all the way around.

[cynatnite]

52. Someone ought to be sitting in jail...

They let these poor families think their loved ones were alive. It's fucking criminal, IMO.

[EFerrari]

53. What I hate the most is how vulnerable those families were - are

while these bastards have this @sshole pimping for them, even now.

Those nameless, sheltered bastards that let this situation evolve.

/grammar

[Occulus]

133. Someone?

every single corner cutting asshole in that company responsible for the safety- or, rather, lack thereof- should be facing twelve manslaughter counts.

After all the safety and OSHA violations that company had, it is the only appropriate course of action. Corporations, however, being what they are, and so much more important in court than individual lives, that will not happen.

:(

[Beausoir]

55. I sure as hell do not.

What the hell happened to journalism??

Not taking after you...I am just livid at the press in this country.

[Ilsa]

103. I think you have hit the nail on the head -- sloppy reporting -- these

people are not journalists, they are former beauty queens and people with connections. They either haven't studied journalism or they don't take their professional ethics seriously. I'm surprised the masses don't believe we have fairies and leprechauns living amongst us.

[oldtime dfl_er]

113. I agree

The last image I saw before going to bed last night, was Geraldo ostentatiously hugging some miner relative he had just called "brother" in fake Geraldo-world joy -- and this wasn't on FAUX -- CNN had stuck their mike in to capture the happy interview. Geraldo, Anderson Cooper, and whoever else was there were once again trying to be media darlings and not journalists. While I don't fully fault them, as they truly aren't journalists but entertainers, I think CNN and the other networks bear some fault. Dan Rather would never have reported the story as true until he had the proper sourcing.

[rocktivity]

121. They are to blame if the "various people" they "talked" to

didn't include the governor or mining company. But confirmation would have taken time, and taking time would have cost them the "scoop."

I remember that during the OJ Simpson trial, someone from ABC News was able to brag that they were the only media outlet that didn't run a story about a mask being found at the crime scene because they couldn't confirm it.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Tinksrival]

35. Not quite

The press definetly was left out of the loop. The state troopers had been backing them up away from that church since they story broke that they were alive. Why these officials let this mis-information sit for two hours is bazaar!

[cynatnite]

37. Yep, they never bothered correcting a damn thing...

It's one thing that mis-information gets out, but it's entirely another when they let families and the media continue to think they were alive.

Three fucking hours.

[deadparrot]

28. How the hell did this happen?

How could they think there were 12 survivors, when in truth, twelve were dead?

:grr:

[Behind the Aegis]

31. This is just beyond tragic.

To get those people's hopes up, then this...

My partner and I were so relieved when we saw the news earlier saying they had survived. I am so very sad, I can't, and don't, even know how relatives could even be handling this news.

May Whomever grant them peace and love.

[Califooyah Operative]

32. dear god

this is horrible. pray for these people and their families.

[EFerrari]

33. The mining company liars are fixing to issue a statement now.

Cooper is talking while waiting for that.

He looks like someone hit him over the head with a brick.

[Erika]

36. He says its a miscommunication and not "corporate" fault

He can't even muster a blanking tear. The bastard.

Death claims are much cheaper to an employer than those who survive with injuries.

[EFerrari]

39. Sonuvabitch.

You can see them thinking ahead to the law suits.

[Erika]

34. Wilbur Ross, corporate billionaire, owns this mess

This is what W's big government represents. Notice how the Governor skipped out?

[Lindsay]

44. Shelley Moore Capito bugged out right away, too.

There for the good news, run from the bad.

Jerks.

[EFerrari]

47. He's blaming the rescue people WHILE telling the press

he will not blame them.

How do you think this guy votes?

[Blue_Roses]

59. the governor is speaking now

[norml]

42. Only one US miner reported alive (BBC)

Only one US miner reported alive

Only one of the 12 trapped miners found in a US coal mine on Wednesday has survived, reports from the US say.
CNN said only one man - critically ill and rushed to hospital - had been found alive by rescuers, just hours after news all had been found safe.

CNN named the survivor as 26-year-old Randal McCloy.

Relatives had celebrated in churches after reports that the rescue attempts had found all 12 men alive in an air pocket in the mine.

"Everybody is stunned," said Sam Lands, the brother-in-law of Martin Bennet, who had been in the mine.

"I thought I was going to pass out. I couldn't believe it. We've been lied to all along. We need answers."

West Virginia Governer Joe Manchin had earlier praised news of the men's rescue from the Sago mine a "miracle".


snip


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4579698.stm

[cynatnite]

43. This butthead says the 11 succumbed to the carbon monoxide...

The doctor who examined the one survivor said he tested negative. Did I hear her wrong? I was sure she said he suffered from hypothermia, dehydration and shock.

:wtf:

[gauguin57]

51. MSNBC has actually changed its story (not just its "breaking" banner)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10682163 /

a snip ...

BREAKING NEWS

Updated: 3:14 a.m. ET Jan. 4, 2006

"TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - Family members of miners trapped in a West Virginia mine say only one of the 13 miners survived.

International Coal Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield told the families that only one miner, Randal McCloy, had survived the explosion.

Hatfield told the families gathered at the Sago Baptist Church that "there had been a lack of communication, that what we were told was wrong and that only one survived," said John Groves, whose brother Jerry Groves was one of the trapped miners.

At that point, chaos broke out in the church and a fight started. ..."

[Beausoir]

54. Is this rock-bottom for American media?

This absolutely IS the fault of the lapdog press in this country. NO question about it.

Earlier I watched "reporter" Randi Kaye on CNN tell the world that the 12 survivors would be brought to the church to be reunited with family. At that point...I KNEW she was not reporting but merely passing around the latest gossip.

This is how far journalism has fallen in this country.

My god. Those poor families. This is a punch in the gut to us all.

[EFerrari]

56. There are reporters and reporters.

I sat here and watched a friend on the panel at the Williams execution, and he was in professional mode. What he does bears no relation to the performances we've seen tonight. It's disgusting, beyond disgusting.

But, Rita is "stunned". :puke:

[Blue_Roses]

57. watching now and this is horrible

:cry:

[EFerrari]

58. Those poor people. This is just horrible. n/t

[Blue_Roses]

60. I've been glued to this all night

and was about to go to bed but was waiting on the press conference and then saw this woman running out saying they were all dead but one. Anderson Cooper was stunned. He was at a loss for words and I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

So sad...:cry:

[Beausoir]

62. The horror of this situation for those families defies description.

[EFerrari]

65. Yes, because they were on a death watch. And they knew

their loved ones were sitting down there waiting to die.

Two friends of mine died in their sleep of carbon monoxide poisoning when their heater malfunctioned in their RV. But, they went peacefully in their sleep. It was terrible, horrible even but not for them at that moment.

These poor people were as helpless as possible the entire time.

[RadiDem]

61. A terrible tragedy - as an atheist

I'm confused and astonished. The Govenor is talking right now about 12 dead and 1 alive as 'a miracle'

[Divine Discontent]

63. It is a miracle, indeed, one survived.

to say it's anything but, with the conditions in that mine, wouldn't be fair to this young man battling for his life.


God bless them all in their suffering, none of us would want to be any of them right now.


what a horrible human error.

[EFerrari]

64. Given that he's the governor in a state with all those mines

and how dirty that industry is, he probably could use some divine intervention right now.

[Critters2]

153. I'm not an atheist

but I'm still confused and astonished. Unbelievable!

[barb162]

66. I was listening to this on the radio and it's TERRIBLE

ohmygod

[EFerrari]

67. Yes, it is terrible. And MNFats reminded me that last time

there was a mine rescue -- maybe two or three years ago -- Smirk was all over it with his "hero" talk. With the other side of his mouth, he cut funding for mine safety inspections.

[oldtime dfl_er]

115. Now THAT's a story that needs to be reported

Would love to locate some info about that! The media is desperate to find someone to blame -- let them blame the chimp as it should be.

[EFerrari]

140. Erika seems to know a great deal about the industry.

And yes, that would be a good tip to the media.

[Dulcinea]

84. How incredibly sad.

My grandfather was a Western PA coal miner. It's a very rough way to make a living.

I was hoping for an outcome like the accident a few years ago where all the miners were rescued. I'm sure that sentiment is shared by many.

My deepest condolences to the miners' families & loved ones. :cry:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

69. So 20 minutes after...

the "miscommunication" they knew that not everyone survived. In couldn't have taken more than another 20 minutes to determine that 12 were dead.

Clearly, the CEO of the company and the Gov. spent the next two to three hours getting their stories straight. Listening to both conferences, I could not help but notice the similiarities between the messages being sent by the CEO and the Gov.:

- There was a "miscommunication"
- We have one "miracle miner"
- We can't place blame on who gave us the wrong info initially
- We didn't want to say anything to the families because we weren't sure how many, if any had survived afterall (implying that it took another 2-3 hours! to find out all but one had died)
- Let's not ask too many questions about the "miscommunication" because the hardworking rescue workers have been doing a heroic job blah blah blah

The very same message, almost word for word. There was no damn excuse for that delay in getting the word to the family members that the miners had been lost.

Just a bunch of CYA going on in WV. :mad:

I'm so sorry for all those familes....

[EFerrari]

70. Yes. That's what happened. n/t

[Marie26]

123. And they're blaming the rescuers

The Gov. said there was "miscommunication" from the emergency rescue crews. Because, you know these expert emergency workers can't recognize if someone is dead or not. Right. I wonder if the rescuers first reported the one miner found alive, and the Gov. & coal company immediatly started spinning that to mean that all would be found alive. They certainly didn't need a delay to get that news out. Then once the rescue crews report 12 more had died, there's an extensive period of CYA & getting their stories straight before they'll tell the families. The "miscommunication" probably came from the company itself, not the rescuers. I normally don't say this, but I hope those families sue both the coal company & the state for this little stunt.

[0rganism]

71. I am seeing some exceedingly pissed off people right now

Wow.

I mean they are really goddam mad. Mad enough to tar & feather.

Someone has a lot of explaining to do before showing his face around town.

[undeterred]

74. If somebody said "we're checking their vital signs"

it could lead to someone assuming they 12 were alive, instead understanding that rescuers were checking for signs of life:

"Hatfield said the erroneous information spread rapidly when people overheard cell phone calls between rescuers and the rescue command center. In reality, rescuers had confirmed finding 12 miners and were checking their vital signs, he said."

http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2006/01/04/ap2426907.html

[allisonthegreat]

77. it is really a hard life

but once you get into it it is hard to leave..very sad i was hoping they would find them alive but from the ongoing reports it did not seem possible especially with the noxious fumes...

[0rganism]

79. Anyone can make a mistake, but this one lasted 3 hours

The company spokesman sat on the bad news for way too long. How long do you think it takes between, "we're checking their vital signs," and, "they're all dead," anyway? 10 minutes?

[lynne]

122. The WP report read that -

- it was announced from inside the mine over a type of radio/PA system to the outside that the men had been found and they were checking their vital signs. People want to hear positive news and I would have been inclined to have taken that to mean that they were alive if they had vital signs to check. Of course, that isn't what it meant at all. I don't think this was a malicious thing, just a true misunderstand by those who wanted to hear something that wasn't really there.

Elated relatives and friends took the story from there to the church as everyone is okay. Those at the mine had no way of knowing that the story had been taken as "all are well" until later. The mine owner said he waited until he had confirmation of how many were truly dead and alive until he corrected the story.

I don't know if there would have ever been any good way to correct this mess once the initial story came out. Even the Governor was thinking that they were alive. It is a terribly tragic mess but I do not think it was done maliciously.

[rodeodance]

109. had to see a silver lining in this story at this point but maybe something

someone will have a conscious about mine safty? maybe!

[Stockholm]

73. Sad news

My deepest sympathies to all of the families.

[sakabatou]

75. Eesh...

[Tippy]

78. Cell phone users blamed for mis-communication

So sad..whoever made that first call must be feeling horrible or at least I hope he/she is...

[druidity33]

114. hmmm...

makes me think, maybe one of the miners managed to call out before they all succumbed to CO2 (or something else?) and said we're all okay, etc. Maybe the delay is because it takes time to die of gas poisoning/suffocation and as the air ran out they dropped off one by one before the rescue crew could actually retrieve them?? It's just horrible to think about it. Personally, i'm inclined to blame the company and the gov't but not as much the reporters. I already know to only expect and trust good reporting from a few sources and voices. Almost nothing the TV tells me is true or even part true. Anyway, let's hope that the ones to blame burn for this.

[PCIntern]

80. Those of us who watched the Munich massacre

on live TV in 1972 may recall the ABC pronouncement that all the athletes were saved after the ridiculous German attempt at rescue...and then the real story came thru that they were 'all gone'.

What a nightmare...

[spinbaby]

82. According to Channel 4 news

The mining company not only told the relatives that 12 were alive but told them that the survivors could attend a press conference.

[okoboji]

83. yep

I heard that as well .... "the 12 miners were going to walk to the church" was another statment that was being made.

[Critters2]

154. Families were saying this

to Cooper, who, of course, reported it as fact, but it didn't come from anyone official.

[Kagemusha]

86. Sounds like people heard "Found Alive!" and "There are 12!"...

and they just figured the two combined meant that all 12 were found alive.

I agree with the earlier poster that they must've figured out the death toll pretty fast. Did they even know that word had been passed on to the families?... Or the media for that matter. I just see how the initial mistake was made. Rescuers don't have time to yell caveats when making initial announcements and start bringing people out if even one is alive.

[high density]

87. CNN is wondering about the miscommunication

Too bad they don't wonder about any of Bush's lies.

[lonestarnot]

88. What the fuck is wrong with the news people? Are they sadistic, lazy or

stupid?

[Critters2]

156. Yep

:banghead:

[rfkrfk]

89. 'Predict the Spin', of how the wire-services will explain their error

my prediction, they will blame some 'unnamed mine company official',

this 'mine official' really being some average Joe,
that was paid 500 bucks by the wires for tips.

[Fleshdancer]

90. may the survivor recover, thrive and not feel survivor's guilt.

I wish for the best for him. This is just so horrible. I can't begin to imagine what the family members are going through right now. If *I* went through the highs and lows of this story without knowing anyone involved and not living anywhere near there, could you imagine what the families went through?? I wouldn't wish their experience on my worst enemy.

:cry:

[rodeodance]

93. yes, good post.

[rodeodance]

91. oh my gawd!!--those families!! I went to bed thinking they were alive-ex-

cept the one they found earlier!!

[rodeodance]

92. I went to bed and they had been talking of the miracle for a long time.

[FooFootheSnoo]

94. This is terrible.

I went to bed about midnight last night thinking that only one miner had died. When I went to sleep they were reporting that the miners would be coming over to the church shortly. I got up this morning and the story had completely changed. I saw one man interviewed on CNN that said family members were standing outside the church in blankets waiting for their "fathers and brothers". I felt bad for the one family that knew their miner was dead last night,but this morning I think that family is probably in better shape than the others. At least that family wasn't given any false hope. What a horrible situation. So sad.

[rodeodance]

96. (AP) 12 of 13 W. Va. Miners Confirmed Dead (found out 3 hrs later)

http://news.yahoo.com/

12 of 13 W. Va. Miners Confirmed Dead

AP - 13 minutes ago
TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - In a stunning and heartbreaking reversal, family members were told early Wednesday that 12 of 13 trapped coal miners were dead — three hours after they began celebrating news that they were alive.

[rodeodance]

98. survivor is in critical condition ( but has 'signs of brain functioning).

The sole survivor was in critical condition but showing signs of brain functioning, a doctor said.

The devastating new information about the others shocked and angered family members, who had rejoiced with Gov. Joe Manchin hours earlier when a rumor began to spread that 12 miners were alive. Rescue crews found the first victim earlier Tuesday evening.

"I can only say there was no one who did anything intentionally other than risk their lives to save their loved ones," Manchin told ABC's "Good Morning America."

"No one can say anything about that would make anything any better," he said. "Just a horrible situation."

[rodeodance]

99. link to AP story here

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060104/ap_on_re_us/mine_explosion

[MetaTrope]

97. Lax safety standards for mines? Hmmmm

Nothing complicated about Bush's weakening safety standard for miners

http://www.intellisearchnow.com/pwrpub_view.scml?ppa=6inngWZjomjjqsUVgbt%3EEvbfej%5Bm

[rodeodance]

101. Kerry: Nothing Complicated About Bush's Failure to Protect Coal Miners

this is from your post above. Thanks.


Kerry: Nothing Complicated About Bush's Failure to Protect Coal Miners (1/2)
Aug 29, 2004 - U.S. Newswire

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a release of Kerry-Edwards 2004 (Part 1 of 2):

Kerry-Edwards spokesperson Phil Singer said: There's nothing complicated about the fact that George Bush broke his promise to invest in coal's future and failed to protect coal miners. The fact is that George W. Bush broke his promise to the voters of West Virginia. Sen. Byrd says he just "walked away." No wonder he's lashing out on the campaign trail, misleading the public about his record. John Kerry knows that coal mining creates jobs and believes that with the right investment and commitment coal will be an even cleaner part of America's energy future.

On Campaign Trail Bush Promised to Protect Coal. "At a campaign stop at Harris Riverfront Park on Oct. 2 (2000), Bush promised to protect coal and steel" (The Herald-Dispatch (WV), 11/8/00)

In 2000 Bush Said He Would Provide $2 Billion to "Develop Clean Coal Technologies." "'I'm going to develop domestic supplies to make us less dependent on foreign supplies,'" he (Bush) says. 'What I won't do is tinker with the strategic petroleum reserves; those are meant for times of war or major disruption. What I will do is encourage oil and gas exploration as well as develop clean coal technologies - (at a cost of) $2 billion, for starters - that will enable us to use the abundance of coal that we have in the country in an environmentally friendly way.'" (The Herald Dispatch (WV), 10/ 3/00)

Bush Cut Funding for Mine Safety Enforcement by $15 Million. In President Bush's requests to Congress, he has cut $15 million for Mine Safety Enforcement since taking office. (AFL-CIO, analysis of Budget Requests from FY 2002-2005) ....

[rodeodance]

104. a miner yesterday said the WV had forsaken the union for the mines and

that the company was more concerned about lining the pockets of the owners than with safety!!!!!!!

[barbaraann]

132. I hate to say this but when I heard the Gov speak last night

he sounded like a PR person for the mining company rather than an advocate for the mineworkers. He was saying things like "doing everything humanly possible" instead of "we will fight for mine safety."

I had to go look up on the internet to see if he was a D or an R and I also found out that he has taken a lot of campaign money from coal companies.

[kath]

139. He's a D - at least in name.

Arggghhhh. In bed with the big mining companies, it seems.

I really, really, really miss the days when Democrats were for the working people, including their right to organize.
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[rodeodance]

105. needs one more nomination please

[rodeodance]

107. Gov. of WV had made announcement in church, the bells rang and

3 HOURS later they change their story. MY gawd. I hate to be cynic but this gov. was having a photo-OP occasion!!!!

[myrna minx]

108. This is just such a horrible tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families.

And to the press corps...way to go. Too lazy to fact check. This now proves that the press is nothing but purveys of gossip. :cry:

[rodeodance]

110. cnn is replaing Anderson Cooper making the (bad) announcement

from last night.--only one alive.

[rodeodance]

112. paserbye telling Cooper that Gov was inside Church apoligizing.

[Critters2]

157. Part of the problem

is that CNN's sources were passers-by!!

[rocktivity]

116. So I right. Whoop-de-freaking-doo.

Before bed last night, I posted

What a weird headline.
"Families Say 12 W.Va. Miners Found Alive?" Why not simply say "Miners Found Alive?" I hope it's not because the problem is now getting them OUT alive!

Jobycom responded: "...The governor or mining company hasn't confirmed it yet, is my understanding."

I thought it was odd that the families would be informed BEFORE the governor or mining company. I also thought that if it wasn't official, the story shouldn't have run. Looks like we have another case of competing media outlets not letting the facts get in the way of a scoop. And it looks like my instincts were right on. I'm so proud of myself...

:(
rocknation

[AzDar]

124. These poor men, just trying to make a living...both of my Grandfathers

were coalminers at one time or another;it is hard,unhealthy,frightening work. My heart just BREAKS for these families.

[Marie26]

126. This is weird

According to the Washington Post, the 12 miners who died had created a barrier to block carbon monoxide using a special fabric shield. The one miner who was found alive was not beind the barrier, but was found closer to the explosion area. Why is it that the one miner who didn't have protection lived, while the 12 miners who were shielded from carbon monoxide died?

Also, Hatfield, the coal company CEO, admits that he waited hours after hearing the truth to inform the families: "Twenty minutes later, he said, another communication came from the rescuers: Twelve were dead, they said. One was alive. It took several hours to tell the families that the good news was all a big mistake, a huge mistake. Hatfield said he waited because he felt his information might be incomplete and he wanted to avoid passing along further misinformation"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/04/AR2006010400247.html

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

130. "A lack of communication"??? Good Christ!

That is one HUGE fucking "lack of communication"!

[AngryAmish]

131. This is Bush's fault

Bush is Hitler

[NorthernSpy]

150. aw, take your mockery elsewhere...

Twelve people died in a mine whose owners refused to take worker safety seriously. Some of us sincerely think that that's a bad thing, believe it or not.

[AndreiX]

135. Capitalism Kills Again!

Capitalism claims yet more victims... when will this end?!

[truthInCO]

137. Capitalism

Yes, look to the Chinese as a model for mining safety!

[tedzbear]

149. Does that make our model better???

Try using logic next time...

[truthInCO]

159. My sarcasm was directed at

the idea that 'capitalism' killed these men. Clearly it was an explosion and bad safety procedures, preventative measures, irresponsible decisions. My point is that communism, socialism, fascism or an anarchistic political system would not have protected these men any better.

Or maybe there is some logic that would refute this?

Or, wait, I get it. Let me find my Che talking points. Oh ya, "Greedy American captitalist pigs driven by profits and disregard for human rights caused this".

If I have to believe that to debate here, I guess my stay was short.

[Strelnikov_]

166. Actually, It Does Appear That It Was The 'Greedy Capitalist Pigs' . .

ignoring numerous regulations in a complete disregard for worker safety in order to minimize costs thereby maximizing profits.

Under the principles of 'Objectivism' (Capitalism), the workers are simply expendable cogs, whose lives are to be weighed against the cost of safeguarding said lives. The workers have the responsibility to go elsewhere if they value their lives more than the Capitalists accounting.

Under GOP/Reich-Wing capitalism, all regulations are to be abandoned.

Socialism or Communism would better protect workers, in theory. In practice, however, these systems have always ended up as Oligarchies, really no better than Capitalism.

Basically, the US in the 60's-70's probably had a good balance between Capitalism/Socialism/Democracy. Then along came Reagan, and the march to Reich-Wing oligarchy began.

[Marie26]

160. Unions!

I look to unionized shops as a model for worker safety. This mine wouldn't allow unions, and had 205 safety violations this year. That's not a coincidence. The mine felt like they could just pay the piddling state fines & carry on as normal - they didn't care how dangerous it was. I think a union would have fought for worker rights & ensured that these miners didn't have to work in such unsafe conditions.

[Strelnikov_]

162. No, Their Form Of Capitalism Seems To Be Even Worse

How about we try a regulated free market, under a democratic form of government, and leave the capitalism behind.

[lynne]

168. Actually, consumerism is what did them in -

- when we quit using electricity, they'll quit mining coal.

[PassingFair]

138. The Hatfields and the McCloys?

Have they released other names yet?

[JPZenger]

142. East Coast Headlines all said 12 survived

The timing of this f**up was particularly bad for newspapers in the east. They all had banner headlines saying 12 miners found alive. According to press reports, the company knew there had been a mistake in 20 minutes, but waited 3 hours to correct it.

[onenote]

144. actually, my east coast paper (home delivery) didn't have the story

The Washington Post. It apparently was an earlier edition that only had the story of the body of the first miner being found (which happened well before the story about the others being alive mistakenly was reported).

onenote

[Kukesa]

148. Wow. What a coincidence. Kinda scary. n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

155. Oh god, how horrible!

I went to sleep last night and to rehearsal this morning thinking how fortunate those people were to have survived. The heartache their families must feel! :cry:

[spinbaby]

163. Here's some good news for a change

Hospitalized Miner Responding to His Wife


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=4&u=/ap/20060104/ap_on_re_us/mine_explosion_survivor_2

[Kukesa]

165. Thanx; I needed that. n/t

[Megahurtz]

167. What a horrifying experience for that guy,

and what a terrible way to go for the others.;(