Professional Documents
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Coal 5
Coal 5
Coal 5
Im originally from
Jellico and my dad,
James Gregg, was a
coal miner.
Haxel Gregg Bullman
My
dad
Casto
McCloud was a coal
miner along with many
uncles Sam, Luther
and Wilson
Mary Daley
West Virginia coal
miners daughter, granddaughter, niece and
Chris Cannon, Phillip Boshears and Beth Braden pose at the Kopper Glo mine on Sept. 26.
Photo by Ron Helton
Phillip Boshears
Beth Braden
weve learned not only with our readers,
but my own life has been enriched through
this project. Id like to give a quick thanks
to Keith Dyke, president of Kopper Glo Fuel,
as well as all the other folks weve come in
contact with Oscar Frederick, Jordan
Harness, Ron Helton, Wayne Ward, Joe
Lowe, Scooter Morgan, Chester McKamey,
Jerry Weaver, James Thacker, Don, Eddie,
as well as all the men who let me take photos of them during the mine rescue competition. This project wouldnt have been
possible without you.
Chris Cannon
According to the United States Department of
Labors Mine Safety and Administration, canaries
were used to detect carbon monoxide, a potentially
deadly gas devoid of color, taste or smell, [which]
can form underground during a mine re or after a
mine explosion.
Today, however, coal miners rely on carbon monoxide detectors. These beep instead of chirp, but
they serve the same purpose. High-tech devices are
used now, instead of Mother Nature.
Canaries and sometimes mice were used to
alert miners to the presence of the poisonous gas.
Following a mine re or explosion, mine rescuers
would descend into the mine carrying a canary in
a small wooden or metal cage. Any sign of distress
from the canary was a clear signal that the conditions underground were unsafe, prompting a hasty
return to the surface.
Picks and shovels are now converted to a continu-