Miner Down
It is indeed a very sad day.
Miner Down. How those words can strike terror in a mine. Terror that rapidly spreads through the town and now into a watching nation. At 1:30 am much of the nation was closing yet another chapter on football and whether their team won or lost they went to bed tired, but with heart rejoicing with and for the people of Tallmansville, West Virginia. 12 miners were found alive!
As we shake off the sleep of a short night the shock and horror of such a macabre incident begins to unfold. Miner Down! Suddenly what seemed to be such an amazing miracle now plays out like a made for TV movie. Miner Down! After 3 hours of praising the Lord, singing How Great Thou Art and rejoicing in their great fortune these mining families discover that information often travels faster then truth. Miner Down times 12. At this point there is only one miner alive. We rejoice for Randal McCloy and we praise God for the miracle of his life and for each breath he takes. We are equally saddened for the families and friends of the following men:
Alva Martin Bennett, 50, of Buckhannon
Jim Bennett, 61, of Philippi
Jerry Groves, 57, Cleveland, W.Va.
George Hamner Jr., of Gladyfork, age unavailable
Terry Helms, 50, of Newburg
David Lewis, 28, of Philippi
Martin Toler, 50, of Flatwoods
Fred Ware Jr., 59, of Tallmansville
Jack Weaver, 52, of Philippi
Marshall Winans, 49, of Talbert
The names of the 2 other miners has been withheld for now.
It is my prayer that while here on earth we are mourning the fact that there are 12 miners down Heaven is rejoicing because there are 12 miners up. God rest their souls and God bless their loved ones with his many and unending gifts of grace and mercy. 
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