The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine

by Gregg Olsen

Book Overview

For nearly a century, Kellogg, Idaho, was home to America's richest silver mine, Sunshine Mine. Mining there, as everywhere, was not an easy life, but regardless of the risk, there was something about being underground, the lure of hitting a deep vein of silver. The promise of good money and the intense bonds of friendship brought men back year after year. Mining is about being a man and a fighter in a job where tomorrow always brings the hope of a big score. On May 2, 1972, 174 miners entered Sunshine Mine on their daily quest for silver. Aboveground, safety engineer Bob Launhardt sat in his office, filing his usual mountain of federal and state paperwork. From his office window he could see the air shafts that fed fresh air into the mine, more than a mile below the surface. The air shafts usually emitted only tiny coughs of exhaust; unlike dangerously combustible coal mines, Sunshine was a fireproof hardrock mine, nothing but cold, dripping wet stone. There were many safety concerns at Sunshine, but fire wasn't one of them. The men and the company swore the mine was unburnable, so when thick black smoke began pouring from one of the air shafts, Launhardt was as amazed as he was alarmed. When the alarm sounded, less than half of the dayshift was able to return to the surface. The others were trapped underground, too deep in the mine to escape. Scores of miners died almost immediately, frozen in place as they drilled, ate lunch, napped, or chatted. No one knew what was burning or where the smoke had come from. But in one of the deepest corners of the mine, Ron Flory and Tom Wilkinson were left alone and in total darkness, surviving off a trickle of fresh air from a borehole. The miners' families waited and prayed, while Launhardt, reeling from the shock of losing so many men on his watch, refused to close up the mine or give up the search until he could be sure that no one was left underground. InThe Deep Dark, Gregg Olsen looks beyond the intensely suspenseful story of the fire and rescue to the wounded heart of Kellogg, a quintessential company town that has never recovered from its loss. A vivid and haunting chapter in the history of working-class America, this is one of the great rescue stories of the twentieth century.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609610163
• ISBN13: 9780609610169
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 321 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

My Family's Story

The Sunshine Mine fire robbed me of a Grandfather and an Uncle before I was born. Luckly, my Uncle Delmar survive this tragic event. I couldn't amagine my life with out him in it. My Mother would often talk about days they stood out side the mine waiting to hear but so much of the rest had not been told. And asking my Uncle was just too painful for him, even after all those years. Gregg Olsen's book gave me a real insight into what my family had gone through. His "real time" story telling put you right in the moment. I read the book in two days, but I spent many days after comprehending the pain and suffering they all had endured. I know the Kitchen family is very thankful that he wrote this book.

A must read for all in mining

Turn up your speakers, you can hear the applause. Gregg Olsen has hit the bull's eye with The Deep Dark. Gregg has skillfully recounted the events leading to and following the horrific Sunshine Mine Fire of 1972. The insight he provides into the humanity that feeds it and danger that is lurking in mining is compelling. I couldn't put the book down until I finished every word. His work not only provides us with a historic record, he's given us a text-book for mine safety. There were 3 tragic events that were most responsible in the development of the mine safety laws in America today, the Farmington mine explosion in West Virginia, the Scotia mine explosions in Kentucky, and the Sunshine mine fire in Idaho. This book should be required reading for mine managers, rescuers and regulators.

White Knuckles

From the moment you read the first page,you are on shift. Mr. Olsen loads you into the man cage and drops you 5,000 feet into the ebony darkness of a mine shaft. You will be soon struggling for your very life. This isn't fiction, it is real! Whether you choose to try and solve the mystery to safety, be topside in a prayer vigil, on a rescue team encountering shear horror, or whether you choose to give your life to save others you will not be able to escape the grip of this book. When you have finished the last page your hands will remain clenched, and you will be exhausted with sweat on your brow.

Couldn't put it down!

I was a resident of the Silver Valley at the time of the fire. The accuracy of the book took me back to 1972. The extensive research definitely paid off in an amazingly real portrayal of this mining community. This book is a wonderful homage to the miners of Sunshine and the strength of the Silver Valley in May of 1972.