THE DAY THE MINING DIED!

 

  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22ND., 20259

        THE DAY THE MINING DIED

     I was just a part time errand boy at

my hometown radio station in 1959 when

the Susquehanna River broke into the

Knox Coal Mine in Port Griffin. I read

the headlines and saw the television news

reports but didn't really comprehend the

impact of the disaster which claimed a

dozen lines and virtually ended underground

coal mining in our area.

      Many years later, during my television

news career, I met the man many consider

one of the heroes of that tragic day.

       Pacifico Joe Stella was a mining

surveyor who happen to be in the tunnels

making up the Knox Mine. His knowledge

o the underground passage ways and a old

air shaft enabled him to lead 33 miners to

safety.

        I interviewed Joe several times over

many years, almost always on the

anniversary or eve of the anniversary of

the disaster. His story was always the

same. Very detailed and offered in a very

"matter of fact manner," never portraying

himself as the hero everyone else said he

was.

        He wasn't the only hero that day.

In fact one of his colleagues, Amaadeo

Pancotti of Pittston received the Carnegie

Medal for his efforts to help clear debris

from the airshaft that provided the escape

route and for personally climbing the last

50 feet to reach the top! Joe stayed

behind to make sure some of the older

miners would make it out OK.

        The story is being retold today,

another anniversary. And thankfully

a documentary has been produced

to preserve that story for those who

believe our history is vitally important

to our future.

         Joe Stella isn't with us anymore.

He passed away in 2007..

         Hope he's remembered for many

years and that all your NEWS is good!