By B. L. Dotson-Lewis bdl@access.k12.wv.us or lewis_betty@hotmail.com ISBN 0-7414-3478-4 Infinity Publishers, PA, Jan. 2007 www.buybooksontheweb.com 301 pages, 8.5 x 11" $16.95, recycled paper, b & w photos, large print
West Virginia Coalfield author, B. L. Dotson-Lewis, Documents the Sago Mine Disaster in New Book
"Tell All I will See Them On the Other Side. It wasn't bad; just went to sleep. I love you. Jr." The famous Sago note prefaces this original coalfield collection. Instead of reviews in the front of the book, Dotson-Lewis devotes the space to "Expression of Sympathy to Sago Miners' Families".
The Sago Mine Disaster rocked this nation on January 2, 2006 with the worst coal mining disaster in 40 years in West Virginia. Twelve miners killed in the explosion. Author, B. L. Dotson-Lewis, living less than 80 miles south of Sago, felt the shock in her close-knit mining community of Summersville. Sago employs miners from the Summersville area. Junior Toler, who left the note above has a brother in Summersville. Area miners had rotated shifts prior to the holidays. Two days may have spared their lives. One young miner was off with a busted foot which happened on the job.
B. L. Dotson-Lewis had the advantage of documenting this mining disaster which occurred on January 2, 2006 from a personal perspective as a member of the coalfield community, Dotson-Lewis, immediately shared in the feelings experienced by the Sago community members: Feelings of hope, religious conviction, courage, hopelessness, and finally outrage - all racing through the peoples' veins. Mining communities are tied together as one family. This author was told by a community member, 'I sat glued to my TV for 42 long hours 24/7. I felt as if it were my own family trapped inside that mine." The author's response, "I felt the same way."
Nelson Tinnel, former dispatch officer at Sago, a miner with 42 years experience, comments on the Dotson-Lewis technical account of the Sago story. He gave it an excellent review. Tinnel also provides answers and solutions to problems in the mines drawing from his personal experience.
Personal visits, photos, newspaper articles, Randle McCloy's letter to the victims' families, Homer Hickam's Tribute, television news casts, the timeline, Owen Jones interview (Jesse's brother), and comments from the coalfield community makes this book a living tribute to the twelve miners who lost their lives at Sago.
Other coalfield stories in this special collection include:
. Hawks Nest Tunnel Tragedy (Hundreds of African-American migrant workers died from silicosis while building a tunnel for Union Carbide during the Depression Era) . Jim Branscome, Cold Days, Darks Nights (Originally appeared in the New York Times) . Eula Hall, The Mud Creek Clinic (An inspiring story out of eastern Kentucky) . Miners for Democracy by Dr. Donald Rasmussen . WWII Silver Star recipient, Ralph Baber (First time told war story) . Mountaintop removal, Larry Gibson, Kayford Property (One of Larry's first interviews) . Last Fiddler on the Mountain, Ralph Roberts (Pre-Civil War tunes handed down) . Earl Dotson stories (My father's stories - moonshine & Bluetick hounds) . Coal Miner's Family Tree (A child's introduction to Genealogy)
Jan. 17, 2007 Betty Dotson-Lewis % Nicholas County Schools 400 Old Main Drive Summersville, WV 26651 304-872-3611 x 121
Web Site = http://www.appalachiacoal.com
Contact Details = Betty Dotson-Lewis % Nicholas County Schools 400 Old Main Drive Summersville, WV 26651 304-872-3611 x 121 bdlewis@access.k12.wv.us or lewis_betty@hotmail.com
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