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

By Gregg Olsen

Book Overview

"A vividly detailed, heartbreaking tale about a dark, alien place, the people who loved working there and a town that has never been the same. He brings to life the hot, dirty, treasure-hunt environment where danger was a miner's heroin." --Seattle Times

"Investigation at its best." --Tucson Citizen

On May 2, 1972, 174 miners entered Sunshine Mine in Kellogg, Idaho, on their daily quest for silver. From his office window, safety engineer Bob Launhardt could see the air shafts that fed fresh air into the mine, which was more than a mile below the surface. Sunshine was a fireproof hardrock mine, full of nothing but cold, dripping wet stone. There were many safety concerns, but fire wasn't one of them. So when thick black smoke began pouring from one of the air shafts, Launhardt was as amazed as he was struck with fear.

When the alarm sounded, less than half of the dayshift was able to return to the surface. The others were too deep in the mine to escape. Scores of miners died almost immediately, 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 refused to give up the search until he could be sure that no one was left underground.

In The Deep Dark, Gregg Olsen looks beyond an intensely suspenseful story of the rescue and into the wounded heart of Kellogg, a quintessential company town that has never recovered from its loss.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307238776
• ISBN13: 9780307238771
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"

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.