I am the son of a western Kentucky coal miner and my brother mines coal right now. I have tried to avoid it as much as I can. I will ask them about it and see what they say. My Dad worked at Graham Hill mines in Graham Kentucky (Muhlenberg County) and my Brother works at Elk Creek (Muhlenberg county KY). Elk Creek is out in the middle of nowhere that is why I didn't put a town I am not sure what town it is considered lol. My Grandfather worked in Fyes mine on the Hopkins/Muhlenberg county line. My girlfriends dad owns/owned several mines around this region so I am sure I can come up with an answer with all these resources to draw from lol. I decided when I was a kid unless I had no other choice I was not going down in the mine. I remember going with my Dad underground when I was a kid. They had a good roof at the time and no water (that is often not mentioned in songs but they flood bad) and little methane build up (another overlooked danger in songs) so Dad would take me with him some when I was a kid. It used to be really accepted because in this area if you didn't go in the military or work on a farm you mined. So I would get down in the mine with my Dad and there would be several guys I went to school with almost training for the future. I always hated it though. The air was so damp and heavy. You could sense the hardship in the air and the fear. You would hear a pop and freeze while your mind went wild. I was in the safest areas too but back down in the old works and the new works you could always hear the roof working (shifting around preparing to fall) or falling rocks. Rats,snakes, and even dogs and cats would just appear out of these old works (old works are places that had already been mined by the current mine or frequently old mines that didn't exist at the time.). I hated it then and now. My brother will be outside and still slump over like he is underground. Alot of miners show signs of PTSD without realizing that is what is going on. They will hear a pop or bang and instantly look up at the ceiling and sometimes jump. You spend 12 hrs a day thinking about the roof giving away and it is hard to turn off. Just because your above ground in a house or outside in the sunlight instincts still react. I remember my Dad being on vacation and not going in the mine for a month or better and still blowing his nose and it being black as the coal he was digging. Sorry I have strayed on my story. I have total and utmost respect for miners. I come from a long line of them and may have to take my turn underground someday. Like MErle Travis wrote
"I will look from the floor of my heavenly home and pity the miner that's digging my bones."
"You spend your time diggin coal from the bottom of your grave."-- Darrell Scott

cya
JT

Sorry for the bummer post this topic just hits me hard.