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Thank you Rita - Vinni

My wife and I chose to spend ten days of our 2016 summer holidays in Canadian maritime provinces that include, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
As we planned, it was time to visit the abandoned coal mines. and mine museum, which are located in Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. A beautiful fifteen acres land is covered with wild roses and green grasses everywhere on our way to the mine. our drive was pleasant.
I loved how our tour guide, a miner who worked in that mine for forty years, explained us with facts and true stories about the coal mine. He gave a great insight of how things were for the people back then. He explained the geographical development of Cape Breton’s land areas and many types of mines existed in those years and the different ways they developed the mines.

The coal mine we visited, represented as a centre to tell the long and prosperous history of the region. The sacrifices made by the mine workers, their deep history and the actual stories of their families were told by the guide, who lived and worked in Cape Breton.
He also mentioned how women sent their husbands to work every morning and await in anticipation whether they will return alive in the evening.
Twenty of us all tourists, after viewing hundreds of old pictures and displays in the museum, were preparing to go under the mine which is sea deep. The guide was preparing us well explaining what we need to be careful when walking inside the mine. He also warned us that in many places the height is only four and a half to five feet and asked us to come prepared to bend down and walk throughout our walk. He provided us helmets and jackets to protect ourselves from falling rocks, wet sand and water.

It was heartening to hear firsthand experience specially about the accidents that happened in the mine, deaths occurred due to accidents, economic crisis in that area after the mines were abandoned and difficulties miners’ families faced due to income loss. Smoking, alcoholism gambling and sickness came with work stress and economic difficulty.
I could not imagine how the mine workers went into the mine daily in that cold and dark place and were digging for coal whole day, risking their lives to make a living. We followed the guide listening to stories of the mine workers and their lives.
We were half way inside the mine. I held my wife’s hand, bending my head down and walking in dark and cold tiny spaces. I was breathing heavily. I could not walk further, keeping my head down. I felt as if I am going to fall down. I couldn’t raise my head as the helmet was hitting the mine’s roof. Water was seeping down, mixed with wet sand made me more uncomfortable. Others surrounding me were all walking fast and I could not stop to rest awhile.
We have reached almost half way into the mine but I was not in a position to continue. My head started to turn and I thought I might faint and fall on my wife. she had her own struggles walking.
I could hear a faint voice of my wife calling for help. “Help! help! my husband is fainting and falling down”. The guide could not hear her. So as many others, who had determined to finish the journey as fast as they could and get out of the place soon.
So many things went through my mind like a dream. I was wondering, in my dream, why did I come into the mine. I should have listened to the guide when he advised us not to come if we were not physically fit.
I was afraid whether I will stop breathing and fear of death got into me!
I felt a strong hand holding my arm and was lifting and dragging me backwards. I could hear a faint voice of a woman introducing herself. “My name is Rita. I am a nurse”. She asked me several questions about me and my health condition. “What is your name?, how old are you?, where do you live?, can you breathe? Are you diabetic?” and many more questions. “Am I still dreaming or am I unconscious?”
She was holding me tight with my wife’s help and they were trying to bring me out of the mine. I understood later that her questions were to keep me alert and to make sure I was conscious and breathing. I didn’t know whether I answered her questions. I told her that I have been a diabetic for over 30 years, not knowing that my wife had already advised her about my health conditions.
I told them I will breathe better if I go out of the mine.

I could see the sunlight little by little, and felt the fresh breeze of air. I started to breathe and walk straight with my wife’s help, who brought me outside the building. I sat on the grass to inhale fresh air and to relax.
There were many people from Canada and some foreigners but no one came to help except Rita. I was sad that Rita could not finish visiting half the mine and she lost a lifetime experience because she came to help me.
Rita wanted to call an ambulance. I said “I am alright, you may go back to continue and complete your journey in the mine”. I did not see Rita going back into the mine.
I have learned and felt the mine workers’ experience firsthand in a short time. My respect, value and sympathy with them have further increased.
After returning to our hotel I realized I did not thank Rita. My wife said she thanked her already on my behalf. I am not happy and regret for not thanking an angel called Rita!.

A short story by Vinni

Thank you Rita(Vinni) Thank you Rita - Vinni

My wife and I chose to spend ten days of our 2016 summer holidays in Canadian maritime provinces that include, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
As we planned, it was time to visit the abandoned coal mines. and mine museum, which are located in Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. A beautiful fifteen acres land is covered with wild roses and green grasses everywhere on our way to the mine. our drive was pleasant.
I loved how our tour guide, a miner who worked in that mine for forty years, explained us with facts and true stories about the coal mine. He gave a great insight of how things were for the people back then. He explained the geographical development of Cape Breton’s land areas and many types of mines existed in those years and the different ways they developed the mines.

The coal mine we visited, represented as a centre to tell the long and prosperous history of the region. The sacrifices made by the mine workers, their deep history and the actual stories of their families were told by the guide, who lived and worked in Cape Breton.
He also mentioned how women sent their husbands to work every morning and await in anticipation whether they will return alive in the evening.
Twenty of us all tourists, after viewing hundreds of old pictures and displays in the museum, were preparing to go under the mine which is sea deep. The guide was preparing us well explaining what we need to be careful when walking inside the mine. He also warned us that in many places the height is only four and a half to five feet and asked us to come prepared to bend down and walk throughout our walk. He provided us helmets and jackets to protect ourselves from falling rocks, wet sand and water.

It was heartening to hear firsthand experience specially about the accidents that happened in the mine, deaths occurred due to accidents, economic crisis in that area after the mines were abandoned and difficulties miners’ families faced due to income loss. Smoking, alcoholism gambling and sickness came with work stress and economic difficulty.
I could not imagine how the mine workers went into the mine daily in that cold and dark place and were digging for coal whole day, risking their lives to make a living. We followed the guide listening to stories of the mine workers and their lives.
We were half way inside the mine. I held my wife’s hand, bending my head down and walking in dark and cold tiny spaces. I was breathing heavily. I could not walk further, keeping my head down. I felt as if I am going to fall down. I couldn’t raise my head as the helmet was hitting the mine’s roof. Water was seeping down, mixed with wet sand made me more uncomfortable. Others surrounding me were all walking fast and I could not stop to rest awhile.
We have reached almost half way into the mine but I was not in a position to continue. My head started to turn and I thought I might faint and fall on my wife. she had her own struggles walking.
I could hear a faint voice of my wife calling for help. “Help! help! my husband is fainting and falling down”. The guide could not hear her. So as many others, who had determined to finish the journey as fast as they could and get out of the place soon.
So many things went through my mind like a dream. I was wondering, in my dream, why did I come into the mine. I should have listened to the guide when he advised us not to come if we were not physically fit.
I was afraid whether I will stop breathing and fear of death got into me!
I felt a strong hand holding my arm and was lifting and dragging me backwards. I could hear a faint voice of a woman introducing herself. “My name is Rita. I am a nurse”. She asked me several questions about me and my health condition. “What is your name?, how old are you?, where do you live?, can you breathe? Are you diabetic?” and many more questions. “Am I still dreaming or am I unconscious?”
She was holding me tight with my wife’s help and they were trying to bring me out of the mine. I understood later that her questions were to keep me alert and to make sure I was conscious and breathing. I didn’t know whether I answered her questions. I told her that I have been a diabetic for over 30 years, not knowing that my wife had already advised her about my health conditions.
I told them I will breathe better if I go out of the mine.

I could see the sunlight little by little, and felt the fresh breeze of air. I started to breathe and walk straight with my wife’s help, who brought me outside the building. I sat on the grass to inhale fresh air and to relax.
There were many people from Canada and some foreigners but no one came to help except Rita. I was sad that Rita could not finish visiting half the mine and she lost a lifetime experience because she came to help me.
Rita wanted to call an ambulance. I said “I am alright, you may go back to continue and complete your journey in the mine”. I did not see Rita going back into the mine.
I have learned and felt the mine workers’ experience firsthand in a short time. My respect, value and sympathy with them have further increased.
After returning to our hotel I realized I did not thank Rita. My wife said she thanked her already on my behalf. I am not happy and regret for not thanking an angel called Rita!.

A short story by Vinni

Jd

06/19/2020

I can't imagine what a horrible place a coal mine would be to work in all day every day. Nor the desperation that would drive someone to do it in order to survive. You were able to experience just a small bit of the awfulness of being in that kind of a place, even for a short time. Thank you for sharing the experience with us. I'm glad you were rescued by an angel named Rita! :-)

I'm glad that it is being phased out. There are better ways for us to fuel our world than mining coal.

Vinni

Canada is taking action to phase out coal power by 2030, although mining practices have changed to protect workers safety. Now, it is an environmental issue in the world. .

Congratulations !

Thank you Rita

COMMENTS (1)

Jd

Jd

Vinni