Unbelievably sad

First, there was the near certainty of doom, then there was the joyous news of miraculous survival, and finally the awful correction:

Great joy turned to deep sorrow and rage Wednesday morning when mining families here were told inaccurately that 12 of the 13 miners trapped in a coal mine were alive only to be informed, hours later, that they were dead.

It was all the result of a "miscommunication," a mining company official said. He and others thought they heard a transmission from rescuers that the 12 were alive.

They learned the truth a half hour later but waited three hours to inform the families, who were celebrating the "miracle, " dancing and singing Amazing Grace in front of the Sago Baptist Church, which was ringing its bells.

As many of you know, I spend a good bit of my vacation time most summers in WV. Though I haven't been to this particular area, I have driven a lot of the narrow, twisty roads in the coal mining regions. It's like a different world -- a return to very small-town life in company towns. Even with my tangential connection I felt the elation when reading the "good news" this morning. I can't imagine the soul-crushing devastation of the locals.