With a violent roar, the wall gave out. A wall of water — icy, forceful, unstoppable — burst into the tunnel with a sound like thunder rolling underground. Within seconds, the peaceful hum of mining activity transformed into a nightmare.
Lights flickered. Metal groaned. Boots splashed through rising water. Men shouted over the deafening rush of the flood. Every second counted. Every second meant life or death. And in that chaos, Steven stepped forward.
He Chose Them Over Himself — Without Hesitation
His instinct was to protect others first. Witness reports from the miners who survived said the same thing: Steven fought the flood with nothing but his voice, his authority, and his unwavering focus.
He pushed men toward the exit. He physically pulled two of them toward higher ground. He shouted directions over the roar of the water. He stood at the back of the line — the most dangerous place — making sure no one was left behind.
A miner later said through tears:
“If Steve hadn’t been there… we’d all be dead. He made sure every one of us got out. He stayed until the very last second.”
The surge of water overtook the corridor. Steven saw it coming. He knew exactly what would happen. He was a Marine — he could read danger instantly. Yet he didn’t run. He didn’t choose himself. He stood his ground in the narrow passageway, giving his crew the precious moments they needed.
Because for Steven, their lives mattered more than his own.
Governor Patrick Morrisey captured the truth of that moment when he said: “He sacrificed everything. His final act on earth was ensuring his crew escaped. That is heroism in its purest form.”
