Six young people lost their lives when their four-wheel-drive vehicle plunged down a mine shaft on Sharp Mountain. Two Schuylkill County men dressed in camouflage went on a shooting rampage, killing four people and then themselves. Two Marines died in the line of duty, and at least 18 people lost their lives in fires.

The tragedy on Sharp Mountain near Llewellyn unfolded Monday, April 30, 1984, when volunteer Robert Schultz of Llewellyn saw the rear wheels of a Chevy Blazer 76 feet down a 319-foot mine shaft. Six young people had been missing since April 28, when they were last seen heading for a picnic in the hills.

Huge pipe welded

A massive rescue effort ensued. Due to the instability of the shaft, rescuers could not climb down by rope. They had to wait for 100 feet of 4-foot wide pipe to arrive and be welded together before it is lowered into the mine by crane as a measure of safety.

The first crane toppled in the mud, injuring its operator, and a second was called to the scene. Media from across the country gathered at the site.

On May 1, the crane lowered the pipe into the shaft for volunteers to use as a guide as they eased down the hole in parachute harnesses. One body was found that evening.

On May 2, the site became more unstable with earth and stone sliding down to the Blazer and crushing the pipe. Heavier pipe was welded together to go inside the first one for more safety.

Steel I-beams were also hauled up the mountain and placed across the hole and planked with woods to give rescuers a safer platform.

With water that filled the shaft being the greatest obstacle to recovering the bodies, crews began pumping the water out and another hole was cut into the hillside to allow easier, safer access to the vehicle.

On May 3, work on the second shaft continued and by midnight workers could see light lowered down the first. That evening, the Blazer, its roof missing and front smashed, was lifted out of the shaft.

The next day, rescuers descended into the water. By day's end, two more bodies are recovered.

On May 5, the water level had been lowered enough through pumping so that rescuers could reach another victim. Soon after, the last victim, the driver of the vehicle, was brought to the surface.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the site during the weeklong vigil as the families and the community mourned the loss of Mark Bluis, 21, and his wife, Connie, 24, of Branchdale; Steven Meza, 21, and his wife, Patrice, 16, of Llewellyn; Thomas Frew, 25, and Sheryl Bluis, 22, both of Minersville.