HUNTINGTON — Brandon Phillips had a premonition that the mine where he worked was going to cave in.
The night before he became trapped some 1,900 feet underground, he told his sister he didn't know when it would happen but that it would collapse because there had been a lot of seismic activity lately.
"He said he had a gut feeling about it," said Lacee Taylor, 18, Phillips' girlfriend.
Taylor and her mother, Jackie Taylor, spoke Wednesday night about their hope that the 24-year-old Phillips remains alive. They said they're frustrated that Crandall Canyon Mine co-owner Bob Murray wants to seal it.
Phillips' sister, Cassie Phillips, sat nearby but said she didn't feel like talking to reporters.
Lacee Taylor and Phillips met through one of Phillips' sisters. The couple enjoyed the outdoors and had discussed marriage, she said.
Phillips has a 5-year-old son, Gage, from another relationship. Lacee and Jackie Taylor said Phillips is so devoted to his son that he never turns off his cell phone. He doesn't want to miss a call.
The Taylors declined to describe how much Gage knows about his father's situation.
"We ask everybody, please don't give up hope," Lacee Taylor said.
Jackie Taylor echoed other family members' demands that mining officials explore other ways to reach the trapped miners, such as a rescue capsule.
Over the past 17 days, the families of the six trapped miners have grown close. They've spent their time praying, reading the Bible, and visiting with clergy and counselors. Twice a day they are updated on the rescue efforts by mine owners and officials with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
They remain optimistic that the miners — Phillips, Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan and Manuel Sanchez — are still alive.
"The only thing we're running on right now is hope," Lacee Taylor said.
Jackie Taylor is frustrated with Murray's insistence that the six are dead. She said he shouted at her Monday.
"I raised my hand and I asked him, 'Mr. Murray, you promised us you would get them dead or alive,"' Jackie Taylor said.
Jackie Taylor admits she raised her voice at Murray, too, but said he was insensitive and hostile from the moment he met with families. Murray has not visited the families since Monday.
"He has not been around when my 18-year-old daughter sits and sobs ... and asks, 'Mom, do you think he's cold down there?"' Jackie Taylor said.
In an interview Wednesday night, Murray said he told the families what was happening — and bore the brunt of their grief and frustration.
"I've told them the truth and I've been consistent with it from Day One," he said. "I just have been the bearer of bad news."
In an unsigned, written statement released Wednesday, the family of one trapped miner lashed out at Murray. The family members asked the Deseret Morning News not to use their names out of fear of recrimination.
"He very aggressively told the families to give up," the statement said.
After the Aug. 16 deadly collapse that killed three rescuers and injured six others, the statement said, Murray placed the blame on the families.
"He said to us that 'We are a team, all of us, to include you family members. We have made all of these decisions together. But last week I, no, let me correct that, we killed three people,"' the statement said.
Murray wouldn't respond to the statement, saying the families are extremely distraught and "rightfully so." He defended the role of MSHA and Murray Energy, saying they had done everything in their power to find the trapped miners.
"I can look myself in the mirror and look at my God and know that I've done everything humanly possible," he said. "That's not going to bring a closing for them or help these distraught, grieving people. That will just take time and the Lord's efforts."
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com; bwinslow@desnews.com