Johnny Sands, otherwise known as the Nashville Flame, was a professional musician and stunt man. He, along with Sheriff Eugene Goss, were lowered into the Ore Knob mine shaft to recover the bodies of Tommy Forrester and Lonnie Gamboa, victims of the infamous Ore Knob murder conspiracy. In this interview, Sands recalls the events surround the recovery of the bodies.
- Hand Drawn Mine Map
A hand drawn map of the Ore Knob mine interior, referenced during the interview. - Tragedy of the Ashe County Mine publicity flyer
A flyer advertising the record of "The Tragedy of the Ashe County Mine" written and recorded by the Nashville Flame.
Part 1
0:00 Family and background
2:30 Music and stuntman performance
3:45 Famous country acquaintances
5:34 Stunt work
8:35 Learning about Ashe County murders
11:22 Compliments about Sheriff Waddell
12:40 Making decision to go into mine
13:25 Inadequacies of initial search
14:30 Sheriff Waddell’s reaction to Sands
17:40 Preparations for rescue
21:50 Identification and description of mine shaft
24:45 Gear used during rescue
26:30 Emotions going into shaft
28:30 Description of mine shaft
29:50 Description of bodies
Part 2
0:00 Thoughts about potential for other bodies
5:00 Description of drawing
7:25 Condition of bodies
8:20 Thoughts about Gamboa and Forrester
11:13 Other rescue work
13:20 Sheriff Waddell’s involvement
15:43 Discovering the bodies
19:20 Bringing the bodies up
22:11 Reflections on Ashe County