King Coal · Chapter
IX explained
Hal learns about the constant dangers in the North Valley mines through conversations with workers.
What happens
Hal learns about the constant dangers in the North Valley mines through conversations with workers. He hears about a recent explosion that killed eight men, the deadly coal dust and gas, and the company's neglect of safety regulations. He reflects on why men continue to work under such perilous conditions.
Themes in this chapter
Industrial Danger and Death
The chapter details the constant threat of explosions, gas, and coal dust, and the company's disregard for safety.
Corporate Tyranny and Lawlessness
The company ignores safety laws, forces men to work despite gas, and seals the mine after an explosion.
Characters to notice
- Hal Warner
Listens to tales of mine dangers, rides with Cho the rope-rider, and reflects on the miners' fatalism.
- Cho
A Korean rope-rider who shows Hal the coal dust and warns of explosions.
- Tim Rafferty
Explains to Hal that the law requires sprinkling with adobe-dust but it is rarely enforced.
Key passages
“Eight men had been killed, the force of the explosion being so great that some of the bodies had been wedged between the shaft wall and the cage, and it had been necessary to cut them to pieces to get them out.”
An explosion killed eight miners, and the blast was so powerful that some bodies were jammed between the shaft and cage, requiring dismemberment to remove them.
Hal hears about a recent deadly explosion from a Croatian mule-driver.
“Was there no remedy for this, Hal asked, talking with one of his mule-drivers, Tim Rafferty, the evening after his ride with Cho. There was a remedy, said Tim—the law required sprinkling the mines with 'adobe-dust'; and once in Tim's life, he remembered this law's being obeyed.”
Hal asks Tim if there is any way to prevent the dust explosions, and Tim says the law requires sprinkling adobe-dust, but it has only been done once that he recalls.
Tim explains that safety measures exist but are rarely enforced.