# Chapter XX explained — King Coal

> Chapter companion for King Coal by Upton Sinclair.

## What happens

Hal witnesses the brutal reality of mining accidents and the company's indifference to worker safety. After a Lithuanian miner is crushed by a fall of rock, the company's callous procedures—no inquest, no priest, a rigged coroner's jury—are laid bare. Hal learns that no damage suit has been filed against coal operators in the county for twenty-three years. Old Mike Sikoria offers Hal a job as his helper, explaining that bribes are needed to change work assignments.

## Themes in this chapter

### Industrial Danger and Death

The chapter graphically depicts a fatal mining accident and the company's routine disregard for worker safety, from lack of timbers to rigged coroner's verdicts.

### Corporate Tyranny and Lawlessness

The company controls the coroner's jury, suppresses damage suits, and uses bribery to assign dangerous work, showing absolute power over workers' lives.

### Futility of Individual Resistance

Hal learns that miners have no recourse—no legal system, no union, no safety—and that even changing jobs requires bribing the boss.

## Character check-ins

### Hal Warner

Observes the aftermath of a mining accident and learns about the company's systematic neglect of safety and justice.

### Mike Sikoria

Old Slovak miner who helped rescue the trapped Lithuanian; explains the company's burial practices and offers Hal a job as his helper.

### Madvik

Mule driver who briefly tells Hal about the accident: 'Lit'uanian feller—got mash.'

### Jeff Cotton

Marshal who serves on the rigged coroner's jury.

### Jake Predovich

Galician Jew who works in the company store and serves on the coroner's jury.

## Key lines

> Put him in a box and dig a hole.

The company's burial procedure is simply to place the body in a coffin and bury it without ceremony or investigation.

_Mike Sikoria describes the company's callous handling of dead miners._

> We find that the deceased met his death from a fall of rock caused by his own fault.

The coroner's jury always blames the miner for the accident, absolving the company of responsibility.

_Standard verdict used to prevent damage suits._

> No relatives, and damned few friends!

In one case, the jury added a cruel remark that the dead man had no family and almost no acquaintances.

_Illustrates the dehumanization of miners._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_coal_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_coal_se/chapters