King Coal · Chapter
XXXIII explained
Hal confronts the brutal reality of private ownership as the company delays rescue efforts after the mine explosion.
What happens
Hal confronts the brutal reality of private ownership as the company delays rescue efforts after the mine explosion. He resolves to expose the truth to the public, but the situation escalates when a miner protesting the slow work on the fan is arrested. Jack David and Tom Olson recount historical instances where mines were sealed with men still inside, and Hal realizes the company's actions amount to murder. The chapter highlights the powerlessness of the miners against armed guards and the corporate machinery.
Themes in this chapter
Corporate Tyranny and Lawlessness
The company seals the mine, delays rescue, arrests protesters, and brings in armed guards, prioritizing property over human life.
Industrial Danger and Death
The mine explosion and subsequent sealing trap workers inside, with historical parallels of miners dying slowly while companies wait for fires to burn out.
Characters to notice
- Hal Warner
Hal is horrified by the reality of private ownership and vows to force the company to open the mine by exposing the story to the public.
- Tom Olson
Olson provides grim historical context about sealed mines and calmly explains that the company's delay is 'business'.
- Jack David
Jack David brings news of the slow fan installation, the arrest of Huszar, and recounts the Cherry, Illinois disaster.
- Rosa Minetti
Rosa wrings her hands in grief, fearing everyone inside the mine will die.
- Jerry Minetti
Jerry reports that more guards have been brought in that morning.
Key passages
“Private Ownership of coal-mines! Private Ownership of sealed-up entrances and nonexistent escape-ways! Private Ownership of fans which did not start, of sprinklers which did not sprinkle. Private Ownership of clubs and revolvers, and of thugs and ex-convicts to use them, driving away rescuers and shutting up agonised widows and orphans in their homes!”
Hal realizes that private ownership means the company controls everything—the mine entrances, safety equipment, and even the armed thugs who prevent rescue and terrorize families.
Hal's visceral awakening to the hypocrisy of the economic system he was taught to revere.
“It's been done—more than once. Did you never hear about Cherry, Illinois? They did it there, and more than three hundred people lost their lives. They had sealed the mine, while women fainted and men tore their clothes in frenzy—some going insane. They kept it sealed for two weeks, and when they opened it, there were twenty-one men still alive!”
Tom Olson and Jack David recount the Cherry, Illinois disaster where the mine was sealed for two weeks, killing hundreds, with some men found alive when it was finally reopened.
Historical precedent used to warn Hal that the company may deliberately delay rescue.