Men rode into mines on a machine called a man trip.  The one pictured here ran on rails.  Prior to man trips, miners would have to walk into and out of the mines.

When working conditions were unacceptable, men like this one went on strike.

Strikers refused to work until either the conditions were changed, or they were forced back to work one way or another.

Miners worked in dark, dirty places.  This man probably breathed in more dirt than he has on his face.

In 1902, an explosion at the Rolling Mill Mine killed more than 100 miners.

This horse-drawn ambulance was on its way to the explosion at the Rolling Mill Mine.

Miners started to wear hard hats to protect them from roof falls.

Another hard hat.

Miners carried their lunches to work in metal pails like this one to keep the dirt and coal dust out of their food.

Flame safety lamps were used to detect low levels of oxygen in the mines.  When the flame in the lamp started to dim, the miners knew the oxygen levels were lower.