Harry McShane, disabled because of factory work

Harry McShane lost his left arm in a factory accident and had his right leg broken.

Baldomero Lillo's interpretation of the coalmines of Chile is heartbreaking and an emotional story to read, especially considering he has first hand experience. The conditions are brutal for all workers involved and most will face a premature death after living in poverty their entire lives despite working unreasonable hours. In “Gate Number 12” Lillo describes the especially cruel aspect of the mines, child labor.  Although Harry McShane was not a worker in the coalmines but rather in a factory, his story still tells a similar tale.  Only sixteen years old Harry had been working in the mines for two years when he experienced his accident. While working his left arm was caught and pulled off at the shoulder leaving him with only one arm for the rest of his life. His right leg was also broken through his kneecap leaving him immobile for quite a period of time.  Not only is Harry’s story distressing because of the physical toll his injuries caused him, but also because he was left permanently disabled, which no doubt affected his ability to work for the rest of his life.  With manual labor the only form of work easily accessible to those living in a city where the industry holds most of the power, such as a coal-mining town, Harry was left with an inability to fully support himself and his family.

            It was not uncommon for children working in mines, on farms, or in factories to face extremely dangerous working conditions that left them with long term or permanent disabilities, or in the worst cases even took their lives. But after accidents such as Harry’s occurred there was also pure neglect from the industry and the companies employing the children. The industry is in no way sympathetic about the damage their work can cause, providing no compensation after the accidents, leaving these children deserted to figure out a way to pay for medical care when they’re already in a tight position. Harry McShane is just one example of this in a time when child labor was unfortunately very common.