Child Labor · World History

In the coal mining industry, what was the specific role of a 'trapper'?

  1. Hunting for rats inside the mine shafts
  2. Sitting in the dark to open and close ventilation doors for coal wagons
  3. Setting explosives to clear new paths through the rock
  4. Refining the coal into coke at the surface
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Correct answer: Sitting in the dark to open and close ventilation doors for coal wagons

Trappers were often the youngest children in the mines, sometimes only five years old. They sat in total darkness for up to 12 hours a day, operating the doors to ensure proper airflow through the mine.

Difficulty: Medium Question 4 of 20

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