Chapter 492 The Sound of Waves Remains

This strike by British miners had a much greater impact than in history, after all, Great Britain was firmly sitting on the throne of the world's number one at that time.

At this time, Austria and France became strong competitors. What's more terrible is that both countries have their own circles, which made Robert Peel, an advocate of free trade, feel at a loss.

Although the civil unrest that broke out in Britain did not lead to a revolution, it seriously damaged its vitality. If it were not for the Far East that had been transfusing blood to the country, I am afraid that the situation would have been out of control.

Although the situation in South America has opened up, it will take some time to really benefit.

However, what Robert Peel could not have imagined was that the Paraguayan guerrillas had received support from France, and Brazil also promised to provide them with asylum with the support of Austria.

The British are caught in another Afghan war

A mine somewhere in Lancashire, England.

The child workers still went to work as usual, and even the injured little girl simply bandaged it and put on a hat before coming to the mine.

As for the absence of the "big nose" supervisor, it did not attract anyone's attention, and no one cared about this gambler.

Before going down the mine, the foreman gave each child worker a small copper medal so that he could know how many people went down the mine and how many came back.

Here, going deep into the mine mainly depends on cages and hanging baskets. Taller people sit in cages, while thinner people are placed in hanging baskets.

However, whether it is the former or the latter, the power at this time is still people turning the windlass, or animal power pulling the capstan.

The so-called cage is the prototype of the modern elevator. There are several iron chains rattling inside a large iron cage, but there is no seal outside.

When people ride this kind of lifting tool, they must hold the iron chain and hold the cage well, otherwise the violent bumps may make you fly out, which will cost you your life.

Due to the instability of power, the descending speed of this cage is also extremely unstable, and sometimes it even gives people a feeling of falling straight into hell.

Of course, sometimes if the force is not controlled well, it will indeed send people to hell.

Historically, Americans invented the first steam-powered winch in 1850, and British mines began to equip this thing around 1860.

In addition, the Industrial Revolution had just started on the European continent at that time, and most of the coal mines in Bohemia were open-pit and shallow coal mines, so the speed requirements for lifting tools were not high, but the load requirements were high, so hydraulic steam was used.

At this time, the coal mines in the UK had been dug below 100 meters underground, and the use of hydraulic equipment was too expensive.

Sitting in a high-speed falling cage is not a good experience, just like riding a roller coaster, but the difference is that the height difference of the latter is usually only 10-20 meters, even the most dangerous in the world is only 52 meters, but the former can easily exceed 150 meters.

When falling rapidly, people will have a strong sense of suffocation, the whole body is tense, the limbs are stiff, the body temperature is lowered, and the consciousness is suspended. In addition, due to the sudden change in air pressure, your eardrum will seem to explode, and even short-term tinnitus and deafness will occur.

The cage landed smoothly and the child laborers began their day's work. The air in the tunnel was turbid, and the smell of feces, urine, and domestic garbage mixed together made people nauseous.

Not only did David and Jim feel nothing when they killed people, but after they were done, they just started their day's work mechanically as usual.

Usually, when nine candles burned out, they should also go off work. At that time, one candle could burn for about 90 minutes, and nine candles usually lasted for 13-14 hours.

David and Jim took off their shirts as usual, dug out coal blocks, knocked off the stones on them and threw them into the basket.

Although it was cold in the spring in the UK, it was very hot and humid under the mine, and the turbid air made it difficult to breathe.

In this way, the nine candles burned out, and a fat and greasy middle-aged man on the ground asked the foreman.

"How much have you completed?"

"About one-tenth of the usual amount." The foreman replied.

"Damn it! Let those dirty little devils go back to work! The big guys in London are still waiting for our good news! I won't bow to those poor devils!" The middle-aged man said angrily.

"Boss, these children have reached their limit."

"Damn it! Do you want to go against me too?! If you fail to meet the target, you and your people will go down to mine!" the middle-aged man threatened.

"Boss, they have reached their limit. If they continue to work, people will die! Now those workers are on strike. If these children die again, who will come to mine for you?" The foreman argued.

The foreman spoke for the child laborers not because he had much sympathy. If these children died at ordinary times, no one would pursue it. After all, everyone has to make a living and most people will choose to swallow their anger.

But at this juncture, if these children really died, there would definitely be someone who would not let go. Then he, the foreman, would definitely be the boss's scapegoat in the end. After all, other people would not even have the opportunity to enjoy this "honor".

Although British law explicitly prohibits child labor, even if they are hired, the punishment is not severe, but once someone dies, it will be difficult to solve.

Now there are actually more than a dozen people who have died. If this matter is reported to the newspaper, he will probably have to eat food in prison.

"Look for it after it dies! There are living creatures everywhere with no one to take care of them! I know what you are afraid of. I have already made arrangements with the congressman and the newspaper. This matter will never be reported in the newspaper. Just go for it boldly!"

Upon hearing this, the foreman smiled enthusiastically and adoringly.

"Okay! Boss, do you know? How many ways can I kill someone who disobeys me? Nine ways!"

The greasy middle-aged man also showed a long-lost smile.

"Go! I'm waiting for your good news. May God be with you!"

From that day on, the working hours of the child laborers were increased to ten candles.

Buckingham Palace, Prince Albert left England and returned to Germany to handle some family property. This was the first time he was separated from Victoria after her wedding.

Even Victoria was by her side when Prince Albert was shot in the butt, even though the former didn't want his butt to be seen at all.

Victoria, who was bored, had to take her children to ride horses. In order to please Her Majesty the Queen, the palace horsemen specially found a pony suitable for children to ride.

The children had a great time riding the pony, and the Queen herself chatted with Leopold I from afar.

At this time, King Leopold I of Belgium was imprisoned by Louis Philippe in the Hainaut Province of Wallonia. He was grateful to Victoria for allowing him to come out for air, but he also blamed the latter for refusing to send troops to rescue him.

The former is not a political idiot, so he can naturally hear the complaint in his uncle's words.

"Uncle, although I am the Queen of England, I cannot have my own way. But I think those self-righteous fools must regret not rescuing you at this time, and I have dissolved the Whig cabinet. Are you satisfied?"

King Leopold I knew that he had to rely on this niece if he wanted to restore his country, so how could he really dare to offend her? And Victoria also understands the importance of winning over Belgium, and its restoration will be of great benefit to the country.