"Looking at the Lewis Hine photographs and learning what they meant has caused me to have an even higher regard for him. Just to be reminded of where he came from, and that from his humble beginnings, he became solidly middle class and well thought of in the area." -William Havard, grandson of Arthur Havard

In the last days of December 1910, and the first days of January 1911, Lewis Hine took 44 photographs of mine workers in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, one of the centers of the industry in the state. Many of those photographed were "breaker boys," whose pictures are among the most famous and compelling images in Hine's catalogue. But children employed in other coal mining occupations were, of course, exposed to equally dangerous and unhealthy conditions. Arthur Havard was a mule driver.

According to the website of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, a federal Department of Labor agency:

"The job was usually held by an older boy in his early teens. The mule driver traveled all through the mine coupling full cars together and leaving an empty car behind in the work chamber. The boy started out with one mule and then worked up to a six-mule team. When he was able to drive a six-mule team, he was given a man's wages. The mule driver sat on the front bumper of the coal car and used his voice to direct the mules. If the mule was stubborn, he used a black snake whip. A good mule driver was respected by both the miners and bosses. He had no problem obtaining a job as a miner when he was older."

In 1913, the Northwestern Reporter noted an appeal of a lawsuit decision that had denied the claim of an injured mule driver. The court subsequently ordered a new trial.

"The plaintiff was employed as a mule driver in the defendant's coal mine. He was a driver of experience, and had been at work in this mine for several weeks. On the day in question he was caught and crushed between the top of the load on his car and the cross timbers supporting the roof of the entry at that point. He charges such injuries to the negligence of the company, in that, first, reasonable care on the part of the company required it to so construct and maintain the entry as to afford a passage of at least five feet in height to enable the driver to safely pass under with his mule and car, but that said roof, at the point where this injury occurred, was constructed or maintained at a height of but four feet; and, second, that due and reasonable care as aforesaid required that the company make such entry of sufficient width to afford room between a moving car and the rib of the entry for the escape of the driver in case it became necessary for him to jump from the car, but said entry, at the point in question, was so narrow that the driver could not escape from the car without being crushed against the rib."

"He states that at the time of his injury he was driving his mule with a loaded car through the entry which was without light of any kind, except such as was afforded by the miner's lamp or candle attached to his cap; that, in accordance with the custom and his duty as driver, he was standing with one foot on the bumper of the car, and the other on the tail chain, one hand resting on the top of the car, the other on the rump of the mule, and his body bending low between the mule and the car to avoid collision with the roof timbers, when the mule began to kick, and, as plaintiff lifted himself up to avoid injury from the vicious animal, his head came into contact with the low place in the roof, forcing him back on top of the loaded car, thus wedging him between the load and the roof, whereby he was severely injured."

"Upon this pleaded state of facts, and alleging that he did not contribute to his injury by his own negligence, he demands a recovery of damages. The defendant admits that plaintiff was injured in its mine, but denies all allegations of negligence on its part. It alleges further that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, and that he was fully aware of the conditions of which he complains, and assumed the risk of remaining in such employment."