And the company's written records showed that the repairs had been marked as completed even though several crucial supports were still missing.
The collapse forced those discrepancies into public view.
Men who previously feared challenging the company began asking why they had been sent underground despite known risks.
The same workers who'd questioned meal deductions now wanted to examine safety reports.
Thomas Rusk was among them.
He had seen the weakened timbers before the collapse.
Daniel Mercer had reported unusual cracking noises.
And Arthur Finch had documents showing that he warned management.
The miners weren't prepared to accept another explanation blaming careless workers for decisions made aboveground.
They began organizing a formal request for an independent inspection.
Pritchard responded by accusing them of spreading rumors.
Bram called the complaints disloyal.
But the rescue had shown the men something important.
Their lives depended on one another.
Not on the foreman's pride.
And certainly not on his willingness to acknowledge danger.
Three days after the collapse, Elias found a folded note nailed to the cookhouse door.
It contained no signature.
Only a warning.
Tell the woman to stop counting other men's money.
Elias read it.
Then looked toward the street.
A few men stood near the saloon.
The mine office was closed.
Snow drifted across the empty road.
He removed the note.
Then carried it inside.
Loretta examined it.
Her face became pale.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she folded it carefully.
"Put it with the accounts."
Elias studied her.
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
She looked toward the kitchen.
Then toward the miners eating breakfast.
For a long moment, she seemed frightened.
Finally, she nodded.
"Yes."
Elias waited.
Loretta continued.
"I used to believe that if I stayed quiet, people would eventually leave me alone."
Her voice trembled.
"But silence never made Bram kinder. It only made him more certain I wouldn't fight back."
Elias nodded slowly.
She looked toward him.
"I don't want trouble."
"I know."
"But I don't want to keep living in fear of it either."
Elias held her gaze.
Then he said, "You won't have to face it alone."
Loretta looked down.
Her eyes filled.
For a moment, she wanted to ask whether he would still say those words after Red Dog's troubles were settled.
After the accounts were corrected.
After he had fulfilled the gratitude that brought him there.
But she was afraid of the answer.
So she simply whispered, "Thank you."