# Billy Keating — King Coal character guide

> Billy Keating in King Coal by Upton Sinclair.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bill, Keating, Billy, Mr. Keating

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

A miner who has tasted the union movement and carries its dangerous memory into the camps, making him both hope and target.

## Relationships

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_friendship_

Billy is a fellow miner and close friend of Hal, sharing a camaraderie rooted in their shared underground labor.

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_friendship_

Billy is a fellow miner and close friend of Hal, sharing a camaraderie rooted in their shared underground labor.

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_friendship_

Billy is a fellow miner and close friend of Hal, sharing a camaraderie rooted in their shared underground labor.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/i)

Reporter for the Gazette; eager to publish the story of safety violations and the check-weighman affair.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/ii)

Reporter who transmits Hal's story and warns him to leave Pedro.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/iii)

A reporter for the Gazette who explains the limits of press influence and agrees to publish the story.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/v)

Brings Hal money from Edstrom and takes the affidavits to mail.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/viii)

Reports the company's pressure tactics and the slander against Hal.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/ix)

Reporter who brings news of Jeff Cotton's presence and Percy Harrigan's private train; describes being snubbed by Harrigan.

### [The Interview Scheme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/x)

Eager reporter who dares Hal to confront Harrigan and helps plan the escape.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xi)

Assists Hal in the escape, delivers a distracting speech about the Gazette, and runs with Hal to the train.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xii)

Reporter and friend of Hal; accompanies him into the dining-saloon, overwhelmed by the social situation.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xvi)

Accompanies Hal to spread the news of the mine opening; later sleeps while Hal lies awake.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xvii)

Distraught over having to kill his story about the disaster, as ordered by Cartwright.

### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xx)

Mentioned as the potential conduit for Hal's publicity campaign.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/i)

Reporter who clasps Hal's hand and promises to meet him for luncheon at the club.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xv)

Mentioned as the newspaper man to whom Cartwright allegedly made slanderous statements about Hal.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xvi)

Referenced by Hal as a source of information about the company's slander tactics.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/billy_keating
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters