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him down to where Smith was. Jm The latter has since died When I got down to Smith I by the aid of my lamp - I saw Jack Lynch lying alongside of the part where Smith and James were. There was a Chinaman lying on the opposite side with his leg broken. Then I went off in the direction of the shaft and just as I got there the cage came down. James [?turned] with the second flash, the first flash did not do one much harm – on the cage which came down near Mr Robins, Mr [Mc?] [?Gregor] and nine others whom I do not remember. The boxes were piled up at the bottom of the shaft by the explosion. Mr Robins asked me if I was much hurt and if there were any men there. I told him that three were there in the engine room. I went up on top as soon as possible and there were. I did not know what was the cause of the fire at the foot of the shaft.

Taken upon oath and acknowledged on this the 16th day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight seven before me } J X Stove his mark W Wymond Walkem Coronier

Archibald [?Coire] Miner Nanaimo being duly sworn saith

To Mr Eberts. I first began mining in Airdrie near [?Glascuv] in Scotland. I encountered gas in the mines there everywhere. When we met with gas one put in brattice and carried air in. If small quantities were present one brushed it into with a [?sack]. That worked in the coal mines in California. I never saw gas there but once during the times that I was there. When we [?met] the gas there it was a large quantity. The gas there is given off very quickly. I have been working in the shaft on the Esplanade over two years. I mean the number one shaft. On the day of the explosion