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James Scobe Black, miner, Cumberland; sworn:-

By Mr. Potts:- Did you assist in the rescue of the Chinese after the explosion of the 15th July? A: Yes.

Q: How were you particularly occupied that night in the mind? A: I went down and gave the firemen a hand to fix up some curtains in the stalls and headings.

Q: Which stalls did you fix curtains in? A: I couldn't exactly tell you the number. I fixed up three curtains, and then went into No 6, No 5 road, and picked up two Chinamen. Went to No 6 but couldn't reach there far ins and came out and went into travelling road 8, between 5 + 6, and it was practically open. Went from that into No 6. Took out four men there, two lying on one side and two on the other

Q: Was that anywhere near where the explosion occurred? A: Yes, right in the branch, where it goes off No 6 + comes into No 4.

Q: Did you find any lamps? A: Yes. One was lying alongside the man that had a shovel in his hand

Q: What condition was the lamp in? A: I didn't look. The lamp was lying alongside, three or four feet from where he was; his legs were under a lump of cave, just about a carfull or thereabouts. The lamp was on the right hand side.

Q: Did you notice any timbers there? A: No; no timbers at all

Q: Did you find any other lamps? A: No, but there was a lamp on the outside

Q: Was that a pit lamp? A: Yes

Q: Was that in the vicinity of the the explosion? A: No, it is a long ways from there; it must be 60 or 40 yards, right in the main air way, going in No 6

Q: What did you do with the lamp? A: I never had it myself. We picked it up on the side as we were going to fix up the stopings between No 6 + No 5.

Q: Did you see any powder or anything around? A: No.

BC Archives GR-0431, Box 6 File 3 BRITISH COLOMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.