8

Q: And your reason,amongst other things is that the position of the body?

A: I think so.

Q: You consider that the explosion occurred in -----?

A: In No.6 stall.

Q: Why?

A: Because the force seems to have radiated from both sides; the force of the explosion goes both ways from that point.

Q: Now as to that body; what position would a body be in the case of an ordinary explosion?

A: That is hard to say. You get them in all positions.

Q: What position would it be in the case of a cave in?

A: IT just depends upon the position he was in when the cave in took place. This man was lying flat on his back with a stick of cordwood across his legs.

Q: Would that be the position you would expect o find the body in in the case of a cave in?

A: No, from the position he was in I would infer that he diedbefore the cave in took place. There might have been a little dirt down to begin with, but not the cave that was there latterly.

Q: Did you make a careful examination of this second south level after the explosion?

A: No.

Q: Any matches?

A: Well, I seen a chinaman coming own to get a man’s watch in No.5 stall, and I seen matches taken out of the pocket of a coat in the place where “B” lamp was found.

Q: To whom did the coat belong?

A: It belonged to a man in No.5. I don’t know the names. Ou have got them there.

Q: A chainaman?

A: yes.

Q: Was he one of those killed?

A: There was one brought up dead and out of that palce.

Q: Did you find anything else besides matches?

A: That match-box and the cigarettes a little above it. I don’t think they were ore than a foof apart in No.5 stall, and about 30 yards from where these were found I think the explosion occurred.

Q: How many Chines were employed I the Second South level that day?

A: 21. There was 4 pushers, one diver, 8 miners and 8 helpers

Q: had these 8 miners certificates?

A: Yes sir.

Q: Are the 8 miners dead? A: That I can’t tell. Some of them are not dad. I believe the man in No.8 is living. Nothing the matter with him, and I think there is one man from No.9 stall.

Q: Were these Chines able to understand English?

A: yes sir; able to understand me.

Q: Understand all the orders that you gave them?

A: yes.

Q: Had they sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand the rules?

A: Mr. Morgan tried them last month and found them able to understand the rules.

Q: I am asking you?

A: They were able to receive any instructions that I gave them.

Q: And as to skill as miners?

A: They were fairly good miners. I wouldn’t say they were the best you could find

Q: Who is in charge of the station for the second south level?

A: Sandy Gillespie that time

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