12

Q: What height is that where the cave is?

A: Probably 18 inches more at that time. I didn’t hold the lamp 18 inches higher, I held it about 7 feet high.

Q: And that would be about 18 inches from the top of the roof?

A: No, I said the roof was something over six feet high, and the highest point of the cave was 18 inches above the roof.

Q: What action did the gas have on your lamp?

A: It first draws the flame. Q: What action did it have on the 15th July ?

A: One time I lost my light in it.

Q: Was that the first examination?

A: I believe it was but I am not sure now.

Q: What does that indicate?

A: It indicates gas there.

Q: Does that indicate any quantity of gas there, any marked quantity of gas? A: No, you can’t judge the quantity by that. The smallest quantity would do that provided you reach it. Q: Then directly your safety lamp comes in contact with gas it will be put out?

A: Not exactly; there is a way of saving your flame if you are careful.

Q: Well why was it that in your first examination your light went out?

A: I didn’t say so. I said that one time I lost my light, but whether it was the first examination or not I don’t know.

Q: What would be the reason?

A: Presence of gas.

Q: In considerable quantity?

A: The quantity has nothing to do with it. Mr. Morgan:- The quantity has nothing to do with it; if you put the light up to high it will be put out. You have got to be careful, that’s all. Mr. Potts:- When you found gas, what course did you adopt?

A: I got the men working alongside of it to work close to the good roof, and keep filling the cave up with rock; and they had been doing that for a week previous, every day.

Q: Would that force the gas out?

A: IT would displace the gas; the rock would take the place of the gas.

Q: When did you first adopt this course? A: When the cave first took place; probably for a week before.

Q: On the 15th when you detected gas, what course did you adopt to dispel it?

A: The same as I had done the day before. Instructed the men to fill the cave with rock.

Q: Did they do it?

A: Yes.

Q: Did you report on the safety of the mine that day?

A: I reported it in the Journal.

Q: It has no reference in this book to safety. Did you tell the miners before they went down to work that the mine was safe?

A: Yes, every individual miner.

Q: They passed you at the station?

A: Yes.

Q: Did you consider it safe?

A: Yes, perfectly safe.

Q: I think you said just now that you found less gas on the 15th than you did on a previous occasion?

A: Yes.

Q: Did you chalk mark the places you examined?

A: Yes.

Q: Did you se the body of the chinaman that was buried under the cave in?

A: Yes.

Q: Was he burnt ?

A: I couldn’t tell.

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