21.

G. Lippiatt, miner. Sworn :-

By Mr. Potts :- Did you insist on the rescue of the miners in No.6 mine on the evening of July 15th ?

A:. I did.

Q: What time?

A: About 8 0'clock.

Q: In what capacity?

A: I was assisting the rescue party.

Q: Did you make any search?

A: I did.

Q: Where did you search?

A: Along the face of the workings.

Q: What for?

A: For bodies in particular.

Q: Did you find anything other than bodies in the mine? That is anything that was a source of danger?

A: The place was full of gas.

Q: Where?

A: All along the face of the workings, the first time we attempted to get in.

Q: Did you find any open safety lamps?

A: No.

Q: Pit Lamps?

A: I found six or seven safety lamps, but they were all locked. I found one pit lamp down on the level; I think it was opposite No.6 stall; it was right on the same level.

Q: Is that on the return airway?

A: No, it was on the in-take. It looked to me as if it hadn't been used; it was an old lamp lying there; it looked as it it hadn't been in use for sometime.

Q: Where did you find it?

A: Right on the level. There was a little wall of gob built up there, and it was set upon this wall of gob at the side of the level.

Q: Was that anywhere near the explosion occurred?

A: No.

Q: Did you find anything else?

A: No.

Q: Any power ?

A: No,

Q: Matches?

A: No.

Q: How as the ventilation when you were there?

A: First class.

Q: Are you able to form any opinion as to the cause of the explosion?

A: Well, I couldn't exactly say. I believe it was caused by carelessness on the part of the Chinamen; that is what my opinion was.

Q: What makes you think so?

A: Well there was a gas explosion, and the gas had to be ignited. They were all working with safety lamps. The gas must have been ignited by a blaze, but it might have been caused by a defective lamp.

Q: It might have been?

A: It might have been.

Q: It must have been caused either by carelessness of a Chinaman, or by a defective lamp?

A: Either one or the other. It seems to be there was a big body pf gas coming off there, and I am satisfied the explosion occurred in the nieghborhood of No.6. between 6 and seven. I rathe think there must have been a big body of gas coming off.

Q: How many years experience have you had as a miner?

A: I've worked in a coal mine since I was 15 years old- about 13 year' experience off and on.

Q: Did you examine the place where the cave in occurred?

A: No, I couldn't very well examine it. We came to the cave and had to go round to the next stall.

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