A. There has been four men down there; not been there that long; Camp No. 1 there now; about November.

Q. 86 Mr. Simpson, we are dealing with this bunch of nine there and if we could, it might be sensible to confine as much as we can to these nine, the bunch involved in this tragedy. Had Mr. Colquohn been having a little trouble about re-organizing these Companies?

A. Yes, he has. He had one Company, for a while, known as the West Shore Trading Company.

Q. 87 Did they go broke?

A. I just cannot say. I know they incorporated a new company, the Howard Point Timber Company.

Q. 88 And that, apparently, came into existence quite recently?

A. Yes, about one month ago.

Q. 89 Would you suggest any reason for the change?

A. Only that the other gentleman came in to help out with the finances.

Q. 90 Could you tell us approximately the value of the food that the nine Chinamen have had since September?

A. That is hard to say. It would be about seven or eight hundred dollars, I presume. That is just a guess. I haven't really an idea.

Q. 91 It would just take what they had earned?

A. If they got it all, just about break even.

No further questions.

At this point, the Jury with their Foreman, the Coroner and Peter Tom etc. adjourned to mortuary to view and identify bodies.

Inquest resumed.

PETER TOM CALLED & SWORN:

Q. 92 What is your name?

A. Peter Tom.

Q. 93 You have been working down at the shingle bolt camp No. 2 at Canoe Pass?

A. Yes.

Q. 94 How many China boys working at that camp?

A. Nine.

Q. 95 How long have you been there?

A. Last August 19th.

BC Archives GR-0431/Box 13 File 6/BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL./Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.