Lee Sam
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
Rithet coming - I think from Victoria. She was about half a mile from the Enterprise. I did not at that time see the deceased but suppose they were down in a room. They told me they were going to ask the cook to let them sleep in his room. The two steamers came together. The Rithet ran into the Enterprise. The Enterprise sunk. I did not see the two dead men again until I saw them lying on the wharf.
(Mr. Irving appears for the Crown. Mr. Garraway for the C.P.N. Co.)
Per Mr. Irving. I met both deceased's at my store at New Westminster and came on board with them. Sam Hock was my cousin. I bought his passage ticket from New Westminster to Victoria. It was between 9 and 10 in the morning when deceased told me they were going down to the cook's room.
[signature] Ah Wing
John Cliff sworn. I am a surgeon practising at Victoria. On Saturday last I examined the dead bodies of two Chinamen one at Storey's the other at Hayward's
/2
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 4 File 1 / BRITISH COLUMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.