Vancouver Coal Company
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.
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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he work it by one shot on one side and two on the other and sometimes by one on each side. I do not remember how the cut was made on that day. To the Coronier Mr Hague was aware of the ignition of the gas that morning. To Mr Eberts Where I was working was five yards from the slope. I was up the slope about thirty yards when the gas was fried and Hague was between me and the fire. I do not know exactly how far the flame extended up the slope. It did not extend thirty or forty feet up the slope. I have seen shots thrown five long distances. [?Nine] shots are blowing out shots. The coal was set on fire by the shot. This shot which lit the gas was not a blowing out shot for it blew out the coal Taken upon oath and acknowledged on this the 16th day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight seven before me } William Griffiths W Wymond Walkem Coronier John Duca Miner Nanaimo being duly sworn saith: To Mr Eberts I have been employed as a miner in the Vancouver Coal Company’s Shaft. I have worked for them five years. On the day of the explosion I was working in the number five level. Smith. Main Slope. It is the first stall above which is on the map as number four level Smith. The ventilation was pretty good down there. There was no complaints about the ventilation which was regular. I have worked in several places but have never worked in the diagonal. I never encountered any gas in the main slope. Do not know of any men leaving their places on the main slope on account of gas. I was on the morning shift on third of May To the Juryman. Have worked in number three Smith near the [?WindHaus]