Transcription Page

Chung Chi

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. 

BC Archives GR-0431

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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J: Did you make a careful examination of this second South level after the explosion? A: Yes.

J: Did you find anything there other than those lamps? A: No

J: Any matches? A: Well, I seen a Chinaman come down to get a man's watch in No 5 stall, and I seen matches taken out of the pocket of coat in the place where 'B" lamp was found

J: To whom did the coat belong? A: It belonged to a man in No 5, I don't know the names, you have got them there

J: a Chinaman? A: Yes

J: Was he one of those [?] A: There was one brought up dead out of that place

J: Did you find anything else besides matches? A: That match [?] & the cigarettes were found there. This "B" lamp was there and the cigarettes a little above it. I don't think they were more than a foot apart [in?] No 5 stall, and about 30 yards from where these were found I think the explosion occurred

J: How many Chinese were employed in the Second South level that day? A: 21. There was 4 pushers, an driver, 8 miners, and 8 helpers.

J: Had these 8 miners certificates? A: Yes sir.

J: Are the 8 miners dead? A: That I can't tell. Some of them are not dead. I believe the man in No 8 is living. Nothing the matter with him, and I think there is one man from No 9 stall

J: Were these Chinese able to understand English? A: Yes sir; able to understand me.

J: Understand all the orders that you gave them? A: Yes.

J: Had they sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand the rules?

A: Mr. Morgan [?] them last month & found

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

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