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.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
J: Anything else which is contrary to the rules to be there? A: I would like you to put that a little clearer?
J: Have you found anything in the second South level contrary to the Rules to be there - any matches or explosives? A: No
J: Pit lamps? A: No.
J: Were you present when some of these lamps were found? A: This one, "A".
J: Do you know to whom that lamp belonged?
A: No
J: Have you any means of identifying the Chinaman with the lamp? A: No. I haven't.
J: Every Chinaman has a lamp but you don't know which Chinaman the lamp belongs to? A: No
J: Do you know whether pit lamps was found in the mine? A: I heard there was one
J: Where? A: At No. 6 switch, No 2 South level.
J: To whom did it belong? A: I don't know, probably the driver.
J: [Isn't?] that in the same ventilating district as the 2nd South level? A: Yes.
J: Did you examine the miners' safety lamps before they went down? A: Yes
J: Were they all securely locked? A: All those that had to be locked.
J: Can you give the jury any explanation as to the cause of the explosion with your knowledge from the examinations that you have made? A: No, I can't. There is no doubt it is a [?] [to?] a break in the roof but how it came to be lit up I couldn't say.
J: Were these Chinese that were in the mine able to understand all the orders that you gave them? A Yes, those on my shift, but these were not on my shift
Mr. Morgan: Do you examine every [shot?] before it is [fired?], Mr. King? A: Yes
BC Archives GR-0431 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Box 6 File 3 / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.