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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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any Chinese smoking in the mine? A: About 2 days before
J: What did you do? A: Sent him home.
J: Was he smoking again on the 15th? A: No, sir; he never came back
J: That is the course you adopt? A: Yes.
J: How did they light their cigarettes? A: I never caught them lighting any.
By Mr. Morgan:- Did you examine all the lamps that afternoon? A: Mr. King examined them
J: Did you examine all the [shots?] before they were fired? A: I fired all the shots
J: How many? A: Five
J: And you examined them after you fired them? A: Yes.
By Mr. [Paoley?]:- What were the shots charged with?
A: [?] powder
J: You went up to the head of No 6 shortly before you left that evening? A: Yes.
J: What time was that? A: Probably about five or ten minutes to five o clock.
J: Was everything [in?] safe condition when you left? A: In quite safe condition. I stopped about ten minutes in that place.
J: Where did you go then? A: To the north side.
J: And you returned about the time of the explosion? A: Yes.
J: What happened? A: I was knocked over.
J: Not otherwise injured? A: No.
J: In this No 6 [heading?], which you had seen clear at ten minutes to five, you found a by “squeeze”? A: Yes.
J: Any gas there? A: Yes; couldn’t get into it for gas
J: And you have stated your belief that it was there the explosion originated? A: Yes, by the appearance of the timbers both sides.
By a Juror:- Did you fire any shots in No 6 place? A: Didn’t have any shots in it; dug all the coal with a pick.
Mr. Hall: Was there anything in the work which
BC Archives GR-0431 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Box 6 File 3 / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia