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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
James Scobe Black, miner, Cumberland; sworn:-
By Mr. Potts:- Did you assist in the rescue of the Chinese after the explosion of the 15th July? A: Yes.
Q: How were you particularly occupied that night in the mind? A: I went down and gave the firemen a hand to fix up some curtains in the stalls and headings.
Q: Which stalls did you fix curtains in? A: I couldn't exactly tell you the number. I fixed up three curtains, and then went into No 6, No 5 road, and picked up two Chinamen. Went to No 6 but couldn't reach there far ins and came out and went into travelling road 8, between 5 + 6, and it was practically open. Went from that into No 6. Took out four men there, two lying on one side and two on the other
Q: Was that anywhere near where the explosion occurred? A: Yes, right in the branch, where it goes off No 6 + comes into No 4.
Q: Did you find any lamps? A: Yes. One was lying alongside the man that had a shovel in his hand
Q: What condition was the lamp in? A: I didn't look. The lamp was lying alongside, three or four feet from where he was; his legs were under a lump of cave, just about a carfull or thereabouts. The lamp was on the right hand side.
Q: Did you notice any timbers there? A: No; no timbers at all
Q: Did you find any other lamps? A: No, but there was a lamp on the outside
Q: Was that a pit lamp? A: Yes
Q: Was that in the vicinity of the the explosion? A: No, it is a long ways from there; it must be 60 or 40 yards, right in the main air way, going in No 6
Q: What did you do with the lamp? A: I never had it myself. We picked it up on the side as we were going to fix up the stopings between No 6 + No 5.
Q: Did you see any powder or anything around? A: No.
BC Archives GR-0431, Box 6 File 3 BRITISH COLOMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.