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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
Wong Joon, sworn: -
The Corner:- What does he do in mine? A: [No sure?]
Q: Push box? A: I push box.
Mr. Potts: Whereabouts? A: On level, No 12. I push up still out of no. 5 and no. 6.
Did you fetch any box out of No. 6 stall on the afternoon of the explosion? A. Yes
Q: How long before the explosion? A: I pull once, one time I get away and bring one box to No 5 and then when I get up to the level the fire was on.
A: Then he was between No. 5 and No. 6 when the fire happened, when the explosion happened? A: Yes
Q: Which stall did the explosion come from?
A: I can’t tell
Q: Which does he think it came from? A; No, I can’t think of it
Q: How fare away was he from the entrance to No. 6 stall when the explosion occurred?
A; About the next stall, about No. 5.
Q: Did he have a safety lamp? A: Yes. I use a safety lamp.
Q: Did the safety lamp get blown out? A: Yes. The wind blow his out; the fire (flame) was out.
Q: Does he smoke? A: No. I no smoke
Q: Never smoked. A: Never smoke at all.
Q: Has he got any tobacco now? A: No.
Q: Has he ever seen those cigarettes? A: No. I don’t see them
Q: Does he know who they belong to?
A: I don’t know, maybe Chung Lung
Q: When did he last see these? A: I see them two days ago before the explosion
Q: Who had them then? A: I didn’t
Q: Chung Lung? A: I think it is Chung Lung
BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3
BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.