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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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that the Chinaman is telling the truth there Q: That is a reasonable tale? A: Yes, it is a plausible story, a reasonable one; it is just what you would expect them to do. Those as No 3 are locked but as the shaft there is one that hangs there. Q: Is it a common thing [?] for miners to carry matches in their pockets, white men or Chinamen? A: No, I don't think [?] usual; I think [?] the exception. A few do it. Q: Have you found any white men do it? A: I never found one carrying matches. I dismissed one for opening a lamp, a man by the name of [?], about the middle of April this year. The foreman reported it to me and I went down in the mines and dismissed him [?]; send him home. Q: Do you know of any prosecutions for this kind of thing in this Province? A: Yes. They have prosecuted quite a number in Fernie Q: For opening lamps? A For carrying matches, tobacco and pipes. They will do it. Q: Do you know anything at all about the [?] [?]? A: No I don't know anything about him. By a Juror: Where was the lamp found marked "A"? A: In No6 near the face, very near the [?] of the explosion; I would say about nine or ten yards from the face. Q: The Chinaman a few minutes ago said that the lamp was handed to him unlocked by his boss. Was that boss a Chinaman? A: Yes. Q: Do you suppose a white miner would do the same thing? A: Yes Q: Hand a lamp to a Chinaman, unlocked? A: Yes, he would do the same thing. That man [?] may have handed the lamp to his helper unlocked after he opened it himself.
BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.