James Burton et al
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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/6 By the jury: It was dynamite and not powder in the shed. I do not know if the Orientals in the shed had any previous experience. The floor of the shed was covered with rubberoid and sawdust. By the Coroner: I have seen a case fall and break to pieces without an explosion following. The kind of work on which the Chines were engaged was just as safe as any other branch of the work. By the Foreman: The men are given instructions when they first go to work and given a book of rules. The Chines are warned by the Chinaman who furnished the help but they are not given a book of rules to my knowledge. Book of rules produced at this stage. Exhibit A [Louning Brook?] Take upon oath and acknowledged this 15th day of May 1919 before me [? ?] Coroner