Getts
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
2nd Witness Bart Ring
Having been duly sworn states about half past 5 o’clock on Friday morning the 15th, I went into the mine situated on Newcastle Island. I think I was the first man in the mine that morning. To the best of my belief about two months ago there was an explosion when a man was slightly burned, and therefore in going into the mine yesterday morning, I was using precaution by holding my lamp low down with the ground, to prevent accident. In reaching the place where I had been working on Monday the 11th instant, I filled a box with about 500 lbs of coal putting my tools on the top of it, and pushed it before me with the aid of a Chinaman to the Main Road. I then left the mine & was about 200 yards from the level in which I worked when I heard an explosion & my light went out. I came up to the Pithead & waited until some men fetched up. Andrew Miller, and a man came out
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 1 File 7 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.