Chinaman (Name Unknown)
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
Squawitch an Indian being sworn states
I was fishing this morning with George Morris. We found a dead man’s body in the river a little below Douglass Island. The body was naked except boots and trousers held on by the boots. We made it first with a rope to our boat and brought it to town. I could not recognize the body. It is that of a chinaman.
Squawitch his mark X
Taken on oath and acknowledged this 14th day of June AD 1879 before me C.N. Trew Coroner
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 2 File 5 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.