Louis
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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3 Charley an Indian [being sworn?] Saith
Yesterday I was fishing in my canoe near Wm Bridges house. While I was fishing I found two Chinaman's bodies in the water, they were dead and lying on the ground underwater, awhile [illegible] was on the shore. He went? for a Chinaman, soon some men and we got the bodies up & put them in a canoe & brought them to the old mill. -The Chinamen were drowned in there?. -
Charley his X Mark
Taken on oath and
acknowledged this 8th day of April 1879 before me
C.H. Drew
Coroner
BC Archives GR-0431 British Columbia. Attorney General.
Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.