Transcription Page

Wellington Coal Mine

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. 

BC Archives GR-0431

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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When we got the water ready we closed No. 4 Curtain & opened No. 3 - so as to permit the air to go on to the fire. all the men that were helping[?] were then put on to pump water on the fire. Seeing that we had control of the fire we went up to the surface, this was about 3 P.M. I went down again about 5 O.Clock & the place was pretty warm from the stream but all flame extinguished. On Thursday morning at about 20 minutes to 7.O.Clock I was in bed & heard the whistle blowing, I jumped up & on opening the window & looking out I saw some person who told me that there had been an explosion in the mine. I hurried over & went down the slope & when I got down to the 8th level I saw Benny lying dead. I got some of the men to put brattice across the upper back so as to carry the full force of air down to No. 10 level, the men then in the mine made a search and discovered several bodies which were con- veyed to the surface. A con- tinued search was made for the remaining bodies during the day & several bodies of white men & Chinamen were found & brought

to

BC Archives GR-0431 Box 2 File 6

BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.

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