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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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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to the surface. About 9 O Clock Mr. Rior, the Govt.Inspector of Mines arrived and as soon as he had ascertained the supposed cause of the explosion & had examined the plan he went down the mine. Mr. Buydon the Managor of the I.C. [?] C. Co. arrived shortly after & he also went down the mine. I have seen Gass before in the mine in No. 10 level but not much of late, the Govt. Inspector had several times called my attention to there being gass in No. 10 level & cautioned me to be careful, slight accidents have happened on a few occasions in No. 10 level, but no serious ones. I consider the coal in No. 10 level to be more full of gass than any other coal in the mine. Chinese loading coal worked in No. 10. The amount of air passing through No 10. level had 5000 cubic feet. Dixon, one of the men killed, was over[?]der & had charge of the air, & it was his duty to see that there was Brattice carried up into every mans face. Owing to sickness it is three months since I personally saw that the brattice work was carried up to the head of the face & Hank Little performed my duties in my absence but he was not authorized, that I remember, to interfere with with the ventilation, and altho'

BC Archives GR-0431 BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Box 2 File 6 Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia

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