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.
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10th Witness
30
William Roberts having been duly sworn states My duty in the Mine is to look after the Chinamen & the Bell & the hoisting of the Coal. On Thursday morning about 6 O.C. I told the Chinamen to go to No. 8 & in 7 level, I told two others to go to No. 18 in 10 level. Home was coming out from the night shift & was complaining of having no boxes & no Chinamen to load therefore I told two to go, they pergectly understood what I said. The missing Chinaman is Peter Banks' Chinaman whose No. was 82 tthis Chinaman was working in 83 in 7 level the day before, both the Chinamen knew Homes' heading & had never worked in any other part of No 10 level.
W Roberts
Taken before me this 23rd day of April 1879 at Wellington
Warner R Spalding
Coroner
BC Archives GR-0431 BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Box 2 File 6 Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.