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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12th Witness
32
Henry Westfield having been duly sworn states On Tuesday evening about 11 O Clock I went down the mine & helped to pack water, Little stopped us packing water into Martin's place as the fire was not there. I heard John Kick ask Dixon if there was any gass insided, he reported all clear. I went intto the Mine at 10 minutes after 6 O.Clock onm Thursday morning & I founf Churchill at the fire station. Andrew Scott was with him & I heard him tell Andrew Scott not to go gown till Dixson Could & Dixon was just com- -ming down then. After Dixon re- -ported to Mr. Dunsmuir that the level was clear of gass, Mr Dunsmuir said be sure and let no one go through that Curtain When the shift was relieved at 2 O.C. on Wednesday afternoon I heard Mr. Dunsmuir tell aevery man of the incoming shift that no one was to go through that Curtain.
H Westfield
Taken before me at Wellington this 25th day of April 1879
Warner R Spalding
Coroner
BC Archives GR-0431 BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Box 2 File 6 Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.