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Q: From the position you found the chinaman lying in, what would you infer? A: From the position he was lying in I would say that if anything he must have been knocked down before the cave in; it is possible. Q: You think the cave occurred before the explosion? A: No, I said the other thing just now. I said that probably he was knocked down before the cave. Q: From the position the chinaman was lying in you infer that? A: Yes. Q: Have you found, since the explosion, anything which was a source of danger in the mine? A: Yes. Q: What? A: A large quantity of gas. Q: Anything else which is contrary to the rules to be there? A: I would like you to put that a little clearer. Q: Have you found anything in the second south level contrary to the rules, to be there - any matches or explosives? A: No. Q: Pit lamps? A: No. Q: Were you present when some of these lamps were found? A: This in one, "A". Q: Do you know to whom that lamp belonged? A: No. Q: Have you any means of identifying the chinaman with the lamp? A: No, I haven't. Q: Every chinaman has a lamp, but you don't know which chinaman the lamp belongs to? A: No. Q: Do you know whether a pit lamp was found in the mine? A: I heard there was one. Q: Where? A: At No. 6 switch, No. 2 south level. Q: To whom did it belong? A: I don't know, probably the driver. Q: Isn't that in the same ventilating district as the 2nd south level? A: Yes. Q: Did you examine the miners' safety lamps before they went down? A: Yes. Q: Were they all securely locked? A: All those that had to be locked. Q: Can you give the jury any explanation as to the cause of the explosion with your knowledge from the examinations that you have made? A: No, I can't. There is no doubt it is owing to a break in the roof but how it came to be lit up I couldn't say. Q: Were these Chinese that were in the mine able to understand all the orders that you gave them. A: Yes, those on my shift, but these were not on my shift. Mr. Morgan:- Do yo examine every shot before it is fired, Mr. King? A: Yes. Q: There were no shots fired without your consent that day? A: That day, no. Mr. Pooley:- You stated that the quantity of gas you found was a very small one? A: Yes. Q: If it had been a large quantity of gas, would you have allowed the men to go down? A: It just depends. Upon certain conditions I would. Q: Was this mine in good working order? A: Very good. Exceptionally good that day. Q: Now you have not told us your view as to where the explosion started? A: I have no doubt that it started in No. 6 branch stall. Q: At the head of the branch off No. 6? A: Yes.

BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3

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