6

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 weeping[?] 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 harm[?] 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 menny[?] lying dead. I got some of the men to put brattice acrop[?] 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.