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 helping[?] 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 warm 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 Benny lying dead. I got some of the men to put brattice across 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

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BC Archives GR-0431 Box 2 File 6

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