Lee Sam
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.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
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leave the pilot house until the steamers were actually in collision. The Rithet struck the Enterprise abreast the fore hatch about 8 feet in front of the pilot house and cut into her a distance of about 20 feet carrying away our mast and demolishing our pilot house. Our mate Leech had his arm and two ribs broken by the crash. A minute before the collision occurred the Enterprise was going full speed and I think the Rithet also. The Rithet came pretty straight for us. Her bow went under the saloon deck of the Enterprise and I and the mate Leech were thrown on the deck of the Rithet. Two French men who were standing near us on the Enterprise were thrown over the deck of the Rithet into the water. The steamers were locked together for several minutes until everything was saved that could be, when the Rithet backed away and the steamer Western Slope towed the Enterprise into the Bay. The Enterprise was down by the head with a list to port. A small part of her main deck aft and portion of the after saloon were above water. When the Rithet backed away I got into a small boat belonging to the Rithet and went with the Enterprise into the Bay. I think one of the crew - the main in Court who calls himself Harry [Ramwell] - was at the wheel of the Rithet. Capt. Insley was in command but I did not see him until I had been on board 3 or 4 minutes. I then saw him in the pilot house. The steamer Enterprise answered well to her helm. The
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BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 4 File 1 / BRITISH COLUMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.