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.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
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afterwards Capt. Insley came in. He looked round and we then both went down to the freight deck. I then saw Capt. Rudlin coming on board in a small boat and heard him cry out “On the Rithet, lower the boats.” I then heard the conversation between Insley and Rudlin mentioned by Insley. I then went to help to lower the boats. I took a waiter in a boat and went to pick up passengers. The Kitty never touched the Enterprise pilot house. The mate of the Enter- prise was outside the pilot house just before the collision. I saw him run for the paddlebox on the port side. If he had remained in the pilot house he would not have been hurt. Our jib stay ran under their boiler deck lifting it and the mate was hurt by the splinters. The Enterprise mast fell overboard as we backed away from her and not before. The quarter- master is the man who steers the boat, keeps the pilot house clean etc. I have been a seaman all my life. I do not hold any certificate. I have acted as mate of a steamer on the other side — when the mate was sick I took his place. To Mr. Irving. I had not seen the Enterprise when Insley left me in charge. The mate came into the pilot house just before I whistled. It struck me the Enterprise misunderstood the signal and was going to starboard — this was why I left the wheel as it was slightly to port. He gave no indication what she was going to do. I did not hear or see her whistle — We were 14