Vancouver Coal Company
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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To Mr. D M Eberts
Emil Arnold Praeger - Physician and Surgeon being duly sworn saith - I am Physician and Surgeon to the Vancouver Coal Company. I saw the body of John Lim but made no special examination of him. The body of Lim was recovered the night of the explosion - that would be on the night of the third of May. I am of opinion that he died from the effects of choke damp. The result of inhalation is death of a rapid form from oxygen starvation. Some men were brought up some twenty five minutes after the explosion. The body of Lim was brought up - I think - about ten o'clock of the night of the third of May.
E.A. Praeger
Taken upon oath and acknowledged on this 25th day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty seven before me W Wymond Walkem Coroner
To D.M. Eberts
Jules Michael miner of South Cedar district being duly sworn saith: I am a sinker in the number two shaft. I remember the evening of the third of May last and about the time the explosion took place - I was just having supper off number two shaft when the explosion took place - I was in a little cabin taking a little supper at the time - that was below ground - As far as I can describe it the explosion like a heavy fall of rock behind us. I felt the wind coming from it up the slopes. I remember when the volume of air struck me - When
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 4 File 3 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.