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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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24 of it. I fire my shots with salt petre squibs. I never saw the gun shoot out with sufficient force as to throw out my squibs – in that state. I have never seen such a thing occur in that pit. To Mr Drake [?]. My opinion as to coal dust which I have given is a matter of theory and not of my experience. I never saw coal dust ignite. No theories in regard to coal dust explosion has been obtained by me by reading – previous to this explosion.
To Mr Eberts – the coal on top of the box in McDonalds stall was char burned or charred - The soot appeared when deposited everywhere in that state and the coal in the box had evidently been on fire.
To the Coronier I only know as a thing that each duct requires when mixed with gas to become explosive. From what I have read I have come to the conclusion that coal dust is not dangerous or explosive unless gas be also present. To the Forman – I have said that I noticed soot in the Damaris strata. It was dry dust of some kind. The soot produced by [? ? ?] is of the same description as that which I found in Damaris strata.
To the Coronier – I hold a certificate as Manager in a Managers’ certificate. Soot is not the product of the combustion of gas. This soot is the results of the combustion of cool You cannot [get?] burn coal without melting soot- and as it could not escape to settle down in the stall and over the places
Taken upon oath and acknowledge this 26th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight seven before me} Joshua Martell W Wymond Walkem Coronier