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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. 

BC Archives GR-0431

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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29 To Mr Young – I have seen the gas turn one hour after a shot was fired in the number three level. I have seen a flash from a shot but I cannot say whether it was caused by the ignition of the powder or of the gas. The fact of the gas burning for one hour after a shot was evidence that the coal was giving off gas. I did not consider the slope dangerous from the presence of coal dust because the coal dust I have reported to as causing the explosion in Mount Diablo was stirred up and this was always quiescent. Part of the dust might be stirred up by a heavy shot and in that condition it would not be dangerous unless there was a light near it but in all probability it might be dangerous if there was a light near it. It would depend upon the combination. Shots three or four in number might be fired one after another. I have known shots to have been fired in succession according as they were ready. I have heard several shots fired in that slope within half an hour. I have fired two shots myself within that time. In high places a considerable quantity of gas might accumulate without my knowledge. The face in the places in where I worked in the cross cut in the slope was wet. The dust was watered to my knowledge. I have never known of it being watered. To Mr Drake [?2 L] There was no gas accumulation in my place to my knowledge and I have no knowledge of any other persons working. To a Juryman I had no apprehension of any danger in that mine until I saw the smoke over the pulleys – after the explosion. I had no fears from any coal dust in this mine as it was not heated high enough to become ignitable. To the Cormer The temperature of the air inside cools the atmosphere in the mine. The ignitability of the dust

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