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Chung Chi

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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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James Scobe Black, miner, Cumberland. Sworn:- By Mr. Potts:- Did you assist in the rescue of the Chinese after the explosion of the 15th of July? A: Yes. Q: How were you particularly occupied that night in the mine? A: I went down and gave the firemen a hand to fix up some curtains in the stalls and headings. Q: Which stalls did you fix curtains in? A: I couldn't exactly tell you the numbers. I fixed up three curtains, and then went into No. 6, No. 5 road and picked up two Chinamen. Went to No. 6 but couldn't reach there for gas and came out and went into the travelling road between 5 and 6, and it was practically open. Went to No. 6 from that. Took out four men there, two lying on one side and two on the other. Q: Was that anywhere near where the explosion occurred? A: Yes, right in the branch, where it goes off No. 6 and comes into No. 7. Q: Did you find any lamps? A: Yes. One was lying alongside the man that had a shovel in his hand. Q: What condition was the lamp in? A: I didn't look. The lamp was lying alongside, three or four feet from where he was; his legs were under a lump of cave. Just about a carfull or thereabouts. The lamp was on the right hand side. Q: Did you notice any timbers there? A: No, no timbers at all? Q: Did you find any other lamps? A: No, but there was a lamp on the outside. Q: Was that a pit lamp? A: Yes. Q: Was that in the vicinity of the explosion? A: No, it is a long ways from there; it must be 60 or 70 yards, right in the main airway, going in No. 6. Q: What did you do with the lamp? A: I never had it myself. We picked it upon the side as we were going to fixup the stopings between No. 6 and No. 5. Q: Did you see any powder of anything around? A: No. Q: Matches? A: No. Q: Did you see anything there that was a source of danger? A: I seen that cave about five yards from the bottom of the stall. Q: Did you see anything else? A: No. Q: Are you able to form any opinion as to the cause of the explosion? A: I guess it had been caused by some open light coming in contact with gas. Q: It would not be coal dust? A: No. Q: How was the ventilation? A: Good. Lots of air. Q: Can you give an opinion as to whether the explosion occurred before or after the cave in? A: No, I couldn't. I wasn't right up to the face. I went to the switch that goes into the branch off No. 6; got four Chinamen and took them outside. Dick Hodson and I packed them down to where we put them in the car. By Mr. Hall:- Did you find the body of the driver? A: The driver went home. Took his mule to the stable and went home. Q: Of the four men that you found, did you know Chung Chi? A: No, I didn't know any of the Chinamen.

James Scobe Black.

Taken upon oath and acknowledged this 14 day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and three, before me,

James Abrams,

Coroner.

BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.

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