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.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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Richard Short, overman. Sworn:- By Mr. Potts:- Did you assist in the rescue of the Chinese killed in No. 6 on July 15th last? A: Yes. Q: What part did you take, Mr. Short? A: First of all I went into fix up some curtains to conduct the air; after that we proceeded to the stalls and found the two Chinamen alive and took them down to where the fresh air was, and then proceeded in the level to find if there was any fire. Q: Did you find any fire? A: Yes, I think there was a coat that was on fire; that was all, about No. 8 or No. 9, somewhere about that. Then after that we sent to get up the dead bodies. Q: Did you visit the scene of the explosion? A: Yes; of course there was indications all round there of an explosion. Q: Where, in your opinion, did the explosion occur? A: Mr. Matthews invited us after we got out all the bodies, to go and examine the place, and find out if there was any idea of where the fire started, and we came to the conclusion unanimously that it started somewhere about No. 6, from the indications of the way the wood was lying thrown from No. 6, each way. Q: Was that where the cave was? A: Yes, the cave was one side of it. Q: Were you able to form an opinion as to whether the fire occurred before or after the cave? A: We had reason to believe that it occurred before, because the Chinaman was under it. Q: Are you able to form an opinion as to the cause of the explosion? A: No, I can't. Of course we know there was an explosion of gas; but as to the cause of it, we can't say; it must have been a light that caused the fire. Q: Did you find anything around there that would ignite the gas? A: No, but judging from that lamp "A" there, it looks very strongly as ff something there had done it. Q: That is Lamp, Exhibit A. A: Yes. Q: Is that the one that you found? A: I didn't find any. Q: There is no question but that a light ignited the gasa? A: Not a question. It must have been a match or a light, or an accident to a lamp. Q: Did you examine any lamps around there? A: I don't think I did. I might have, one or two, but I Hardly remember now whether I did or not. Q: Did you find any matches? A: No. Q: Did you find anything there that was dangerous? A: Nothing more than the gas. Q: Did you find anything there that was contrary to the Rules to be there? A: No. Q: You are not able to give an opinion as to what was the cause of the explosion? A: No. Q: What was the ventilation like? A: Good, except the part where the cave interfered with the ventilation in its proper course. Q: Was there much of a cave when you were there? A: Quite a cave. Q: Continuing all the time? A: No, it was through when I was there. Q: What would you infer from the report of the fireman finding gas in the mine?
BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3
BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.