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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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J: Was there any examination of the body? A: Not in my presence, any more than the [undertaker?] went through his pockets.
J: What position was the body in? A: Lying back downwards, and face in towards no 7 stall
J: If the cave occurred before the explosion, what position would you expect to find the body in? A: It is hard to say, but he would not be lying as flat as he was if the cave came on top of him before the explosion took place
J: You mean to infer that the explosion occurred before the cave in? A: Yes
J: and your reason, amongst other [??] is the position of the body? A: I think so
J: You consider that the explosion occurred in? A: In no 6 stall
J: Why? A: Because the force seems to have radiated from [?] [?]; the force of the explosion goes both ways from that point
J: Now as to that body; what position would a body be in the case of an ordinary explosion? A: That is hard to say; you get them in all positions
J: What position would it be in the case of a cave in? A: It just depends upon the position he was in when the cave in took place. This man was lying flat on his back with a [stick?] of [cordwood?] across his legs.
J: Would that be the position you would expect to find the body in in the case of a cave in? A: No, from the position he was in I would infer that he died before the cave in took place. There might have been a little dirt down [to?] [begin?] with, but not the cave that was there [?]
BC Archives GR-0431 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Box 6 File 3 / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.