John Marshall et al
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
No 2
6
We finished opening the bridge and by the time we finished opening the bridge he was then coming on this piece of land between the two bridges, and then came on the bridge, the lights showing on the bridge; his headlights.
Coroner; - It is the dead man you mean? A; - Yes. My daughter said, "Daddy, he is not slowing up." I said, "Heh there." and I shouted and shouted as hard as I could to Mr Mitchell to come with his rowboat that the people were drowning. Then I run to the other end of the swing as hard as I could.
Juror; - Were there lights on the bridge at the time? A; - Yes.
A; - Yes. I lit the lights at five oclock before I had my supper. When I come on to the bridge, I locked the gates at each end as I always do.
Q; - I think you said you had the swing partly across?
A; - They swing this way.
Q; - In that case the red light would show directly opposite the drive? A; - Yes.
Q; - Could he see the light? A; - Yes, he could see the light; I brought it down.
A; - How far down? A; - From two to three feet from the framework. In daytime I draw it up in the framework.
Q; - There is no chance of the light going out?
A; - NO.
Q; - The light was on? A; - Yes. and this lamp is especially for that for it has the glass inside; it is in a square box.
Q; - When you come out and saw the headlights was there any slackening of speed? A; - Not at all, sir.
Q; - Are you in habit of swinging your light as a warning?
A; - No, sir; I never swing it on the roadway, and at the time when I saw it I was about a hundred and eighty feet away.
Coroner; - This light you seem to have waved what kind of a light, a lantern was it? A; - Beg pardon?
Q; - That light you have waved? A; - Just a hand lantern.
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 10 File 4 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.