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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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After a few strokes, I seen daylight through. I didn't lose any time in getting there. I got to the top of the water. and the two little girls we were swimming this way, going this way. I looked around. I didn't see anyone else on the water. I seen the pier of the bridge. I thought I would make for it During this time paralysis started to come over my hips, and I had to strive my best. I seemed to be five minutes trying to make that pier. I could not make it. I looked around again, saw the little girls paddling in the water. I seen a small board. About this time I stated to lost control of my legs. I could not move them any longer. I was swimming by this time straight up and down. I said I am not going to drown in this say, and I started to swim ashore. I lost power of that arm. I am not going to dive in that way. I saw this little board about a foot square. Put that arm right over. That stick helped me considerably. That practically saved my life. That seemed to hold me up. I was very careful of my wind trying to save it, trying to get shore with one hand. I don't know just how far from shore. It looked to me fifty or seventy-five feet from shore. I can't be positive, but it seems to me, the captain, a man in a rowboat, - I would not know the man again if I seen him,- he just happened to come along when I seen him. I told him to turn the stern end of his boar. He turned the stern end of his boat. He got me in but I just laid there. I heard the cries of of this other poor fellow, Mr Shortreed. About that time Mr Mitchell came along in his rowboat. I would not be sure if it was Mr Mitchell, but the captain told him to hit away up there to this fellow. The captain landed us in a helpless condition, got left on the bank. We were completely helpless. Mr Mitchell helped me get up. I thought all the time I was on the opposite side of the bridge to where we came in. I found afterwards we were on the northside of the bridge. My head was going to split. I started to vomit this water out. As I was standing on