Wong Kong Ying 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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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]
5. Produce certain letters sent to him, Colquohn, by Peter Tom after December 23rd, 1933, on which date Col-quohn left camp, and was given a list of supplies wanted, for this group of Chinese, by Peter Tom.
6. Produce records of earnings of this same group of Chinese over the same period-- carriage of shingle bolts cut.
7. The coroner will want to know "why the supplies requested in an order given Colquohn by Peter Tom on December 22nd, 1993, were not shipped to the Camp as arranged by Col-quohn". [illegible]
8. The Coroner will want to know from Colquohn the precise date on which the West Shore Timber Co relinquished control, of this operation at Canoe Pace, and why, and precisely why when the Howard Point Company took it over.
For your assistance in this matter, as you will judge from the foregoing, Mr. Colquohn is in rather a tight corner, it is alleged by Peter Tom, that on December 22nd last, Col-quohn left the Camp, taking with him a list of supplies required for this group of Chinese, and given him by Peter Tom, it was urged that the supplies be sent right away as they needed them. They did not [illegible]. As a result, for approx. 3 weeks, this group of Chinese numbering 9, were compelled to live on polished rice and salt. Again prior to to that, there had been a shortage of food supplies other than rice, but not so [illegible]. Our investigation concerns ONLY these nine men at their Camp #2. We are not in any way concerned with their Camp #3. At least seriously, as there appear to be no complaint of food shortage there, and there was no out-break of sickness there, while from Camp #2, there are three dead Chinese, with two in Hospital, and the trouble has been diagnosed as "Bewildered", a dread disease having its origin amongst Orientals, and peculiar to Orientals under certain conditions of diet and lack of certain qualities therein.
Please have this matter taken up at once while Mr Colquohn so that he will be fully prepared to answer any questions put to him here.
Fred Mainland