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Ah Man

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. 

BC Archives GR-0431

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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A.H. McBride, Jailer – Being sworn saith

About ½ past 6 on Sunday a week ago last Sunday I was walking along First St and saw a Chinaman on the logs at Mr. Armstrong's Mill. He was jumping from one to another and some Chinaman on the road were talking to him. I met Mr. Carpenter and spoke to him for a short time when I heard a Chinaman shouting. I said to Carpenter ‘The Chinaman has fallen in’, we both ran to the place and saw a Chinaman struggling in the water about 14 or 15 feet from the corner of the Armstrong’s Wharf. A Chinaman threw a plank in but deceased did not grasp it. He gradually sank out of sight. Mr. A. Ewen offered a canoe to an Indian but the water was so deep that he seemed afraid to go in and try to get the body.

Arthur H. McBride

Taken on oath & acknowledged this 1st day of August A.D. 1877 before me C.N. Trew

BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 2 File 1 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.

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