Transcription Page

Ah Fook

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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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Charley an Indian being sworn saith

I was fishing today in my canoe. I was near Mr. Bridges’ house while I was fishing. I found the two bodies they were chinese. They were in the water lying in the bottom. They were dead, and dressed in their clothes & white man was on the shore. He went to Bridges and came back with some chinaman when we put the bodies in the canoe & brought them to the old mill where they are now lying.

Charley His Mark X

Taken an oath and acknowledged this 8th day of April 1879 before me. C. N. Trew Coroner

BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 2 File 5 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.

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