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.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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E. H. Boys Longshoreman Being sworn states
On Saturday morning last about ½ past ten I saw two chinamen go down to the shore, get into a canoe and paddled away towards Mr. Bridges House. I watched for some time to see them as they had got clumsily into their canoe and then I went back to my work did not see them again, after a little while I saw the same canoe floating away close to the shore. At first I thought they had got out & tied the canoe but I saw it float away from the short altogether. I then thought they had gone ashore and that this canoe had floated off. I thought no more about it till the next day when I heard they were missing. I told their friends what I had seen. The chinamen seemed to be sober and not angry with each other. While getting into the canoe they nearly upset it. The canoe was very [illegible] & had a keel.
E.H. Boys 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.