The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

OR TWR. 4 Amser a ehed—ehed, E a ehed yn gynt Na thon y mor, a cynted rhed Yn wyllt o flaen y gwynt. Amser a ehed-ehed U weh llong pan ar ei thaith, Pan gyflymaf hi a red Dros donau'r eigion llaith. Amser a ehed—ehed Yn gynt na'r eryr cryf, Pan fo a'i esgyll braidd ar led, Yn disgyn ar ei bryf. Amser a ehed-yn fyr, Na'r fellten mae ye gynt, Pan o gymylau'r dwyrain tyr I'w gorllewinawl hynt. Cyflymach Amser nas gall iaith Adrodd gyflymed" yw; Ystyr, gan hyny, ddyn, dy waith, A'r modd y dylit fyw. IOAN TEGID. Yn ol penderfyniad mwyafrif yr etholwyr perthyna y Bwrdeisdrefi hyn i'r blaid sydd yn caru yr Arglwyddi ac yn gwasgu ar y tlodion. Beiant waith y Cangellydd yn rhoddi blwydd-dal i'r hen bobol dlodion, ac yn codi yr arian oddiar y cyfoethogion. Gwell ganddynt fyddai talu toll ar eu bara na bod gwasgn ar y tirfeddianydd. Nid ynt yn malio y gall ef fforddio, ac nas gallant hwy, nac ychwaith fod ganddo ef fwy eisieu ei amddiffyn rhag gelyn nag sydd ganddynt hwy, ac felly mai teg iddo gyfranu at dreuliau llynges a byddin yn ol gwerth ei eiddo. Gadewch i ni dalu tipyn mwy medd y mwyafrif oddi yma, a gadewch ei arian iddo ef i wneud fel y myno a hwy. Called fawr fu i'r Bwrdeisdrefi adael i'r cyfle fyned heibio i ymgysylltu ac enw gwr sydd yn rhwym, os caiff tywyd, o gyrhaedd i enwogrwydd m,ewo gwleldyddiaetb. Nid oymaint yr anrhydedd roddasem ar Mr Humphreys-Owen wrth ei ddewis yn Aelod Seneddol a'r anrhydedd roddasid arnom ni o'i gael yn gynrvchiolvdd. ac hefvd 0 grael I cychwyn y fath wr ar ei yrfa seneddol. Sonir am y tro nesaf ond y tebyg yw na bydd y Bwrdeisdrefi yn meddu hawl i ddewis aelod wrthynt eu hunain yn yr etholiad nesaf. Suddir hwynt yn y sir, ac arall beth fydd enill y sir chwaithach enill y Bwrdeisdrefi. Da genyf fod y Rhyddfrydwyr yn dychweJyd i'r Senedd rymused ac y daetbant allan. Gyda mwyafrif o 126 rhaid fydd myned ymlaen gyda deddfu. Yn ol a ddywedwyd gan y Prif Weinidog y gwaith cyntaf fydd gafael o ddifrif yn ymhoniad yr Arglwyddi a dysgu iddynt nad boddlawn yw y bobl iddynt ata) gwneud deddfau mwy. Rhaid cael ffordd i fesurau LJywodraeth Ryddfrydol fyned trwodd fel y caiff mesurau y Toriaid pan fyddant hwy mewn awdurdod. Wedi symud o'r ffordd yr hyn sydd yn atal daw wedi hyny lwybr rhydd i lawer gwelliant a diwygiad sydd wedi hir aros wrth borth allan Ty yr Arglwyddi. Bid sicr buasai yn dds genyf weled y mwyafrif wedi cynyddu llawer a rhyfedd genyf pa fodd na wnaeth. Yr oeddwn i yn disgwyl mai felly y gwnaethai-y deuai y bobl allan yn llu yn erbyn gormes yr Arglwyddi, ac yn erbyn pob son am fynd i chwareu gyda masnach rydd. Disgwvliais weled seddau yn cael eu henill gan Ryddfrydwyr ond ni feddyliais am rai yn cael eu colli. Freuddwydiais i ddim y buasai pobl yn mynu mynd o oleuni i dywyllwch ac 0 wlad ffrwythlawn i'r anialwch. Gallaf ddeall paham y try y rhai sydd ganddynt dda lawer oddiwrth Weinyddiaeth y mae Mr Lloyd George vn Gangellydd ynddi. Hawdd esbonio y troad yna. Ond rhyfeddod yw fod gweitbwyr a masnachwyr yn troi yr un ffordd. Nid oes ond eu gollwng dan esgusawd Paul-mai mewn anwybodaeth y gwnaethant. Da iawn fuasai fod y Weinyddiaeth yn meddu mwyafrif digonol i herio y Toriaid a'r Gwyddelod ynghyd. Felly gallasent wneud a fynent yn y ffordd o roddi pob diogelwch i bobl Ulster wrth ddodi i lawr fesur Ymreolaeth i'r Iwerddon. Wedi gweled y byddai y Rhyddfrydwyr mewn awdurdod y gwaith callaf i'r Protestaniaid fuasai ymroi i gryfhau eu breichiau. Mawr y siarad sydd am reolaeth Mr Redmond ac y rhaid gwneud a ewyllysia ef. Prin y mae y rhai sydd yn siarad ya cofio, mae'n debyg, na fedr Mr Redmond waeud dim yn erbyn y Weinyddiaeth heb i'r Toriaid ei helpu. Yr unig berygl all godi i'r Weinyddiaeth fyddai i'r Toriaid a'r Gwyddelod ymuno. Nis gall y Gwyddelod dra-awdurdodi ar y Weinyddiaeth a mynu oddiarni yr hyn y mae cymaint o ddolef wedi bod yn ei gylch oni wua y Toriaid droi a myned gyda hwynt. Felly gall y P'otestaniaid gysgu yn dawel, ni chant gam trwy law y Weinyddiaeth tra y deil y Toriaid yn ffyddlawn i'w hachos. GreRyn hefyd na chawsid cynrychiolydd Bwrdeisdrefi Maldwyn ochr yn ochr a Mr Lloyd George a chynrychiolwyr eraiU Cymru oddigerth dau-y ddau yn feibion Arglwyddi ac un yn Babydd. Ni fuaswn yn crybwyll ei grefydd fan hyn ond y gwnaed cymaint o fwgan o'r Babaeth gan rai sydd yn anfon eu haelod i gydeistedd yr un ochr ar Pabydd. Aiff y gwaith ymlaen, dygir y diwygiadau mawrion i ben, gwneir llawer i leddfu tlodi ac i ddyrchafu y gweithiwr ond bydd lla-is trefi. Maldwyn yn erbyn, diolch y bydd yn rhy unig a gwan i rwystro dim ar y myned ymlaen. Poenus i mi oedd gweled cynifer o ddynion o dan ddylanwad y ddiod feddwol. Amlwg oedd fod llawer mwy o yfed yn wythnos yr etholiad nag sydd arferol. Dywedid wrthyf fod liawer yn tnyned i'r tafarnau pa rai na feddant arian i dalu am ddiod. Clywais am ddynion wedi cadw yn hir oddiwrth y ddiod oedd yn fagl iddynt wedi myned eto iw gafael. Tybed fod y rhai sydd a Haw yn acbosi hyn yn ystyried y dirfawr gyfrifol- deb sydd ar bwy. bynag a gychwyno ddyn ar y lhthrigfa y mae ei disgynfa yn medd y meddwyn druaa Mawr obeithiaf mai dyma y tro olaf y caiff y dafarn fod yn agored ar ddydd yr etholiad. ClYWais newydd da o Lanidloes, gan fod y tafarn- wyr yn Doriaid, fod y Rbyddfrydwyr oedd yn arter yfed wedi ymddiofrydu i beidio mywed i dafarn mwy. Gobeithio ei fod yn wir ac y daliant yn ddisigl at eu penderfyniad am eu hoes. Byddant yn well Rhyddfrydwyr ac yn well dynion a bydd yn well i bawb o'r eiddynt ond iddynt gadw allan o'r dafarn. Dysgwyd y Khasiaid, os dymunent fod yn Gristiiogion, fod yn rhaid iddynt dalu am eu crefydd, fel y telir am yr eiddynt hwythau gan I Anghydffurfwyr Cymru. Os bydd eisiau capel mewn pentref, rhaid i'r pantrefwyr godi'r arian angenrheidiol i dalu am dano, a chlywais am benttefi wedi cyfrannu tair neu bedair mil o rupees. Mwy na hynny, dechreua'r pentrefi Cristnogol sylweddoli eu dyledswydd i ddarpar addysg grefyddol i bentrefi anghristnogol. Y mae rhagor nag un eglwys wedi ymgymeryd yn wirfoddol i gadw athiaw am fiwyddyn mewn mawn pentref paganaidd. Mwy dyddorol hyd yn oed na'r hunan-aberth hwn yw cynllun y Dyrnaid Reis a ddyfeisiwyd gan un o'r Khasiaid; a dengys sel mawr drosto mewn cynibell ei gyd-Gristnogion i'w fabwysiadu. Yn ot y cynllun hwn rhydd pob teulu ddyrnaid o'r neilldu o'r reis a ddarperir at y borebryd a'r hwyrbryd. Ymhen hyn a hyn o amser anfonir y swm o reis, a roddir yn y dull hwn o'r neilltu, i'r eglwys, a gwerr,hir ef. Y mae symiau mawrion eisoes wedi eu deibyn drwy y cynllun hwn. Dywedodd y Parcbedig Ebenezer Davies, o Lanerchyuiedd, yn nghyfarfod dadorchuddio cof- golofn yr emynyddes dduwiolfrydig o Dolwar Fechan, "Ei bod yn dduwiol, yn dduwiol iawn yn ieuanc." Dywed ei hemynau wrthym ei bod yn dduwiol iawn a dywed ei charegfedd ei bod felly yn ieuanc oblegid bu farw yn naw ar hugain. Os oes gan ddyn eisio profi bias cwsg dringed i ben y Wyddfa. Yr oedd William Owen wedi dringo i'w goryn unwaith, ac wedi edrych o'i ddeutu ei wala, a chael lluniaeth aeth i un o'r eabanau i gysgu, gan ddweyd wrth y gwyliwr am ei ddeffro i weled yr haul yn codi boreu dranoeth. Yn y man dyma hwnw yn curo wrth y drws ac yn gwaeddi, "Mr Owen, mae'r dydd yn tori." Ond yr oedd y gwr yn ddwfn yn mreichiau cwsg a chan fwmian, "Pw, be waeth gen i, tored o, 'does arno. fo ddim i mi," troes a pharhaodd i gysgu am oriau —'Hynodion Dick Nancy (6655). GAVYLITTK.

INTERESTING HISTORICAL SPEECH AT WELSHPOOL. In connection with the prize distribution at the Welshpool County School, Mr Edward Owen, F.S.A., secretary to the Royal Commission on Welsh Monuments and Antiquities, delivered a most instructive address. Mr Owen said it was now recognised that one of the most important factors in the attainment of good educational results was the direct personal interest of the scholar. A boy who was interested in his lessons learns those lessons twice as easily as others in which he felt no interest. And the result of the increasing recognition of that very elementary truth was the univer- sal- desire to make the teaching as bright and interesting as possible. He thought that most practical educationists would agree that the subject that was capable of being made interesting to the greatest number of youthful minds was that of his- tory, and it had at last penetrated to the consciousness of the central education authority of this kingdom, the Board of Education, that the best way of teaching history was by beginning with local his- tory. In a recent circular to English secondary schools, the Board observed that it is essential that in each school atten- tion should be paid to the history of the town and district in which it is situated." It proceeded to affirm that there must in all cases be included a study of those actually existent historical remains, such as castles, city walls, monasteries, which are accessible from the school." The cir- cular had not been issued to Welsh schools, though there appeared to be every reason why it should be, but it was well known that the Welsh Department was in favour of the course there recommended. It was, of course, of immense advantage to be able to connect THE TEACHING OF HISTORY in the school with a close acquaintance with the places in the immediate vicinity of the school, or at any rate in the county in which the school was stationed where history had been made. The Board of Education circular very truly observed that It is far more important that pupils should leave school with their eyes trained to observe the historical remains which are to be found in almost every part of Eng- land, than that they should attempt to re- member the whole of the political history, much of which they cannot understand." And if that is true of England, how much more true is it of Wales, where the memo- rials of the past are far more numerous and have been preserved to a much greater extent than they have been in England." While it was probably not desirable to insist upon a too local, perhaps even paro- chial study of history, he was desirous to confine himself to suggestions as to the subjects which historicaal teaching could find at hand to work upon in the county of Montgomery. He had the pleasure of ad- dressing a Welshpool audience, and he might with special propriety confine him- self to places wihin easy distance of them, the contemplation of which should stir the blood and quicken the pulses of every true Montgomeryshire man, and at the same time should make them more sensitive to the history not merely to that county, but of the great country to which Welshmen and Englishmen were alike proud to belong. LOCAL HISTORIC PLACES. The Breidden Hill, with its memories of Caractacus the Gaer, near Montgomery, where the Roman soldier kept watch and ward; the rich meadow lands around But- tington, where the Danish invaders might have sustained defeat the few traces of the abbey of Strata Marcella, with its sweet and solemn memories Domen feastell, not a hundred yards distant from where they were then assembled, and where he under- stood the cheerful click of tennis rackets had succeeded to the clash of the spear and twang of the bow-(Iaughter)-and last, but by no means least, the great castle on the hill above the town, Powis Castle—what visions might visits to these memorials of the past awaken in the youthful minds of the pupils in that and other Montgomery- shire schools, and how the dry bones of history would clothe themselves with living interest under the guidance of a sympa- thetic teacher. But he wanted to recall to them the name a career of just one Mont- gomeryshire hero, whose story should be the possession of every Montgomeryshire boy, and the scene of whose childhood should be one of the sacred spots of pil- grimage to be visited by every Montgom- eryshire man. They had all heard of Llewelyn, the last prince of Wales, who was not a Montgomeryshire man, and they had, too, all heard of Owen Glyndwr, who was also not quite a Montgomeryshire man, but had they evecj heard of Owen of Wales, who was related to both, who was a much greater man than either, and who, moreover, had fair claims to be regarded as a Mont- gomeryshire worthy ? He had already told his story, and need now only recall the salient incidents of his life. His grand- father Rodri was younger brother to Llewelyp, THE LAST PRINCE OF WALES. His father's name was Thomas Rhodri, who lived and died as an English nobleman, and it was not known that any of his estates lay in Wales. Rhodri's son, Thomas, how- ever. by a process of which we were ignor- ant, became\a landowner in Montgomery- shire, holding—at any rate for his life-the small manor of Dinas in the old district of Mechain. There he probably resided for a certain period of his life, and there he might have died in 1363. Thomas had other estates in England, so that it was impossible to say whether his son Owen was born at Dinas ym Meehain neither did he know whether he could speak Welsh. But the fervour of his love for Wales made for the likelihood of both suggestions. Owen as grand nephew of Llewelyn, was the direct inheritor of whatever claims his grand uncle might be supposed to have transmitted, and of whatever hopes might have still lingered amongst a few Welsh- men of the restoration of the ancient line of princes. There was now no occasion for them to endeavour to estimate the reasona- bleness of validity of Owen's pretentions to be the rightful Prince of Wales We had the privilege of living in happier times, and we are looking forward to the event that should demonstrate their loyalty to their Prince of Wales, who united the na- tionalities and received the willing homage of subjects of an empire upon which the sun never set. But Owen believed in his claims, and his assertion of them led him to leave his native land, and to seek military service on the continent. After a few years of apparently aimless wanderings, he en- tered the service of the King of France, and began the military career which made his name feared by the English command- ers in that country and the English Gov- ernment at home. He was evidently ONr. OF THE GREATEST MILITARY LEADERS of his day, and they must bear in mind that this was the period of the Black Prince, Sir John Chandos, and Bertrand du Guesolin.* He was without doubt the ablest Welshman of his time, and it was in- teresting to note that thirty years later his kinsman, Owen Glyndwr, in soliciting Frereli assistance, appealed to the great services lhat Owen ap Thomas had ren- dered to the King of France. It was pro- bable that the name and personality of no enemy was so dreaded by the rulers of Eng- land until we came to the time of Napoleon, four centuries later. The tragic story of Owens romantic death had furnished the celebrated chronicler Froissart- with one of his finest passages. After a brief truce of one year, war between England and France began again in 1376. Owen was ap- pointed one of the French commanders of the army that undertook the siege of the town of Mortain on the river of Garonne. He had taken into his service as his squire one John Lamb, and the two used to talk of Wales, and possibly of Powysland. Early one morning Owen went to a little hil; whence he could view the besieged town. Sitting down he became immersed in thought—perhaps recollections of the beautiful valley of the Cain, one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL IN ALL WALES floated before the eye of his fancy, and rendered him oblivious to what was going on around him. His treacherous squire crept up behind him, and stabbed him in the back. The assassin ran for safety to the gates of the town, begging for admission on the score of having delivered the Eng- lish from one of their most dreaded enemies. The brave commander, while forced to admit the murderer, gravely shook his head at the recital of the crime, observing that "We shall have rather blame thereby than praise gentle verdict that the soothing influence of time will probably permit us all to endorse. Thus died one of the greatest and bravest of the sons of Wales. That he was fighting against his country, that his death was welcomed by his country, was nothing to us now. We could not estimate his influences of the cir- cumstances that moulded THE CHARACTER OF OWEN or directed his career in a particular di- rection. What really mattered to us was this: that he loved his country with a passionate affection, and that his last thoughts were of the beautiful hills and dales he was never destined to tread. In the not distant parish of Llansantffraid were the remains of the Welsh home of that great Welshman. There were now to be seen but a few banks and trenches-" mieri lie bu mawredd "but it was impossible to view these silent marks of man's activity without feeling the fascination of the his- tory of Owen of Wales That was, perhaps, the most romantic story, as Owen was, per- haps, the greatest of the men connected with the Montgomeryshire of the past. But there were many others whose lives should be the treasured possession of every Montgomeryshire lad, and the scenes of their labours should be the ground to which his footsteps were directed. The power of a great career was not ended with the life of him who was chosen by Provi- dence to manifest it. Fortunately, also, youth was the time at which noble im- pressions were most easily received, noble examples most easily adopted. The study of local history, -associated as it should always be with the study of local antiqui- ties, was, in sympathetic hands, capable of exercising more direct effect upon the for- mation of character than perhaps any other branch of study. He, therefore, hoped that it would win its way into the curriculum of every school in Wales (cheers).

Death of a Montgomery Recluse. The Coroner, Dr E. D. Thomas, held an inquest touching the death of William Pritchard, Yew Tree Cottage, Hendomen, Montgomery, who was found dead in his house on Saturday week by Mr John Crowther, the local grocer. The deceased man lived the life of a re- cluse. He kept all the doors locked, and refused to let anybody into the house. A tragic reflection is that inquests have pre- viously been held at the same house upon the mother, uncle, and sister of the de- ceased. Charles Whittingham, farmer, Hendomen Farm, said deceased was his brother-in-law. He was about sixty years of age, and had lived at Hendomen all his life. He was a carpenter by trade, but had not done any work for the last six or eight years. He gave up his work because his health failed im, but he had sufficient means to keep himself. He had never been married. The doctor attended him in August, when he was very ill and not expected to recover, and the doctor said he might, die any time. He did not know the nature of his illness, except that he was weak, and since last August seemed to be depressed, and almost lost his voice. No one looked after him, and he cooked his food and washed his clothes himself. Witness lived about two or three hundred yards from deceased. Up to August deceased used to visit his house about once a month. He had not spoken to him since July. He was rather deaf. John Crowther, grocer, Old Tollgate, Chirbury-road, Montgomery, said he had known the deceased intimately for about two years, but had known him casually all his life. He received instructions from Mr Charles Pryce, solicitor, Montgomery, in August to supply deceased with anything he wanted, such as food and clothing. This he did. He went there twice a week. I vvhen he went there on Saturday last, about twenty past twelve, with the usual groceries, he found the door locked, as he always found it. He rapped and received no response. There was a red curtain over the window, and he got a stick and put it through a broken pane in the window and removed the curtain, and saw a body lying face upwards on the floor. He informed Mr Whittingham, the previous witness, and then went on his usual rounds. By the Foreman: Deceased did not al- ways come to the door when he went there, and he left the groceries by the door. P.C. Davies said that on Saturday he received information from Mr Whitt-incrham and proceeded to Hendomen. He obtained an entrance into the house, and in the back kitchen found deceased lying on his back dead. He examined the body, and appar- ently life had been extinct two or three days. He found 110 marks on the bodv. Laot August deceased was not seen for two weeks, and he accompanied Mr Prvce and Mr Crowther to the house where deceased lived. After knocking at. the door for about quarter of an hour, deceased opened it. Mr Pryce told Mr Crowther to let him have everything he wanted. Witness did not think he was in a fit state to be left. alone. The doctor also told him he might die any minute. The Coroner said he thought it rather extraordinary that a close relative living so near to the deceased should not have looked after him, seeing that he was unfit to look after himself. He thought the de- ceased must have been in the first stage of insanity. The jury returned an open verdict of "Found dead."

HUNTING A PPOINTMENTS. MR. DAVID DAVIES' FOX HOUNDS WILL MEET ON Monday, Dec. 26th Newtown Wednesday, Dec. 28th Manafon Thursday. Dec. 29th Anchor Saturday, Dec. 31st Llandinam Bridge 10-30 a.m. MR. DAVID DAVIES' BEAGXES WILL MEET ON Tuesday, Dec. 27th Graig Hill, nr. Llanfair Friday, Dec. 30tb Glyn, nr. Llanidloes 10-30 a.m.

GREAT MINING DISASTER IN LANCASHIRE. 350 Miners Entombed. For the whole country in general, and Lancashire in particular, the Yuletide fes- tivities will be saddened by the news of the appalling disaster which took place early on Wednesday morning at a colliery near Bolton. About eight o'clock, soon after the shifts had gone down, a terrific explosion occurred in the Yard mine, belonging to the Hulton Colliery Company. In this pit, and in the adjoining Arley pit, nearly 800 men were working. Of those in the Arley mine, 450 in number, all were got. up safely, with one exception, who is stated to be missing. With the other mine, however, things were very different. The pit-gear had been badly damaged, and for some time it was impossible for the rescue parties to get down. When they managed to do so they found that their progress was barred by the poisonous gases and falls of roof, and there is only too much reason to fear that of the 352 men who were in the pit at the time of the catastrophe, none have sur- vived the force of the explosion and the deadly after-damp which followed it. The Chief Inspector of Mines for Lan- cashire, who arrived at the spot at an early hour, holds out no hope whatever of any of the men below being rescued, but through- out Wednesday night and Thursday morn- ing the efforts made by working parties, both from the Hulton pits and the neigh- bouring collieries, were to be continued, with the hope, faint, though it might be, of saving at least some of those who are entombed. Fire broke out in the Yard mine after the explosion, but had, it is believed, been extinguished, and the ventilating fans have been started. Among those who speedily arrived on the scene was the Bishop of Manchester, a very popular figure among the Lancashire pit folk, who conducted a brief service at the head of the shaft. Ministers of other de- nominations were also present to admin- ister consolation. Mr Churchill, the Home Secretary, has sent a message of sympathy, and states that the Chief Inspector of Mines from London is coming to Bolton. AN APPALLING CALAMITY. Bolton, Wednesday Night. Another has to be added to the long list of Lancashire colliery disasters, and the one which occurred at West Houghton, near Bolton, this morning threatens to overshadow any of recent years in its ter- rible toll of human lives. Three hundred and fifty men and boys are entombed in a mine that, following an explosion has been burning for several hours, and, with a third deadly danger from after-damp, the i chief officials may be pardoned for assum- ing that the whole of the men have lost their lives. West Houghton is situated five miles out of Bolton, and the scene of the awful calamity, the Bank pit, locally called the Pretoria, is one of half a dozen owned by the Hulton Colliery Company (Limited). At this particular pit upwards of 1,000 men are employed in five sections of workings. Work started as usual this morning, but about eight o'clock an explosion occurred of such force that it could be heard miles away. The timber casing of the shaft was torn away like matchwood, and the brick- work was scattered about the top of the shaft, while the winding arrangements were thrown out of order. The damage here was quickly rectified, and communication was established with the Arley mine, in which section 400 men and boys were engaged. They were raised to the surface with diffi- culty, and on the roll being called there was only one absentee, a fireman named Clay- ton. Large numbers were affected by the gas, but the damage here was as nothing compared with the Yard mine, where the explosion took place, and in which 350 men were engaged. As a subsequent examination revealed, their return was cut off, and, to make matters worse, fire broke out, and retarded the work of rescue. Debris was piled up at the bottom of the shaft, and this had to be cleared and ventilation es- tablished before the workings could be reached. It was six o'clock this evening before the fire was extinguished, and eight before the fan could be got to work to clear out the gaseous fumes, but long before this indi- cations had been found to confirm the worst fears that the whole of the men had perished, if not from the force of the ex- plosion, then from the poisonous after- damp, and if not from either, they must -have been burnt to cinders by the scorch- ing flames. During the day seven dead bodies were found, including that of the manager and one of the first members of the rescue party, who set out in searcht for his two sons. Late last night, Mr Gerrard, Chief In- spector of Mines for Lancashire, said: We have satisfied ourselves that there is no reasonable probability of any of the men being reached alive. Three fires oc- curred, but have been extinguished, and later on exploration will proceed, if the condition of the mine is found to be fa- vourable. In one section, to which ap- proach was not barred, eleven bodies were found." The damage underground, Mr Gerrard added, was widespread. The force of the explosion absolutely swept the five sections, and the falls of roof were ex- tensive. On being interviewed, the managing di- rector of the company could give no reason for the explosion, observing that the Bank colliery was the last in Lancashire in which he would have expected an explosion. The only assumption he could offer had regard to a defective lamp, or to someone striking matches. Pathetic scenes were witnessed in the colliery yard, where groups of weeping and grief-stricken women waited anxiously for the dread news. Particularly harsh has been the blow to some families. One house- hold is robbed of father and five brothers, and many there are which suffer loss of three and four members. Large families, too, are left-in one instance ten children, in another eight. STORY OF THE DISASTER. Bolton and the extensive industrial dis- trict lying between it and the town of Leign, a region dotted with collieries, mining -ig villages, and factories, .is stricken with sorrow at one of the most appalling disasters in the history of the country, one by which some 352 men and boys have, it is feared, perished. The scene of this lamentable tragedy of the workaday life of Lancashire is the Pretoria No. 3 Pit of the Hulton Colliery Company (Limited), situated at ktherton, about four miles from Bolton, on the tramway route to Leigh. The colliery is one of the newest enterprises of the Hulton Company, is furnished with every modern contrivance for ensuring safe and efficient working, and has never been con- sidered liable to any danger. APPALLING EXPLOSION. The colliery consists of two pits, the Yard and the Arley, which are connected by a long funnel, and give employment to a large number of men, close on 800 being engaged on each shift underground. The morning of the explosion 440 men were working in the Arley mine, and 352 in the Yard, when, at ten minutes to eight o'clock the surface workers and officials were startled by a fearful explosion, accompanied by a large sheet of flame and smoke, which shot out of the Yard pit. The explosion was so terrific in its intensity that it was heard at Bolton, and those on the surface realised immediately that a tragic fate had befallen most of their comrades whilst earn- ing their daily bread at the face of the coal below. Instantly the officials set to work organis- ing rescue operations. Helpers hurried to the :Jcene from the country round. Medical men and nurses came from Bolton and Leigh. Skilled teams of miners, with their rescue apparatus, hastened from the other collieries with which this portion of Lan- cashire is studded, and soon brave efforts were in full swing for the succour of the I men below. "LIKE RATS IN A TRAP." Each of the two mines is served by a separate shaft, and these shafts are con- nected by the tunnel previously alluded to. The winding gear of, the Yard mine was wrecked by the force of the explosion, which also choked the tunnel, so that the 350 odd men in the Yard mine were caught like rats in a trap. They could neither escape through the tunnel from the after-effects of the explosion, assuming that they had sur- vived its fury, nor could they get to the surface by means of their own shaft. The 450 colliers in the Arley mine were better off. They got to the surface as ex- peditiously as the cages could carry them, but not before quite a number had been affected by the poisonous fumes which per- colated through from the other mine. Seventeen were gassed," or slightly injured, and. after receiving medical treat- ment. were sent to their homes. Three others were more seriously affected, and had to be passed on to the infirmary. RESCUE PARTIES' WORK. All through the day rescue parties were working slowly, making their way to the Yard mine through the tunnel from the Arley mine, which they had to clear from obstruction. But from the first the reports which filtered up to the pit-head were of the gravest possible character, and there was little hope that any of the entombed colliers would be found alive. Several bodies were taken out badly maimed and burned by the explosion, and the fire which followed it. They were laid in a hastily-improvised mortuary. TRAGEDY OF HEROISM. Behind the formal announcement of the names of the dead lies a tragedy of heroism, a tale of that self-sacrifice by which the grim annals of British industrial disasters are so often illuminated. Amongst one of the first rescue parties to descend the arena of death was William Turton, a fine old collier, who had two sons below, and was anxious to try to fetch them out. So eager was he in his efforts that he got some distance in front of his comrades, and'paid for his anxiety with his life. When the others overtook him—and they included in their number another son of Turton—they found that he was asphyxiated, a victim to the deadly black-damp," the aftermath of the explosion. The strength of the rescue parties was steadily augmented during the day, until at one time no fewer than twelve detachments were at work, but each had the same heart- sickening experience to relate—no signs of lif3 anywhere in the workings, only de- struction, desolation, and death. The force of the explosion was so great as practically to wreck the mine. There were big falls of roofing everywhere, the machinery was hurled about and smashed, and the walls caved in. Mr Edward Rushton, the under- manager, was discovered in his office in the mine dead, having been blown from his stool. He lay face downwards, witll arms outstretched. His head was badly burnt and his face injured. All the other bodies found were shockingly burnt. PAINFUL SCENES. So slow was the progress of the rescuers that up to four o'clock they had only been able to penetrate the workings to the dis- tance of 200 yards. The falls of roofing made speedier advance impossible at the time. No signs of tire were visible, the outbreak which had occurred immediately after the explosion having been extin- guished, but there was, of course, the pos- sibility that behind the barrier of fallen roof and wall the flames were still raging. At four o'clock it was decided to start the fans, in the hope of restoring ventilation. a step which suggested that the danger of fire had been passed. At the same time, there seemed reason to doubt that the ven- tilation could be renewed, owing to all the roadways being choked. The rescuers, who came to the surface as the dull and deary December day was passing into the gloom of night, held out no hope to the anxious crowds which silently and stolidly lined the pit bank that any of the men imprisoned below would be got out alive. The- crowd in itself was a psychological study. The people stood a dozen deep on every vacant rubble heap, and thronged every empty truck, but despite their anxiety-for most of them were friends or relatives of the entombed men-they scarce spoke a word or ventured an inquiry, and no attempt was made to encroach beyond the limits prescribed bv a few constables casually stationed from point to point. It was a striking example of the stolid, dumb emotion of the multi- tude. But down over the rain-sodden hill- side, in the mining villages of Atherton. Drubhill, and Chequerbent, where the Hulton miners mostly reside, there was weeping among the women and children. for in the privacy of their own homes these dour Lancashire folk found relief in tears. BISHOP'S VISIT. But the afternoon was not all given over to rescue operations below and to anxious waiting above. With that instinctive sym- pathy for suffering which has endeared him to Lancashire, the Bishop of Man- chester had travelled to the scene, and he helc, a short but impressive service among the people on the pit bank. The ceremony opened with the singing of that beautiful lnmn, Jesu, Lover of my soul," in which all .joined, and his lordship followed it with a brief address, in wdiich he assured his hearers from the bottom of his heart he grieved for those who were mourning, and that his heart bled for them in that sad. ?,re;:t hour. He prayed that God would comfort them in their great sorrow. His lordship then offered a prayer on behalf of tii<>se who were down below, it they were living that God might be pleased to grant. iiat they might be rescued and brought out. Thi, prayer was succeeded by an interces- sion for the rescuers by the Bishop in the following terms:— We pray Thee to protect the brave men going down to rescue their companions. We thank Thee for their courage, and be- seech Thee to watch over them and keep them, ior Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." And the Bishop of Manchester was not alone in his offer of sympathy at the pi* head. There stood, hour after hour, four Roman Catholic priests from the adjacent mining villages, patiently waiting to bear a message of spiritual consolation to the need- of those of their own faith, of whom about 100 were among the entombed. I should they be brought out alive, or to give them the last blessing of the Catholic Church if they had passed beyond the veil. Nearby was a on conformist minister en- gaged on a similar mission of lllercy, for all faiths were anxious to share the task o lightening the burden d mercv which fell equally on all. MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN. To return to the .tOIT "i the disaster. Its origin is wrapt in mvsterv. Asked if he could assign any cause for the explosion, the managing director of the collierv (Mr Branc-ker) -aid:- "I wish I could. I have not the faintest idea. It is a mystery. I thought it would be the last colliery 111 England where there would be an explosion. There is no shot- firing in our pits, nor has there been for years, and no electric cables were in the -iff(-etecl area. There seems to be -no ex- planation except a defective lamp or softie man striking a match." Mr Brancker's statement as to the Pehar- acter of the mine was supported by I a miner who formed one of the rescue parties L and who added that the pit was extremely well ventnated. Dr Packer „f West Houghton, who was one of the first medical men to eo under- ground, the atmosphere having been pre- Mously tested by the simple but effective expedient of lowering a canary in a cage, stated, in an interi-iew:- I arrived about 8-30, and went down the Arley mine with the rescuers, being below about two and a half hours. I got. fiftv or sixty yards from the bottom of the shaft, and remained there ready for the rescuers to bring along any of the injured miners One boy was brought, to me dead, blown to pieces, his head and arms being detached. There were ten bodies discovered while I was there, and of these three were sent up. The roof was all fallen, and the inhu T?6 electnc PIant caWe was blown L « ree m^red h^ been taken to ■ infirmary, and about seventeen suffer- ing from slight shock and wounds have pZl S6"t hi0me" The »<Med Dr racker, is about six hundred feet deep." diJastpr °r>T j^ re?^-sed hi the Hulton mine rhaHn *lg pm be>'»nd •11m entombed, miners have ner- ished The Mayor of Bolton is openine a relief fund for those dependent on the vic- tims of this frightful holocaust, and an- quTed 9t l6aSt £ 5(UM)0 re-

The End of the Election. Tho General Election closed with the announoe- ment on Tuesday night, of the result in the w £ k Barghs. Mr Robert Munro, the Liberal member elected in January, is returned by a majority of 7uernment tWforfl come back from the polls with a majority of 126, or four more than in the iate Parliament. The people's party won 29 Tory seats, while the other Vide capered 27 seats If we exclude Ireland, the Liberal number 271 against the Unionist 253, a Liberal majority of eighteen. Adding the Labour members and one Nationalist, we have a majority of sixty-one in Great Britain. The total votes cast were as follows:— For the People (Liberal, Dabour and Nationalist) 2,804,644 For the Peers 1.. 2,402 722 401,922

♦ Master Harold Sydney Waiter Francis aged four years, was placed on the Biggleswade Parha mentary register in mistake for his father, and voted. Mr Lloyd George is suffering from a severe cold and overstrain, and has been ordered to take a complete rest. He has left for the Continent, ac- companied by Mrs Lloyd George. On Wednesday, in obedience to a special sum- mons, the Prime Minister went to town, and had audience of the King, lasting nearly an hour. In the afternoon Mr Asquith returned to Scotland. A terrible naval catastrophe occurred off Har- 4 °a^al„^nd^ the E^n," which was attached to H.M.S. Thames," collided with the submarine "C8" and sank, five sailors being drowned. & The expense of sending people to sanatoria is often complained of. Why not," says Dr Alex- ander, "secure houses on the epot as sleeping quarters for the phthisical ? Take out the win- done'" m 0peQ air' aDd the would be A girl belonging to a wealthy family has lost threatened to bring about a referendum in Swit- zerland. He fianw has been arrested on what she considers unjust grounds, and she threatens, if he is not released, to obtain the necessary 30,000 signatures, and refer the matter to the entire mation. Dr Hazel, who was declared defeated at the West Bromwich election by five votes, told his workers that steps were being ^ken for an inves- tigation of doubtful and diflowed votes. He would be able to carry the matter through with- out financial aid. h wr,!llU be nothing short of monstrous if it shou d Ot; held that the difference of 100th part of an lilcb in the placing of a cross was to make the difference between a good vote and a bad vote. Among several journalists to give evidence before the Divorce Commission was Mr W. T. Stead. Much has been said in advocacy of the equality cf the sexes, but Mr Stead went further. JJ principle that much stronger bars needed to restrain a man-eating tiger than to confine a mild gazelle," he was in favour of giving much greater liberty of divorce to woman than to man- He insisted also that matrimonial suits should be tried by mixed juries, and was strongly opposed to any restriction on the freedom of the Press in regard to publication of divorce cases. Some novel proposals were put forward by Mr Maurice Hewlett, who desired to make marriage voidable by agreement of the parties, saving always the interests of the children. On the recommendation of the Home Secretary, the King has been pleased to approve the grant of the King's Police Medal in the case of each of ea.ch of the five officers concerned in the attempt to capture the Hoandsditch burglars. The three brave men who lost their lives received the honour of a public funeral. His Majesty was specially represented at the service in St. Paul's Cathedral, and an enormous concourse of people gathered, throughout the eight-mile route ot the procession to pay their tribute to the gallant dead. An order, issued from the City Police headquarters. coniere promotion on the two wounded- officers- At Guildhall, two women were charged as acces- sories in the murders of Sergeants Tucker and Bentley and Constable Choat, and remanded on the evidence of arrest. One of the prisoners was found in the hcuse where the man Gardstein" died. Professor Tyrrell Green, who fills the Chair of Hebrew and Theology at the St. David's Church of England College, Lampeter, was the principal speaker at a meeting in connection with the Young Liberals League at Lampeter, aid took as the subject of his address, -Why I am a Liberal. He^ said that the Liberal party wag a party of fixea principles, and the Conservative party was a party of opportunism. Referring to the Church question, upon which he said he felt most strongly of all, Professor Green stated that ke was not in the least afraid of Disestablishment nor was he at all afraid of some measure of Dis- endowment. Not only was he not; afraid but he was in favour of it. He was definitely in favour of Disestablishment because the present state of thmgs robbed both clergy and laitv of their rightful voice in the management of Church affairs. The question of patronage was enough to make any Churchman a strong Radical. The power of the laity in this democratic a»e was being taken from them day by day. "when Church people had to find the money they would see that they would have their say in the selec- tion of a minister. CAMBRIAN RAILWATS.—Perhaps the General Election has had some deterrent influence upon the traffic receipts of the Cambrian Railways for the week ending December ISfi. for thev show a decrease of £ 145 compared with the corresponding week last year. Ti.'ere was an inerease of .£35 in the passenger, etc., receipts but a decrease of X160 on the merchandise' minerals, and live stock. The actual receipts amounted to £ 4,2S0. The receipts since the com- mencement of the half-year are £ 173,351, which makes an aggregate increase of £ 5,380.