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The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

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Family Notices

TO CORRESPONDENTS AND READERS.

USK.

llAGLAN.

NEWPORT.

PONTYPOOL.

BLAENAVON.

CHEPSTOW.

ABEEGAVENNY.

CAERLEON.

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CAERLEON. MARRIAGE REJOICINGS -Any stranger passing on Thursday sennight through this usually quiet town could not fail to come to the conclusion that something ex- traordinary was taking place,—tor banners fiyiDg, houses decorated with wreaths of flowers aud evergreens, and arches of the same crossing the roads, with cannons firing, are indications rarely to met with here, These demonstra- tions had been s'otup in honour of the marriage of George Scott, Esq., to Miss Clara E. Jenkins, of Caerleon, having been drawn forth by the respect and good feeling of the inhabitants towards the fair bride, who has resided in this town from her birtb. and also her family for some genera- tions. To the poor, aged, and infirm, on many occasions has her charity and kindness been shewn in a marked degree; she has also been for several years a firm supporter of the Sunday schools. The rejoicings on this occasion were not confined to outward show, hut through the kind- ness of the bride's family nearly every poor person of the town received a liberal supply of beef to commemorate the event. The children of the school were also treated with tea, plum-cake, and other necessaries, whilst about fifty of the principal tradesmen and other inhabitants were in- vited to dinners provided at the Whit" Hart and Hanbury Arms. At the latter repasts—after due justice had been done to the viands, which it is needless to say were got up by eacb host in a very superior style, and the cloth removed —the health of the Bride and Bridegroom was drunk amidst uproarious cheering, and many and ferveni wishes for their future prosperity were heartily expressed. During the evening the majority of the inhabitants wended their way to the Gold Croft," where stnirl men and women, young lads and lasses, indulged in various games and amusements until darkness set in. SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT PONTHEER TIN WORKS. On Friday, the 20th instant, an accident of a serious and fatal nature occurred at these works. It seems it has been the custom for many years to pile the iron used in the works against the outside of the building. On Friday last a very large quantity was so placed against the out- side of the shearing-house weight of the pile being probably from 60 to 100 tons. For some time, al- though how long does not appear, the wall hud been con- sidered unsafe, by reason of the great weight of iron con- tinually placed against it, but the manager's attention does not seem to have been drawn to the circumstance until the day of the accident, when a crack that had up- peared in the wall was shown to him. About five o'clock on Friday afternoon the wall fell in, and two men who were working inside were buried in the debris. They were after awhile extricated, and Thomas Jones, shearer, was taken out dead, having died while the men were getting the rubbish off him. The wall struck him on the lower portion of his back, knocking him against his shears until he rebounded from it, and became buried under the falling mass. The second man, William Lewis, who was working close to Jones, was struck down by a corner of the wall, and injured about the legs and hips, but not so severely but that he was able to give evidence at the inquest on Monday when the jury visited him for that purpose, he being still not able to leave his house. The inquest, as already stated, was held on Monday last at the Star Inn, before W. H. Brewer, Esq., and a respectable jury, Francis Moggridge, Esq., of the Caerleon Works, being foreman, at which the following evidence was adduced:— John M. Jones deposed: I am a tin-plate worker at Pontheer Works; I was at my work last week, and Thos. Jones, the deceased, told me that he was afraid the wall would fall, as the mortar was falling all along, and that it was on account of the weight of iron against it that the wall was giving way; be said he had told Mr. Francis, the manager, not to let the men put more iron against the wall, as it was giving way, but, notwithstanding, they con- tinued to put the iron, and every bar that was put caused the mortar to fall, and he was afraid to work there; where I was working—ten or twelve yards off-I was not afraid to work; but if I had to work where Joies did I should have been afraid; I have been working there three or four years it has always been the custom since I remember to place the iron against that wall; the conversation I had with Jones was about half an hour before the accident happened; I bad heard several of the men talking of the danger of the wall, and that it would be sure to fall; it was only on that day I heard the men talk of, the wall; the men put iron against the wall that day. Henrv Jones deposed: I am a tin-plate worker fit Pontheer; I went to work about two p.m. on Friday, the 20th instant; in about half an hour alter I went to work a man named James Morgan, who was standing by, told me it was not safe to work near the wall; I worked about at work there; he to) me it, n safe !owoil tlefe; that was about half-past three o clock; I was at work t'>1ere when the wall fell, and it enrae down suddenly, without any notice; I think there were about 60 or 100 tons of iron hearing against the wall when it fell; each bar averages 1 cwt,; the deceased told me that he had told Mr. Francis about it, and that Mr. Francis had said he would get iron put inside to support the wall. William Lewis deposed: I am a tin-plate worker at Pontheer; I was at work on Friday last; I was working about two or three yards from Thomas Jones; 1 was at tea, on the work, about four or five in the evening, and Thomas Jones said, "there is a big lump of mortar come down;" I said, "it is better to-go from here now in time;" be did not say anything in reply but kept at work, looking back often at the wall; in about ten minutes after "down it en me like a crack of thunder—all at once;" it knocked me down; I could hear Thomas Jones holloa out. but I could see nothing of him; I told Thomas Jones two or three davs before that the wall was too dangerous for us to be there; he said, perhaps it won't come down directly; I told Mr. Francis a few weeks ago that the wall was dangerous; he said a he didn't believe it would come down-" I thought there was too much iron against the wall outside—I told Mr. Francis so; I should think there was about 50 tons of iron anainst the wall: they were put- ting iron against the wall the day it fell; Thomas Jones told me that be bad complained to Mr. Francis about it two or three days before the accident. Edward Francis deposed I am manager of the Pontheer Tia Works; I have been manager for the past eleven i Tears; on the moraing of the accident, I was at my duties at the Works; end about twelve o'clock the deceased called my attention to the wall; he said that. there was some mortar falling, and that it would be well to put a prop up after he had finished; I told him it should be attended to: about half-p«st four in the evening the wall came down; William Lewis told me on the evening before on that morning that be saw the mortar falling, but he did not say anything before, neither did anyone else; saw on tho morning of the accident a crack in the wa an< pointed it out to Thomas Jones; he said it had always been there; there was about 25 or SO Mm of iron against the wall; I have tbe whole and sole control of the Works. After a long consultation the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," appending to their verdict, the following:—"And the jury consider hut a certain amount of neglect, was shown by the manager, Edward Francis, in not taking precautionary measures to guard against any accident- after his attention had been cruvvn to the unsafe condition of the wall that, fell." At the close of the inquest the jury made a collection for the widow aud family ot the deceased. PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, before the Rev. J WILLIAM POWELL, and JOHN JAMES, and F. J. MITCHELL, Epqrs. NEGLECTING WORK.— George was charged by Messrs. R. Roper and Co., of Cwmbran, with neglecting his work. Mr. Morgan (one of the managers of the works) attended to prostcute, and stated that in consequence 01 the neglect, of prisoner, the "blast" was off the two fur- naces for upwards of two hours, and he therefore desired to press the case so that an example might be set to the res; of the workmen. The prisoner was committed to Usk gaol for 21 days. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—William Cannon, hrael Lewis, and John Williams, were, charged with being drunk and disorderly at Cwmbran. Defendants sdl pleaded guilty, and were fined 5s. each. CAUTION TO TEAMSTERS.—Henry Jenkins, of Caerleon, was charged with riding on his timber carriage without J reins, in the parish of Llanvrechva. P.C. Howes proved the charge. Delendant's father appeared for him, and ■pleaded guilty, stating that it was the first time he had been summoned 'luring a period of forty years ho had b> en driving. The defendant was fined 10s. including costs. DESERTING SERVICE.— John Jones was charged by Charles Williams, of Tredunnock, wi ll leaving his s.-rjice us a farm servant before the time f"r which he had hired himsplf had expired. Complainant, si.tied that he engage defendant as a servant, from tbe 1sr, of May last, for tbf term of twelve months, and that he lc!t or. the 3w ° having previously offered a notice to bim, whic 1 jlinfi8nt to accept, as be had been engaged for a y<-ai. wat tec now stated that bis reason for leaving J serve bii more wages. He was ordered to go 'c time, and to pay 10s, costs. WAGES CASE.- William Evans, farmer, Tredunnoel- i ivas charged by James Cooke with refusing to pay him bis ivages, amounting to £ 2 2s. 4d. Complainant stated he mgaged to serve defendant, for a year at an annua) wage if £ 13 15s.; he wanted to leave, and gave notice; after the notice was up his master persuaded him to stay on for a short time; he agreed to stay on, but on the next day his master ordered him off, and refused to pay him his wages. Defendant said that complainant's corduct was disgraceful in the extreme; that he had threatened to smash his son's head, and he was afraid to keep him in the house, and that was the reason' he ordered him to go. The Bench told defendant he should have obtained a summons against L'omplainant if he was afraid of him, but that having ordered him away put an end to his agreement, and he must therefore pay the wages claimed, and complainant would have to pay the costs.

VARTEG HILL.

ABERSYCHAN.

SKENFRITH.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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