The Cardiff Times

^g=— THE great railway .It. Jt I.JiL-L 'f 'i -î. ACCIDENT U !L!L "<4 AT PONTYPRIDD. TWO PASSEKGERTRA1NS IN COLLISION. twelye liy.es lost. í.j .J! 1.J"j J.>.IÚ 50 PEOPLE^INJURED. DAMAGE TO ROLLING STOCK, STATEMENT BY THE SIGNALMAN". NARRATIVES OF SURVIVORS. [; R ;M Oem SPECIAL REPORTERS]. PO^TYTRIOD, SUNDAY. Telegrams despatched to different parts of the Country last night made known that a terrible Collision had occurred iu South Wales, and that a i»fgo number of people had been killed and in- jured. The Taff Vale Rail'-vay, so far-hmcl for Its safety and the high dividends paid by the com- pany to whomit belong, has during its existence enjoyed, up to Saturday, a perfect immunity from accidcats of serioin moment, and hones 15 is not a matter of wonder that the startling in- telligence that the fair reoutati m of the railway has been stained with an ugly blotch by the ter- rible c3currenc0 which happened 0:1 Saturday afternoon is received with a shock of surprise. Some little time since an article appeared in the Bouth Wales Daily News entitled Saturday night «u the Rhondda Valley." It described the val- ley as the busy hive of industry it is, and the banner in which Saturday is usually spent by the People living and working there. The popula- tion of the valley is large, but the number who Actually earn their livelihoods there is largely Swelled by hundreds of men who, on Monday, leave their homes iu different parts of the county —in Cardiff, Merthyr, and Swansea directions— and remain at their working places till Saturday, »hen they retain home to their wives and families and stay over the Sunday. Tho scene Saturday afternoons on the platform" of the _■ stations on the Taff V.do railway is a most ani- "toted one. There is usually a big crush for lIeats, and plenty of humour prevails, the jour- neys by the passengers being regarded as pleasure trip.1", with almost a certainty of no accident, so lUllCh reliance being placed on the arrangements and trustworthiness of the company's officials for the public safety. Within the last few months consi Icrable im- provements have been effected in the working of the Taff Vale Company's lines. An additional train is now run at mid-day, and the con- cession made by the company was regarded as a. toon by professional and commercial men. Then, Very recently, the vacuum breaks were attached to the trains running on the main line between hrcrfJyr and Cardiff, the rate of speed conse- quently being increased, and the journey got over io less time than heretofore. These late im- provements by the company have been very 8Uccessful, and, therefore, it is a matter for regret that so shortly after their introduction the terrible Satastrophe of yesterday should have occurred. HOW THE COLLISION OCCURRED. One branch of the Taff Vale Company s lines is known as the Cowbridge and Llantrisant Railway, by which a large number of market people travel to attend the various markets in the neighbour- hood. The train from Cowbridge on Saturday afternoon arrived via Treforest at Pontypridd in Perfect safety, and the whole of the passengers flighted, some waiting on tho platform, which is learly always crowded, for the down train to Cardiff others for the up train to Quaker's Yard and Merthyr, while a portion Were booked to stations on the Rhandda branch, between Pontypridd and Treherbert. A little above Pontypridd there is a cutting through the fountain on to the RhondJa branch, and it has been the practice for the Cowbridge trains, after being emptied of passengers, to shunt backwards through this cutting on to the Rhondda main line, and thus, without changing engines, the trains Were run back into the Pontypridd station ready for the return journey. But before entering on the Treherbert line it is understood that the drivers of trains should wait at the opposite end Df the cutting till they receive the signal that the down train from Treherbert has passed the cross- ing, and that everything is "right." Tor the Purpose of signalling there are two boxea the one Is known as the North Junction signal box, and the other as the Rhondda Junction signal box. The distance between the two boxes is something like a quarter of a mile, but the curve in the cutting is IUch a sharp one that the Cowbridge trains, when Shunting, cannot be seen from the Treherbert side till they are close to the crossing. Well, on Saturday afternoon the empty Cow- bridge train shunted back from the Ponty- pridd station into the cutting-, and waited there for the signal to go through. That signal, so the officials in charge of the train say, was duly given, and the shunting towards the Treherbert main line was continued, and just after the train passed round the bend of the sharp curve, and the foremost break van was just about entering on to the main line, the heavily-laden passenger down train from Treherbert, going along at a speed estimated at about 10 miles an hour, was observed to be passing along the rails. It was seen that a collision was inevitable, and the eye-witnesses lay that owing to the rapidity of events it was Impossible to avert it. Immediately afterwards there was a cmsh and a banging, piece3 of timber flying about in all directions, while the fearful shrieks of the affrighted and injured passengers tvere something terrible to hear. The work of destruction was quickly over, and the loud and tvild noises attending the collision were soon hashed, and gave place to the subdued conversa- tion of a noble band of willing helpers who set to frork removing the dead, the dying, and the Injured. THE TEARFUL SCENES. I happened to be travelling from Cardiff by the Afternoon train, and at Pontypridd heard of the terrible catastrophe immediately after its occur- rence. The line between the scation and the Cutting on the Treherbert side was then lovered with people, men, women, and children, who were in the ill-fated train from Treherbert. Some had broken legs and arms, while a large lumber had received terrible injuries about the head, others having received internal injuries. Those of the poor creatures who were able walked to the station, and the others were carried. Amongst those I noticed being assisted away was Mr James Richards, grocer and draper, of ^reforest, and a poor lad named Thomas Henry Rogers, of Tonypandy, who was feurraily bruised And cut, the blood streaming down his face, which ^as of marble whiteness, and actually through his clothes, presenting a most ghastly s'ght. But the-Q many more ghastly sights to bo witnessed. OL one side of the line was a very rcapectably Pressed young woman. She, poor thing, had sus- tained injuries and a fracture of the leg, and the lamentable moans she uttered, when being carried b. the arms of two stalwart men, were distressing to hear. I observed she wore deep mourning, "Which, perhaps, had only recently been donned for some deceased relative. Then tiiere was an old Woman over sixty years of age. Sne was 1> ing an "iiie ground with her leg smashed, And though as she lay there with her grey hair tossed about by the breeze, "he looked a pitiful object,yet the fortitude she dis- played in the midst of her great pain wa3 some- thing wonderful. But the most horrifying scene was that directly On the spot where the accident took place. The first thing I saw on arriving there W:\3 a man stooping-down and picking from under one of the Carriages a woman's head It was covered, so far is I could see, with luxuriant black hair, which ihen was matted with dark clots of blood. The to an carefully caught hold of the head ov the hair, ind holding it aloft in order that it might not stain the clothes of those who were present wit- nessing the terrible sight, carried it to a plot of JTrass, on which lay the trunk of the poor woman. Lying on the grass, in all shapes and forms, ft'ere a motley group of injured people. Mr Thomas, Iniglish Baptist preacher, of Forth, lay there with a leg cut off. The poor fellow was bolstered up, and everything done to relieve him. His head had been shockingly battered, and he bad sustained injuries internally. "While in such condition lie gave a piteous glance on the spec- tacle around, but to the nur.e who afterwards tended him unceasingly- at the hospital, he said it was the Lord's will, I and after a short time he breathed his last. Several dead bodies were laid out on tho grass, I and a number of men exerted themselves to re- move those who were lying under the debris. This done, they were removed on stretchers improvised from the wrecked carriages and conveyed to the Pontypridd Infirmary. Many persons who were only slightly injured proceeded on their way to Cardiff and Merthyr, but those badly hurt were tent to the Infirmary, and some of them later on I io the institution at Cardiff. A number of trolleys ifere employed to fetch the injured trom the icene of the collision to Pontypridd. There were toany fearful spectacles directly after the collision. 5Vith a general sweep the cra-h came, and with i:t!e fell blow the passengers of four or five car- rage3 were thrown on to the ground in one con- fusel mass, a mixture of injured and dying per- sons. One unfortunate man lay under a wheel cf sons. One unfortunate man lay under a wheel cf one of the wrecked carriages, moaning pitifully, and with a frenzied effort ever and anon pulling with all his strength to ease himself of the burden which lay heavily upon him, the rescuing party working with a will, and encouraging the poor victim with expressions of a hopeful and encouraging nature. Alas! however, the efforts of the zealous band were unavailing, and by the time the broken wheels were lifted from their position the victim lay dead, life having just previously departed. With sorrowful hearts the rescuers raised the bodies from amidst the wreck, and one by one they were care- fully and tenderly hoisted on to th;" stretchers 111 waiting, and conveyed to the dead house at the union. Five bodies were thus discovered,and considering the terrible crash that had taken piace, it was with a feeling of relief that those on the spot raised the fifth body,in the hope that they had seen the last victim of the disaster. THE EFFECT OF TilE COLLISION. So destructive was the effect of the collision that it is really a matter of the greatest surprise that more were not killed outright. When the Tre- herbert train was passing over the crossing the break-van of the Cowbridge train seems to have first come into contact with the footboards of the break-van of the Treherbert train, pieces of wood b ung carried away. The fury of the collision seems to have been principally centred in the second carriage from the break-van, and then on successively till it had spent itself on four or five carriages. The havoc done was something posi- I tively astounding, indeed it was of a nature very rarely witnessed in the ordinary run of railway collisions. The machinery, with the exception of the wheels I have already referred to, escaped almost intad, but the carriaees'proper received the severest brunt of the shock. It is a. melancholy contemplation that the unfortunate people who I have fallen victims to this sad disaster are principally of tho small trading and working classes, and hence the suffering and poverty which must naturally follow in the wake of the occur- rence must be most intense and severe. But to describe the wreck wrought by the collision. describe the wreck wrought by the collision. The carriages, under the force of the concussion, gave way like tinder wood, crushing between the sides the human beings who, a minute or two before, were filled with joyous anticipations of meeting with blood relations and friends. The smoking carriage, of three distinct compartments, was, as usual, well filled with passengers, and on this particular carriage the crash came with dircfui results. The topmost part of the carriage, :80..t8, sides, roof, and all were swept clean on to the line, leaving nothing remaining but the bare platform standing on the wheels. The immediate adjoining carriages, though not sustaining such total destruction, were completely wrecked, and reduced to a perfect state of ruiu. The centre of the train, in fact, directly after the collision, presented a complete chaos of confusion, and the scene, with the mournful cries of the sufferers, threw a gloom over the large assemblage of men, women, and children who, fearful of the safety of friends, had rushed pell-mell to the spot to either receive information of them, or to dissipate their foars. The collision in its immediate result was ccr- tainly more fearful to witness than the late col- liery explosion at Abercarne. There, wera to be seen but a few dead bodies, while here it was my melancholy duty to gaze upon numbers of unfortunate fellow creatures who were slowly passing from this world into another, while others were struggling in spasms of pain, which racked the body and convulsed the frame. Limbs twisted like cords, heads nearly severed from the bodies, fractured skulls, and internal injuries. These were the horrible sights presented to the view. THE OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF THE TRAINS. The guard of the Cowbridge train was Henry Wood, the driver was John Morgan, who is known as Happy Jack," his stoker being Morgan Au- brey, The breaksrnan's name was Peter Thomas. In the train from Treherbert—the guard was George Harlow, driver David Thomas, breaks- men John Wi'cox and Thomas Roberts. NARRATIVE OF JOHN MORGAN. J ahn Morgan, when interrogated, said I shunte:1 back from the Pontv- pridd Station into the cutting and there waited for the signal. This we had from tho signal-box in charge of Roberts. We dare not go forward unless we have the signal from him, and we could not do so unless the points were changed by him. If we had not received the word "right" from Roberts we should have stayed dot the entrance of the cutting. We were shunting from the North Rhondda to the Rhon- dda Junction signal-box, where we should enter on the main line from Treherbert straight for Pon iypridd. EVIDENCE OF AN ETE-WITNE33. John Snooks, haulier at the Great Western Colliery, which is in the neighbourhood of the collision, in answer to questions put to him by me, said When at work I suddenly heard the danger whistles of both engines sound, and I heard them reversing the engines, and at once ran down and then saw the horrible sight of the poor mangled and dying people. I was told that the guard of the Treherbert train, on seeing that the collision could not be avoided, jumped from his van, and in doing so fell under it. I never saw such a fearful sight in my life, nor so much blood and mangling of limbs before. A lad named Thomas, who was employed in the works near by, says he heard a feariul crash, and on going to the spot saw men and women huddled together, and the screams and the moaning were something fearful." ARRIVAL OF BREAKDOWN GANGS. Of the officials of the TatI Vale railway who were amongst the first on the scene of the collision We may mention Mr Hurman, traffic superintend- ent Mr Price, station master at Pontypridd Mr Jones, of Perth Mr Hughes, inspector; and Mr Meyrick, inspector. Later on in the evening Mr C. H. Williams, of Roath Court, one of the directors, and Mr H. O. Fisher, the superintendent of the permanent way and works department, arrived. The telegraph was immediately put into operation, and>-s the result, in what seemed to me an amazingly short period of time, breakdown gangs arrived from all parts of the railway by special trains. Not a moment was lost after the collision, and I unhesitatinodv sav that every piaise iS'ctue to tne oincials of the company for the expeditions manner in which operations were carried -out with the object of clearing the Rhondda Valley line, which, of course, was blocked. The men forming the breakdown gangs worked with a will, and in a short period of time their efforts were crowned with success. THE SIGNALMAN ON THE TREHERBERT LINE INTERVIEWED. The signalman stationed at the box almost opposite the crossing where the collision occurred has given me the following narrative. His name is Stephen Ellis, and from what I gathered I took him to be a very intelligent man. Ho did not dis- play the slightest hesitation in giving me the de. tails of the collision so far as he was acquainted with them. He said The train from Treherbert arrives at my box at 4.15 p.m.It is my duty to signal to the North Rhondda signal-box wdien the passenger train passes, so that the empty train from Cowbridge may follow behind, and rundown into the Pontypridd Station. The train from Treherbert arrived punctually at the time, but I had not given the signsl to the othei box that it had parsed when the Cowbridge train came in sight. Shunting backwards towards the main liue,on which the Treherbert train was pass- ing at the ti :ne,the break van came in contact with I it, The collision must have occurred through a mistake by the signalman at the other end of the cutting. It is a fearful affair, but I am thankful that I am not responsible for it. Air Hurman has written the following on my book (which contain the times when the trains during the day arrive) II Ellis, after the collision, stated that Roberts, the other signalman, stated that he was at the bottom of the steps leading to his box.and thought be heard the signal for the train to go through." The Rhondda. train started from Treherbert at 3.35 and was passing at my box at 4.15. The other train started from Cowbridge at 2.15 and is timed to arrive at Pontypridd at 4.13 p. ni. DESCRIPTION OF THE CUTTING AND SPEED OF THE TRAINS. The cutting through which the Cowbridge train was shunting was made, I believe, with the view of further facilitating the great mineral traffic on the Taff Vale Railway. It is about a quarter of a mile in length, and has a gradient, it being marked at the highest point at one in 2i0. While I cannot give a positive statement as to the speed of the trains at the time of the collision, I have heard it estimated that the Cowbridge train when shunting was proceeding at a rate of, perhaps, five miles an hour, while the Treherbert train might he going at the rate of 10 miles an hour. It should be borne in mind that the latter was slackening speed previous to entering the Ponty- pridd station. THE CAUSE 0: THE ACCIDENT—WILLIAJI ROBERTS, SCONALJfAN, INTERVIEWED, It is a melancholy satisfaction that no doubt whatever exists as to the cause of this terrible railway disaster. It was a mistake by the signal- man, William Roberts, and a more unfortunate one has never been committed. It is not for me to state whether Roberts has been guilty of culp- able negligence. That will be for the jury to decide. At the same time, however, Roberts is anxiou3 not to cover over one single incident, and with this in view he gave me a lengthy statement in reference to his connection with the collision. Robert has been in the service of the Taff Vale Railway Company ever since 1814, and for 25 years was signalman at the Cardiff docks. H0 was afterwards stationed at Llandaff, where he lost one of his legs by being run over by a goods truck. Later on he did duty at Llantrisant, and for over two years he has been at his present post. He has always been known as a. remarkably steady mon, and great sympathy is felt for him in his present trouble. He occupies a neat little cottage, situated on the top of a steep hill, and quite isolated from any other habitation. His habitation is sur- rounded by a spacious flower and vegetable garden, which I noticed was in the highest state of culti- vation. Indeed, the place impressed me as being the residence of a happy iamily. Looking in at the open door I saw two neatly attired little children standing by the side of a chair, on which sat Roberts's wife bowed down with grief. On hearing his name called, Roberts came to the door, and after one or two preliminary observations he said :— The Cowbridge train came to a stop opposite the signal box,and I went down the steps to speak to the driver. When I was at the bottom of the stairs 1 could have sworn that I heard the bells ring, and I cried out to the driver "right." The train went away, and I went into my box. When there I found that the needle had not turned round, in fact that the signal for the train to proceed was never given. I ran out and cried out, but by that time the train was out of sight, and I could do nothing. Speaking with great emphasis, Roberts continued, I was perfectly confident when I told the driver to proceed that I heard the signal. On going up afterwards, however, I saw my error. I do not want to implicate anybody, for it was my fault, and nobody elie's. Roberts, whose voice was at intervals choked wifh convulsive sobs, and while the tears streamed down hid cheeks, continued I am a named 'man, I know. I do not care for myself, but it is 8Y wife and children (here casting an anxious glance I at those he was referring to) that I care for. I have always tried to live respectably, and to brhig- my children up properly. But above all what gives me the most trouble is the lives that are lost—lives that cannot be recovered. It kills me to think of it. God knows that I would not have harmed a hair of their heads, poor creatures. [Here the tears fell thick and fast.1 I have had lots of trouble in my life, but I have not known what real trouble was until yesterday and to-day. Mr Hurman sympathised with me last night in a very kin lly spirit. God knows that my conscience is clear. I made the miabake.and I am willing to stand by it. I have children, two little ones at home and two daughters who are married. One is under the Bute at Cardiff, and the other is married to a fireman at Ferndale. I am overwhelmed with trouble to-day, can neither git nor stand with comfort, and I feel ashamed to meet with anybody. I expect I shall have to suffer imprisonment for this. What I have to deal with now is the Board of Trade. I Roberts seemed to feel a relief in thus express- ing his feelings, and the poor fellow in parting with us retired inside the cottage to his mourning family. MEDICAL AID TO THE INJURED. The Injured, as they lay .on the railway banks, were attended to by medical men from Pontypridd and the Rhondda Valley. Splinters and other medical appliances were freely used, and the doctors had their hands full for some time. The gentlemen who tended the sufferers, both on the snot and at the Union Infirmary, were Dr Hopkins, Dr Davies, Cymmer; Dr Price, Tre- orky; Dr Idris Davies, Ystrad Dr Morgan, Treorky; DrRecs, Treherbert; DrDiuon, Pontypridd; Dr Jones, Pandy; Dr Leckie, Pontypridd; Dr Lewis, Cymmer Dr Davies, Llantrisant; Dr Nauntou Davies, Llantrissant and Dr M'Loghlin, Pontypridd, Dr Vnchell and Dr Hardyman arrived from Cardiff, and assisted in removing some of the injured to the Cardiff Infirmary, for which purpose special trains were provided by the Taff Vale Company. CLEARING THE LINE. With the exception of the break van, which was completely wrecked and thrown off the line, the Cowbridge train escaped with very slight injury. So rapid was the work of clearing the line done, that before half-past six o'clock the debrishadbeenremoved. Owingtothefactthat the'machinery of the carriages was not materially damaged, the officials were enabled to remove the wreck almost bodily, and place it on a siding, where it remained till this morning, when it was conveyed, I believe, to Cowbridge. LIST OF THE DEAD. As I have already mentioned, five dead bodies were carried to the dead-house at the union. During last night 110 less than six of the injured persons taken to the hospital expired, and one poor fellow named Ratigan, of G7, High-street, Pontypridd, died when being conveyed by train to Cardiff. Thus the deaths have reached the number of 12. Appended is the list;— Evan Owen Davies, aged 33, tailor and draper, 29, Elizabeth-street, Dowlais, married.- David Thomas, 50, Baptist minister, Porth, married, and several children. John Jones, 21, collier, Treallaw, single. r Thomas Philip Clarke. 35, telegraph lineman, 16, Silver-street, Cardiff, married. Sarah Thomas, 70, wife of James Thomas, shoe- maker. Phssbe James (Gl), 19, St. Joun-streot, Aber- dare, married. David Davies (53), boiler maker and grocer, J Aberdare. David Lloyd, mason, Porth, married. I John Davies, Hafod (2.1), collier, single, Jeremiah Parry, collier, Heolfach (47), married, and Mary Ann Parry (his wife), aged 45. Patrick Ratigan, 67, High-street, Pontypridd. THE INJURED. So great was the excitement immediately after the collision that several persons, who were but slightly injured, got away before their names were known. Police-sergeant Jones was actively engaged during last night in obtaining the names, and so far the list is as follows:— AT THE WELSH HARP, PONTYPRIDD. I Daniel Walters, collier, married, Llwynpia, working at Treallow, both legs broken. David Thomas and I ifiwenllian Thomas, husband and wife, Ton, TSrcrad. The man's arms, back, and left leg are injured the woman has a wound on the right side of the head.and the left leg is injured. Rees John, collier, Ton Ystrad, badly shaken AT THEIR HOME3. Charles Dolington, 20, Mill-street, Pontypridd, mason, teeth and head injured. Henry Williams, painter, Coed Peumaen, leg and arms injured. Elizabeth Thomas, Ystrad, single, head injured. John Beard, married, quarryman, Tram-road, Pontypridd, head cat and body bruised. Georgo Higgs,32, Beiw-road, Pontypridd, mar. ried, both thighs badly; bruised. AT THE UNION. Iago Lewis, Treherbert, single, wound in right leg and other injuries. George Parker, LlantrisBant-road, Pontypridd, married, right leg jammed and body slightly in- jured. Evan Williams, 27, Square-street, Ystrad, single, both legs broken, and eye injured. Tom, or William Cross, married, 3, James'- place, Treforest, labourer, right leg broken. John Evans, platelayer, Porth, married, both legs broken, thighs and back badlv injured. S. W. Swain, 33, Meteor-street, Cardiff, tele- graph lineman, both legs broken, ribs, hands, and head injured very badly. This poor fellow was in a very precarious condition on Sunday morning. John Manning, labourer, Stormstown, Ponty- pridd, married, knee and chest in in red. Sarah Griffiths, married, 25, High-street, Swan- sea, leg broken helow the knee and body injured, George Karslick, builder, Penygraig, left leg off below the knee. Edwin Jones, collier (ID), Hoclfach, both legs broken and spine injured. William Morris, 16, collier (17). Square-street, Ystrad, body and legs bruised. Charles Cook, miner, Pontypridd, single. This unfortunate fellow is a resident of Burton, in Somerset, and came to Pontypridd only three days before the accident. Ho has sustained in juries to his left eye and legs. William James Parry (13), collier, Gelly Ystrad, legs and head bruised. Jonn Morgan, single, Tonypandy, left leg off below kneee. David Davier, boiler maker, Bond-street, Aber- dare. fracture of thigh. William Jones, Heolfach (13), bruises on back, and side hurt. James Williams, masoa, 15, Yny cynon-street, Aberdare, married, le-s, chest, and head bruised. William Evans, collier, single. Raes-street, Treallaw, right leg broken and face injured. William Jones (24), timberman, De Winton- street, Tonypandy, both legs broken. Thomas Jones, tailor and draper, 27, Mary- street, Dowlais, rigbt leg bruised. Henry Miles, Mountain Ash, married, moulder, left leg brokan and face iniured. Catherine Phillips, wife" of David, a collier at Gilfach Goch, cut on right leg, and left bruised. .J AT THE LAMB INN, I OXTYPRIDD. Thomas Ilarries. Ystrad. man-ied collier, left leg broken It can be fairly estimated that altogether up- wards of 5D persons,beside3*the dead, were injured. THE SCINE AT THE WORKHOUSE. Outhe arrival of the injured at the workhouse, where they were placed on beds in the wardg and attended by tno mcaicai geuUeioeii, wno were assisted by a number of voluntary nurses. The work of amputating limbs, and bandaging broken heads, arms, and legs, occupied a considerable time. A.t intervals could be heard the tramp aions the badges of the men ^carrj'injj. the body of a snŒerer who had breathed his last, and occa- sionally an agonised sob from a relative of an injured one re-echoed through the wards, and added to the ghastliness of the proceeding;. A DEATH BED SCENE. Mr Thomas, the Baptist Minister, of Port ■, who has lost his life, leaves a widow and several children. At the time of the collision he was travelling to Hengoed, where he was to have preached to-day. When dying, his bed was sur- rounded by the Rev J. Williams, Carrnsl English Baptist, Pontypridd; Rev William Thomas, Welsh Baptist minister: Mr John Crockett, Mr James Edwards, and M'rs Chene. Mr Francis Crawshay, of Treforest, rendered considerable assistance in attending to the injured. THE TRAITIC ON THE UNE. Notwithstanding that the afternoon passenger ttains and the mineral trains to Merthyr and Cardiff were delayed, the whole of the traffic was got through last night, and the line was, to all intents and purposes, as though nothing so terrible as the collision had taken place. This morning,after a few splinters had been picked up and some ballast thrown down no traces what- ever were left of the disaster. A STRANG'S DHEAJI BY ROBERíS S WIFE. Roberts, the signalman, in giving me the narra- wliich I have already given, said It is a matter that I cannot understand, but it was only on Saturday morning my wife sail she had been dreaming dreadful things about me, that the train had left the line next to the embankment there (pointing to the cutting down iuthe Valley), and that I was in fearful trouble. PONTYPRIDD, SUNDAY NIGHT. VISIT TO THE SICK WARDS OF THE WORKHOUSE. The wards of the workhouse are now rdmost filled with the sufferers from the collision. The wards present a ghastly appearance from the large quantity of bluod that has escaped from the sufferers. All of them are so much injured that they have not been stripped, but are left on the beds in their clothes. Nearly all of them are much bruised about the face, and others have their heads cut, and all are bandaged in different parts. The dead are still more ghastly to look at. The upper portion of two of the bodies is concealed by a cloth, the heads of each being detached from the bodies. From an early hour hundreds of persons surrounded the entrance to the workhouse. They had relatives and friends, either dead or injured, inside. Superintendent Matthews placed several police officers by the gates to prevent a forcible entry to the workhouse, from the anxiety of those outside to see their friends. The medical men were all in attendance on Sunday morning, and carefully examined the sufferei-3 with Dr. Hopkins. After they had been attended to, Dr. Hopkins gave permission for their more immediate rela- tives to see them. The interviews in some cases were of a painful character, but the most painful scenes were witnessed. A young woman, named Anne Parry was sitting outside crying bitterly. She had lost father and mother. The father of John Davie was also bemoaning his sad fate. He, it appeared, had come in the train making a kind of pleasure visit to Pontypridd. Mr Thomas Phillip Clarke, of Meteor-street, Cardiff, was em- ployed by the Cardiff Telegraph Office. He came from Gloucester on Tuesday to Cardiff, where there was a vacancy on the staff, and on Satur- day afternoon, in company with Mr S. M. Swayne, of the Cardiff Telegraph Office, he went to Porth to repair one of the telegraph machines at the Post Office. Both were returning to Car- diff by the four o'clock train, and were sitting in the same compartment of the carriage. Clarke was subsequently found on the platform of the station with his head hanging over, the neck having been dislocated by the falling of same heavy portion of the carriage. Swayne was extricated from the timber severely injured, and almost past recovery, Mr Swayne and Mr Clarke are welhknown in the town and neighbourhood, having been connected with the telegraph department for some time. ^2 NARRATIVE OF ONE WHO ESCAPED. Matthew Kerslalce, a carpenter and contractor, living at Penygraig, Tonypandy, was next visited by me. He had escaped without a bruise. He said I was'going to Pontypridd with my brother, George Kerslake, who is a carpenter, working with me. We had some money to pay to some men at Pontypridd. As near as I can remember I and my brother were sitting opposite each other ina third class carriage, about the third or fourth from the engine. We were talking to each other, v, hen I heard the engine whistle, blow very sharply twice, and I said to my brother George, I think there is something wrong, or they would not blow that whistle so." At the same moment I heard a crash in front of me, then a shaking, and our carriage rose up, the front part came in,and I was knocked spouseless on the floor of the carriage. In two or three minutes I found myself in the middle of the line, clear of the down line. The carriage in which I had been sitting was broken to pieces, I and had gone on several yards, and when I crept out of the pieces of broken wood I saw that the train was still on the move, but looked bent and doubled up, and off the rails. I looked up and down the line but saw no one for a few minutes, except those who were in the carriages, and who were unhurt, and these were screaming with fright. I turned back to look at the train, when I saw may brother try- ing to get from among some of the broken car- riages. The pieces of carriages were strewed all about the line, roofs, seats, sides, and doors were mingled together, some of the pieces looking like matchwood. When I eaw my brother he was about 12 or 15 yards off me. I went to him, and found that he had had his thigh broken,and it was only hanging by a piece of skin. I helped him on to a piece of plank, and then started to procure so:ne water. On my way down I saw a large number of the killed and wounded lying on the ground, Some were groaning, others were per- fectly quiet. They were in all positions, sitting and lying, some doubled up, a "d one man had had his head cut oS'. It was an awful sight and the shrieks and groans made it ten times worse. I cal- led to some men: who were near, and we put my brother on a piece of broken carriage and fetched him some water. By this time there were numbers of people on the spot, and I had great difficulty in holding the jug of water as several persons were trying to get it from me to give to others who were calling for water. I washed my brother's forehead, gave him some water to drink, and then with the others lifted him un, and brought him to the White Hart Hotel. I saw Dr Thomas on the way, and he told me to take my brother to the hotel. I afterwards saw Dr Hopkins, and he ordered him to be taken to the infirmary at the workhouse. My opinion is that the break-van of the Cowbridge train struck the first or second carriage of. the Rhondda train obliquely, driving them off the rails, and cutting them up like matchwood. There were only about four of the carriages of the Rhondda train smashed, and those were in the middle. I think the train must have gone 15 or 20 yards after I felt the shock before I was thrown out, but I heard the cutting up of the carriages. My brother was the first one that came out from under the braken carriage.^ but others followed very soon. r NARRATIVE OF A SUFrTR"R. William James Parry (23), Up >er-row, Gellv Ystrad, one of the inmates of the Pontypridd Workhouse Infirmary, said I left Ystrad on Sa- turday afternoon, for a stroll to Pon'typridd. I bad some companions with me, and we were sit- ting in a third-class carriage, near the middle of the train. I did not hear a whistle or notice any- thing until I felt a shook, nnd then there was a grating and smashing of the carriages in front of me. Our carriage was all smashed in an instant and I was thrown out, receiving a number of contusions. When I got up I had no recollection for a time, but I remember hearing shrieks and groans around me. I was placed on a stretcher, and brought to the Infirmary. I never saw the Cowbridge train, but felt the carriage in front running buck on to our carriage and crushing it. It was smashed to atoms, and all the occupants were pushed out in some way on to the ground, and partly covered with broken pieces of the top and side of the carriage falling on them. THE DEATH OF THE REV D. THOMAS. The Rev Mr Williams sayH that the Rsv D. Thomas,of Portll, bare his dreadful suffarings with the greatest fortitude. Seeing his dying friend, Mr Williams said, Is Jesus with you at this solemn hour ?" A faint smile irradiated MrThomas's countenance for a moment, and he expired. [BY TRLEriRAPH.1 PONTYPRIDD, Sunday, 8 p.m.—Since the dis- patch of my first parcel I have learned that Swain, tho telegraph lineman, whose injuries were such as rendered his case a serious one, is slightly bettt r, and he is apparently on the way to recovery. Mrs Coop, of the Welsh Harp, was an eye witness to the collision. Living close by she had occasion to go out on the line. She says the screaming and groaning which followed the crash was too horrible to be described. She next saw a man named Charles Donington running towards her with blood etreaming from his mouth. It was freely reported that the young man named Walters, whose legs are fractured, had died in the afternoon, but on enquiring at the Welsh Harp, where he lay, I learned that ho was cheerful and making fair pro- gress. The Rev E. Roberts, of the T-i.bernp.cle the Rsv. S. J. Morris, Sardis I add the Rev Rowland Jones, Vicar of St Catherines, made reference to the accident in the course of their sermons to-day. The last-named gentleman spoke at great length, and the congregation seemed greatlv impressed, CARDIFF. [FROM OUR CARDIFF REPORTER.] I was one of a small but very anxious crowd of men which collected on the Taff Vale platform to meet the 8 p.m. down train to-night. rI\1:111Y were anxious to get if that were possible a list of the dead and wounded but no one was in possession of any specific information. Inside the spacious offices of the company the heads of a few depart- ments were present, wearing a serious air. Tney were w illing to give any possible information, but had none to give, at least none which could be depended upon. Doors opened and. shut a chief clerk or two flitted mysteriously about the deserted, building and from the telegraph room the mys- terious tick-tick-ticking of the instrument could be heard delivering its message of woe. By-and-bye the expected train became due. and everybody went out to meet it. It was the ordinary train, but how extraordinary were the circumstances under which it was received show how different was its burden to that which it usually bore. The platform by this time was filled with people, who, formed into little groups, discussed in low voices the sad event while here and there somebody who professed to have gleaned some information retailed it to eager knots of listeners. At last the train was signalled, and soon came gliding into the station. It was a long train, and every carriage, as it passed, was scanned by curious eyes. Mr W. Done Bushell, I should here remark, had made every preparation that wa, possible for the comfort of any hopeless sufferers who might be brought to Cardiff. Every- thing was leady at the infirmary for the reception of patients, and for their conveyance thither.' Mr Bushell, as soon as the train came to a halt, spoke to the guard, who made the significant remark, In the next van, sir," To the next van we all moved on. This was the ordinary luggage van, and when the doors wcAi opened, there was disclosed, comfort- ably supported on pillows, the re- cumbent figure of a man, stretched at full length. Around the door the people gathered and expressions of sympathy fell from every lip. Under the direction of Mr Bushellthe poor fellow was placed tenderly on a stretcher, and the crowd having been ordered to stand aside, four men bore their melancholy bur- den along the platform to the infirmary. The helpless victim was nearly dead. His face, deathly rale and haggard; excited a sense of general compassion. In the station yard, outside, ,3, largfe crowd had assembled, for by this time the news had spread, and as the porters pursued their way to the Infirmary, they had to pass through a throng of spectators. Unhappily, just after they arrived within the door of the Infirmary, the man whom they carried heaved his la.st sigh and died. Around the Infirmary gate was a group of people. Another crowd besieged the private entrance to the Taff Vale offices, while the approaches to the station and the yard itself were nearly filled with gossips, and people waiting for farther information. It was known that a special train was to come down at 9 p.m with some wounded, and its arrival was anxiously awaited. In the meantime people came to the doors to get a. list of the dead. That could not, however, be given. Well," said said one excited querist, I "can you tell me whether there are any first- class passengers injured?" "I think not, sir," was the reply, and then the man added, "I be- lieve they are all third-class." The gentleman to whom he spoke said he had been telegraph- ing repeatedly to a friend who was thought to have been in the train, but could get no reply. Amongst the crowd was a youth of something like 1G years old. He had been in the train at the time of the collision, and escaped without a scratch. But his mother and brother were hurt, the mother badly. These three came down to Cardiff in the after- noon train. This youth was in a state of intense mental excitement. He declared to a group of listeners that he saw large numbers of bodies laid out dead and dyina-. His story was that when the collision occurred he and a young woman who was in the carriage with him were thrown bodily out of the carriage, which was smashed; that 14 or 15 carriages were knocked all to atoms that the tops of the carriages were knocked off to allow two passengers to escape that he helped several people out. He wound up with a mighty sensational statement. These re- ports spread amongst the crowd, and the number of killed, which had been put at eight to ten, with 30 injured, suddenly swelled to 150 killed and wounded. Of course these were clearly exaggerations, but they passed from mouth to mouth like the rest of the stray gossip. At length the special arrived, and after a painful suspense, another poor fellow was borne along shoulder high through the crowd. He looked ghastly pale, and it was said that both his legs were broken, but he could be heard breathing heavily, as he was carried along. Close beside him walked a woman and a child moaning and sobbing piteously, while the harsh screaming of steam whistles made a discordant accompaniment to the sad spectacle. Through the crowded street the poor fellow was carried and placed in the infir- I mary. where ne received every care that medical skill and good nursing could accomplish. Although it was given out that no more trains would arrive that night, the people still lingered, discussing the bits pf news which they had been able to pick up, and eagerly debating the causes of the accident, and opening up the all-important point—" Who is to blame ?" EXTRAORDINARY COINCIDENCES. Two rather extraordinary coincidences are re- ported. Just about the time the catastrophe occurred the immunity from accident of the Taff Vale Company was the theme of eloquent re- mark at the Penarth banquet, in which Lord Windsor took a prominent part. It is related of Mr Clarke, one of the killed, that he called on Mr Hurman, at the Taff Vale Offices, on Saturday forenoon. Mr Hurman. suffering from a bad cold, casually remarked that nothing would bring him out of the house on Sunday. "I know what would bring you out," said Mr Clarke—" a smash or a collision." The collision came sure enough, and Mr Clarke was a victim. INCIDENTS. Several of the passengers in the Treherbert train say that they saw the Cowbridge train com- ing into them, but there was no way of escape in- deed, had there been, there was no time to do so. It is stated that one young mar. squeezed him- self through the window frame and escaped with but slight injuries. The carriage which received the great force of the collision wrs a third-class smoking. Both the engines of the trains were reversed, and I have heard some people say that had it not been for the prompt action taken by the driver of the Treherbert train, the result would have been still mue serious. The vacuum break was not on the Treheroert train. MEKTHYR. [FROM OUR MERTHYR PE^ORTER.] News of the terrible accident reached "Merthyr at a few minuths before fiVf o clock, and, as such ill-tidings spread with extraordinary rapidity, the most exaggerated reports as to the total loss of killed injured being circulated. The immunity which the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany has had of railway accioents of any serious moment made many douofnl of the sad new_<, but the doubt did not last long, as repeated tele- crams placed the matter beyond question that a terrible catastrophe had, for the first time in the history of the Taff Vale Iladway, occurred. On Saturday evenings the streets of Merthyr are generally crowded, and as the intelligence became known, the vicinity of the Great Western Rail- way Station was thronged with a most ex- cited crowd. The Cardiff train, due at five, was anxiously awaited, the assembled thousands hoping that with it there would be some that could give some reliable information as to the accident. This train was au hour late. Four killed, w ith a dozen or so injured, was the report brought up, and for a time it tended to aliay the great excik- ment which prevailed. Since, the great depression in tmde,aud the Etoppage.or only partial working, of many collieries ill the Merthyr district, the colliers have gone to work in the Rhondda. still keeping their homes at Merthyr, and returning to their wives and little ones on Saturday afternoons or evenings. As might naturally be expected, such people became greatly alarmed that near and dear ones might be among the unfortunate ones who were injured, and gathered near the station patiently waiting fur information. The excitement did not abate for a considerable time after the eight, o'clock train arrived, which it did with its accustomed punc- tuality, conveying amongst its passengers a young I man named John Roberts, residing iCL Brecon- street, Dowlais. This poor fellow had been terribly injured about the face, which was so bandaged up that he had to bo led from the train to the 'bus. Mr E. Clay, the Taff Vale Company's superintendent at Merthyr, Was in at- tendance, and kindly saw that the poor fellow was not only 1roperly taken care of, but safely placed I in the 'bus to be taken home. Several medical men were on the platform nt the arrival of both of the trains, ready, were their services required, to attend to those injnred ones who might come that way. With the above exception, however, no injured persons came to Merthyr, axd we have failed to learn that there are any from this district among the injured. One poor man, named Evan Davie-, a tailor at Dowlais, is said to be among the killed, Daviesleaves a wife and I five children, and the greatest conimisei-ation is felt for the widow and bereaved little ones. J A gentleman who was in the train, but escaped without the slightest injury beyond a shake, des- r cribes the scene immediately after the I collision as truly heartrending, and which f can never be effaced from his me- mory. He was sitting iu a carriage 'j at the rear of the train when he experienced an unusual jerk when near the bridge close to the I station. He instantly looked out of the window, and the harrowing scene presented itself to him of carriages shattered to pieces, and their occupants, dead and dyiuir. buried beneath tha debris. The | excitement of not only the men, but women, was something tenible, he states the shrieks of the women and the moans and appeals of the injured being heartrending. NARROW ESCAPES. A Central News' telegram states that there were several remarkable escapes. A Mr Fraser, of Merthyr, was in a compartment where two passengers were killed, and yet he escaped quite unhurt and Mr William Lewi?, of A bor- dare, Lord Bute's mineral agent, was in one of tiie carriages, aud sustained a shaking. the carriages, aud sustained a shaking. P YPRIDD, :I1O;;DAY. ifie excitement caused by the sad catastrophe 0:1 Saturday is fast subsiding. Many of the friends of the sufferers came to Pontypridd by the first morning train from the Rhondda Valley for the purpose of seeing their friends, or returning with the dead bodies of their relatives. These persons formed a group around the entrance gate to the workhouse, which gradually grew larger as the day advanced. Nona were admitted to the In- firmary until the medical men had examined them, and this occupied some time. Dr Hopkins and his assistant have been almost unceasing in their I attention upon the sufferers. They did not leave the woikhouse till late on Sunday night, and were there again early on Monday morning. The Rev D. Williams, Fairfield, the chairman of the Board of Guardians for the Pontypridd Union, was for several hours at the workhouse on Sunday, and he was there again for several hours on Monday, directing that everything which could be done should be done for the relief of the sufferers. A considerable amount of expense has been incurred by the master of the workhouse in providing nourishment and comfort for the injured, which it is believed the Local Government officer will disallow, and it is hoped that the railway company will relieve him from the responsibility. With one exception, that of E van Jones, Dr Hopkins and his assistant (Dr Dickson), after examining all the sufferers, expressed their decided conviction that they were progressing favourably, and unless some unfavourable symptoms intervened, of which there were no agpearances at present, they did not anticipate that any other fataHty would arise out of the collision. After the examination of the wards had been made by the medical men, the more immediate relatives of the injured were admitted to the Infirmary, but only a few were admitted at any one time, and many of them were much rejoiced at the prospect of a. speedy recovery. Three of the lighter cases have returned to their homes, and will be attended by the medical men of the locality where they reside. THL DEl-D. The appearance of the Dead-house this morning presented a strong contrast to that of Sunday. Oak coffins had been provided by the railway com- pany. These were trimmed with bronze metal, and lined with flannel. The bodies had been all stripped and placed in neatly-made flannel shrouds. The heads of two were carefully concealed, but the others presented the appearance of persons who had died an ordinary death. The coffins were placed in a row, with the lid leaning against the wall at the head, and on this was a coffin-plate with the Dame of the deceased neatly gilded upon it. When the crowd of visitors to the sick had passed in to the Infirmary, another crowd as- sembled, and these were the friends of the deceased, who were waiting to convey their bodies home. They had to wait a long time, as none of the bodies could be removed until the jury had viewed them. THE JURY. The jury were summoned at 11 o'clock, and after assembling at thp. workhouse, were conveyed to Cardiff, for the purpose of viewing the body of Patrick Ratigan, tinman, of High-street, Pontypridd, who had died at the Infirmary there. They were all residents of Pontypridd. Mr David Davies was chosen as foreman. The others were—Mr Charles Griffiths, Mr William Nicho- las, Mr Thomas Evans, Mr Isaac Coombes, Mr Recs Davies, Mr Aaron OaJe, Mr Richard David Wratkins, Mr Jacob Morgan, Mr John Jones, Mr John Evans, Mr Philip Lougher, Mr Thomas David Jones, Mr William Morris, Mr James Rees, Mr John James, Mr Henry Hopkins, Mr Ricnard Rogers, Mr Thomas Sylvanus Jones, Mr Robert Smyth, and Mr A. A. McLucas. At the Cardiff Infirmary they were met by the coroner, Mr E. B. Reece, who explained to them that hemerely proposedto swear them there, and that after they had viewed the body of Rati- can, they would return to Pontypridd, where the enquiry would be formally opened. This was done and the party returned by the 1.30 p.m. train to pontypridd. MEETING OF THE DIRSCTOP.3 OF THE TAFF VALE RAILWAY. A general meeting of the directors of the Taff Vale Railway was held on Monday morning, at their offices, Crockherbtown, Cardiff, Mr John Perry, the chairman of the diractorsnreslding all the directors being present. Mr Hurman, the traffic manager, had requested William Roberts, the signalman, to whose neglect the col- lision was due, William Ellis, the signalman at the other end of the cutting, Thomas Griffith, the guard of the Cowbridge train, the driver of the Rhondda train, and the driver of the Cowbridge train, to attend. The directors, after considering the matter for a short time, determined, as the question was under judicial consideration, not to examine either of the officials respecting the cause of the collision, although Roberts admitted that the fault lay with him entirely, and that thinking the Rhondda train had left, he, without going up to his signal-box, and while on the ground, motioned the Cowbridge train to proceed. He expressed ,much contrition for his neglect. The directors then proceeded to discuss the question of the nature of the collision, and it was unani- mously resolved to pass a resolution, expressing their sympathy and condolence with the relatives of the deceased at the loss they had sustained. They also desired to express tceir sympathy with the sufferers, their thanks for the assistance which had been given to the sufferers by the whole of the medical gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and the assistance which the inhabitants also rendered on the occasion of the sad catastrophe which occurred at Pontypridd on the previous Saturday, and their conviction that the con- fidence which the general public had placed in them since 1840 would not be shaken by the result of the injury. A special train had been prepared by Mr Hurman, and the direc- tors then visited the scene of the disaster. They were conveyed up the line to Pontypridd, and bp- yond into the cutting, where the train was backed into the siding on the Rhondda line to illustrate to them the mode of shunting into the Rhondda line by the Cowbridge train. The train was then brought to the Pontypridd station, where the directors alighted. They visited the workhouse, where they were conducted by the master, Mr Johns, over the infirmary. They conversed with ome of the injured, and the Chairman assured them of the sympathy which the directors felt for them. They visited the dead-house, and saw the dead bodies. The Chairman and Mr Bushell ex- pressed their thanks to the master and matron and .the officials of the workhouse for the care they had evidently taken of the sufferers, and the clean and orderly appearance of everything gave them the utmost satisfaction. The directors then visited the court-house, where the inquest was being held, and the Chairman expressed to the coroner and jury their deep regret at the accident. They also begged to tender their thanks to the med-'cal gentlemen of the Pontypridd district and to the medical staff of the workhouse for their ereat kindness under very trying circumstances. I They also stated that at the meeting which had been held that day a resolution had been passed thanking the medical gentlemen individually, and this resolution ■■ ould be transmitted to them indi- vidually. The directors then left and returned to C-H-dirf. The accident on Saturdry was the first fatal accident to passengers on the Taff Vale Railway since the opening of the line in 1840. Accidents had occurred to their own servants in charge of mineral trains, but no passenger had been killed on their line prior to the accident on Saturday. The directors had the most perfect confidence in the management system. The machinery and regulations, if carried out, must, we believe, in- sure perfect safety to life. Since Saturday the Cowbridge trains had been stopped at the Ponty- pridd Station, the engine brought down below and turned on a turn table. The old plan will, how- ever, probably be restored in a short time, when some check points will be introduced, by which the Cowbridge train cannot pass out until the Rhondda train has pa?sed, so as to remove the possibility of accidents from the neglect of the poinstman. It is tnougnt that the damage sus- tained will involve the company ia a loss o f:J.},OOO. [FROM CUR TONTYPRIDD REPOHTE3.] Pontypridd, Monday.—There are to-day few particulars that are of interest to add to these all ready given respecting the fearful disaster of Sat- urday. On Sunday evening the streets were very much crowded. The afternoon train brought in a large number of passengers, many of whom had no other purpose than to enquire and discover, as far I as possible, a.correct account of the fatal and serious results cf the accid.nt. Not a few of the public-houses were filled with men, and a good deal of drinking was going on. I regret to say that Walters, who was laid up at the Welsh Harp, and who, on Sunday, was sup- posed to be doing very well, had a very restless night, and was in a state far from satisfactory on Monday morning, This unfavourable change was generally supposed to have been caused by nothing else than the excitement to which he was subjected by the incessant visits of tlio-,e who saw him for curiosity's sake only. He was this (Monday) evening removed by the four o'clock train to 11 Car.HfT. Mr Thomas Forrest, artist of this town, has obtained a successful photograph of the scene. It was anniversary Sunday at Carmel Cnapel, w hich overlooks the fatal cutting where the acci- dent happened, and the place was crowded. A fpesial service was given at seven in the morning. Sermons, chiefly referring to the melancholy event, were preached by the Rev J. R. Jones, Llwynpia, and the Rev Mr Davies, Newbridge, Mon. The demand for newspapers, which commenced with daylight, was altogether unprecedented, and five times the usual supply was cleared out by nine a.m. The South TVales Daily Neics was required by half dozens, aud throughout the day great num- bers were deposited at the Post Office, for trans- mission to all parts of the coun.ry. There can be little doubt, from statements made, that there are still many sufferers who sustained injuries, but who got away immediately the acci- dent happened, and. who have not been heard of since. tBY TTLE.RAriI.] I have just heard from an apparently trust- worthy source that Thomas' Williams, mason, Llantrissant, who had sustained very serious in- juries, but who was conveyed in a first-class compartment to his home on Saturday, died this evening. I have sought for confirmation of the news, but have not been able to get it confirmed. The following bodies have been removed from the union to their respective homes Rev David Thomas, Porth Mrs. Sarah Thomas, Pandy; David Davits, Aberdare; Evan Owen Davies Dowlais: John Jones, Pandy; David Lloyd, Porth. MERTHYR, MONDAY. The excitement which prevailed on Saturday evening upon the sad tidings of the terrible catas- trophe becoming known continues here, and the shocking scenes which were witnessed by the sur- vivors and passengers of the iil-fatcd train are the chief, indeed, only subject of conversation. The daily newspapers were eagerly bought up this morning in order that full details of the accident might be obtained. As each Taff Vale train ar rived there were numbers at the Great Western station awaiting its arrival, so that the latest information might be obtained as to whether the death-roll had been increased by those poor people who have been so terribly injured. The arrival of the 5 p.m. train was looked for by hundreds of persons, the fact becoming known that the body of Mr Davies, tailor and draper, who v. a.s killed in the collision, was being brought up. The railway officials wisely took precautions to keep the somewhat excited crowd back. The train having arrived, and the passengers having left the station, the coffin con- taming the remains of the unfortunate man was carried from a van which contained it and placed on a trolley and taken to the doors of the station, whence it was carried to a hearse which was wait- ing. Large numbers of persons had come down from Dowlais, and a procession was formed, and the funeral proceeded to the above place. THE REV. D. THOMAS. The Rev. David Thomas, the Baptist Minister who was killed in the collision on the Taff Vale Railway on Saturday, was the son of the late Mr Jenkin Thomas, of Bridgend, His fourth child was named David, but was accidently drowned in the Ogmore river, when he was a young Ind. His father named his next son David, and this David was the Baptist Minister who was killed on Saturday. He is a first cousin to Mr D. W. Thomas, urban rate collector, Cardiff. ROBERTS, THE SIGNALMAN, ARRESTED AND AD- MITTED TO BAIL. PONTYPRIDD. MONDAY NIGHT. On Sunday night Superintendent Mathews went to the house of Roberts, the signalman at the North Rhondda Junction, and told the unfortunate man that he would be detained in custody till the result of tiie inquest was made known. Roberts himsplf gave me an account of what transpired during the interview with the superintendent. The wife, overwhelmed with sorrow, pleaded that her husband should not be taken away from her, and his children and Robert", between paroxysms of grief, asked that he should be allowed to remain at home, and not to undergo the indignity of being locked up in the station-house. To the earnest appeals made, I am glad to say a response was made, and Superintendent Mathews contented himself with sending a policeman to Roberts's house, where the officer remained during the night. But little sleep did the inmates of the little cottage on the mountain side have on Sunday night. No," said Roberts to me, "my wife was broken-hearted never before in my life was I in the hands of the police, and that Supt. Mathews should have como and told me that I was under arrest dumbfounded me. I told him that there was no need for such a course being taken, and I gave him my word of honour that I would not leave the house till I was wanted. But a police- man was sent up, and he stayed in the place all night. I am glad that my statement appeared correctly in the South TToZcs Daily Neics this morning. It is the only ne. spaper that has given the true account from my own lips, and I feel very thankful that my own position, as con- nected with the accident, should have been made known to the public." Roberts, in a further statement, told me that this (Monday) morning he was taken before Mr Gwilym Williams, the stipendiary magistrate for the district, and that he was then admitted to bail, himself in JE200 and a surety in a similar amount. The surety for Mr Roberts was his nephew, Mr John Roberts, grocer, Bridge House, Pontypridd. After his release on bail, Roberts, in obedience to a request, proceeded by train to Car- diff, where the officials of the two trains which collided had been sent. There he had an interview with many of the officials, and the directors, who had assembled in the offices, and ;1 am correct in stating that all of them, without exception, expressed great sorrow at the strait which he had been thrown into by the unfortunate mistake made by him in fancying that he heard the signal for the Cowbridge train to proceed, and giving the word right" to the engine-driver be- fora ascending to the signal bJX and ascertaining that there was no mistake by looking to see if the needle of the instrument was in the usual position when indi- cating that the Treherbert train had passed on into Pontypridd, and that the road was clear for the empty "train from Cowbridge. Roberts says he has derived much consolation from the sympa- Y. thy which has been extended anu expressed to him hy everyone he has met with, and the kindly words spoken by Mr Gwilym "Williams the magis- trate, when admitting him to bail, will, he says, be treasured in his wind for some time to come. Nov that the excitement consequent 11pon the disastrous collision has toned down, and to a great extent given way to calm reflection, I find that the general feeling is one of absolute and positive pity for the signalman, Roberts. From his unvarnished statement given to me it is only too plain that he alone is responsible, but it is equally clear that the collision resulted through a mere mistake, and when this is considered every- one must be impressed with the feeling that the best of us are liable to make mistakes. Apart from the circumstance that R.'berts waa the cause of the terrible disaster, by a lamentable mistake on his part, it must be borne ill miud that the poor fellow has spent the greater part of his life in the service of the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany, and knowing the exactness and high state of the discipline exercised on the Company's lines, it must be accepted that Roberts would not have been so long had he not been regarded as a steady and trustworthy servant. It is generally admitted that he was such, and hence people must regard his mistake with a different feeling from that which would be experienced had he been a man of careless habits, and one addicted to drink. This has never been so, and this circumstance makes the matter all the more deplorable. Roberts, I believe, is a general favourite with the men employed on the lines of the Taff Vale Railway. I wo-ud suggest, therefore, that the employes generally should subscribe a fund to be devoted to the defence of the unhappy signalman. He, of 23;ir :e, is not in a po-ition to engage pro- fessional gentlemen to conduct his case, and, therefore, it would redound to the credit of the 1"aff Vale employes if they form a fund to assist a brother in distress. MEETING OF THE DIRECTOR. This morning a number of tne d,rectors were present at the chief offices of the company at Cardiff, and a consultation was held, Tne men in charge of the two trains were present, and later on the directors were conveyed by a special train to the scene of the disaster. THE INQUEST. The inquest was opened this afternoon by the coroner, Mr Reece, at the workhouse. The jury were 20 in number, their names being &s fnlliVA'K •— Mr David Davies. I Mr Charles Griffiths Roberti Mr William Nicholas Mr Thomas Evans. Mr James Coombe" Mr Rees Davies. Mr Aaron Cnle. Mv Richard David Wutkms. Mr Jacob Morgan. Mr John Jones. I Mr Philip Loan!mi- Mr Thomas David Jone3, J Mr William Morris. Mr James Rees. Mr John Jones. Mr Henry Hopkins. Sir Richard Rogers. Mr Thomas Siloam Jones. Mr Robert Smyth. M'r Archibald Allen McLucas The jury proceeded first to Cardiff, and viewed I the body of the man Ratigan, at the Infirmary. On returning to Pontypridd, at the suggestion of the coroner, they proceeded to view the o.ead bodies lying in the dead house. The bodies had been wrapped iu flannel shrouds and placed in neat oak coffins with plates, wLich contained the names of the deceased in gold letters. The work of stripping the corpses and placing them in the coffins was undertaken hy Pulice- Sergt. Jones, who was assisted by a staff of men. The jury afterwards assembled in the board- room, when there were present, besides the Coroner, Mr Perry, the chairman of the Taff Vale Board of Directors, Mr O.K.Willi am*Roath Court; Col. Lindsay, the Chief Constable o: the county, and Supt. Matthews. The Coronor. after having sworn the jury, first proceeded to take the following evidence of iden- tification Police-Sergeant Evan Jones: I identify the body of T nomas Ratigan, which now lie. at the Cardiff Infirmary. He was a travelling tinman, and 48 years of age. David Davies, collier, Rhymnev, identified the body of Evan Owen Davies. The deceased, lie sri-d, was a tailor and draper, and lived at Dow- Lis. He was from 35 to 40 years of age. Thomas Davies. coiliar living at Poith. identi- fied the body of David Thomas. The decease i was a Baptist minister, and resided at Porch. His age was 45. Witness did not know anything about the accident. Thomas Jones, collier, of Treallaw, identified the bony of John Jones. Deceased was his brother, and was 23 years of age. Witness was not in the train. and did not see the accident. Charles Ta; din, telegraph inspector, living at Cardiff The body seen by the jury was that of Thomas Philip Clarke. He was a telegraph line- man, and lived in Cardiff. I am not certain about his age, but I should think he was 30. He was a married man. Hopkin Knell said I live at T onypandy, and amabutlder. The body I have pointed out is that ei Sarah Thomas. She lived at Tonypandy, and was the wite ofJamea Thomas, a shoemaker. She was 70 years of age. James James I live at Trecynon, Aberdare, and am a labourer. I identify the body of Phoebe James, my WLe. She was 61 years of age. I w ,s not in the train with her when the accident happened. Rees Rees, grocer mid draper, Aberdare, i ler.t:- fied the body of David Davies. boiler maker and grocer, of Aberdare. He was 33 years old, and the lather of witness's wife. Police-sergeant Edward Rees identified the body of David Lloyd. Deceased was a man living at Porth, and was about 60 years of a?e. Thomas Davies, living at Hafod, identified the body of his son, John. Deceased was a collier, and was 28 years old. Ann Parry, a young woman, said I live at Heolfach, Ystrad. The bodies shown to the jury were those of my father and mother, Jeremiah and Mary Anne Parry. My father was a collier. My mother was 47, and my father 43 years of age. Superintendent Matthews, in answer to the coroner, said Dr Hopkins was the first he saw on the scene of the accident, and Dr Leckie followed. Soon after several doctors from the district arrived. STATEMENT BY MF. PERRY, CHAIRMAN OF THE DIRECTORS. Mr Perry, while the evidence of identification was proceeding, rose, and explained that as the special train would start back to Cardiff shortly he was anxious before he left to say a few words. He tnen proceeded. Mr Coroner and gentlemen of the jury,—As chairman of the Board of Direc- tors of the Taff Vale Railway Company, I have to express to you our deepest regret that this terrible accident should have occurred, and our sympathy with the frienùs of the deceased, and those who are now lying injured in the hospitals, and would take the opportunity of assuring you that if we can do anything towards any of the sufferers we shall he only too glad to do so, and I may add that if any of our officials can help vou, and give any evidence to throw light on the accident they shall be ordered to attend and give you every assistance. (Hear, hear). WTe have also to return our hearty and sincere thanks to those gentlemen, and to every person who rendered assistance at the time of the collision. I can but say that since the construction of the Taff Vale Railway the directors have used every means to prevent accidents, and to ensure the safety of the passengers. (Hear, hear.) In spite of this, however, this sad accident has Unfortunately occurred. The Coroner I am obliged to you, sir, for your offer of assistance during this inquiry, and I am sure everyone present deeply regrets that the accident should hav, • •.■rred. After the witness ppended their signatures to the various statements The Coroner said be 'pro; osed to take no further evidence that day. He should now give the warrants for the burials, to enable the friends of the deceased to remove the bodies. It was desir- able to adjourn in order to ascertain whether the Board of Trade would send down au inspector. The Board of Trade had been communicated with, and he doubted not that he should hear from them by Thursday, on which day he would renew the inquiry. He thought that on Thursday they would be able to take the whole of the evidence. but it was p-ssible that they would have to adjourn to enable the Board of Trade inspector to examine the evidence, and to come to a conclu- sion on the matter. The jury were then bound over to appear at nine o'clock on Thursday morning. It was agreed that the Coroner and the jury should inspect, the first thing on Thursday morning, the spot where the collision occurred. The proceedings then terminated, PONTYPRIDD, TUESDAY. The interest attracted to the .terrible collision on the Taff Vale railway on Saturday has, to a large extent, subsided, but great anxiety is felt as to the ultimate tecovery of some of the injured people who n oW lie at the union infirmary. Much praise is due to Dr Hopkins, the infirmary surgeon, who, with his assistant, Mr McLoughlin, has exerted himself to the utmost degree to relieve the pangs of the sufferers. He has been up ever since the collision, both morning and ni3dit, tending to the unfortunate creatures, many of whom would no d 'ubt have died had it not been for his ready, careful, and excellent treatment. Hearing of the accident, Sir Hopkins immediately ordered every preparation b be made for the bruised and maimed victims; and hence, owing to this forethought, the officials of the workhouse were enabled to meet the e:i>er- gency in a manner that reflected credit 0:1 the establishment. By this afternoon nearly the whole of the bodies had bee.i removed from the dead-house, and con- veyed to the different homes of the bereaved relatives. The carrying out of the coffins to the hearses outside the bClUdiug was witnessed by a number of people whose morbid minds have in- fluenced them to remain since Saturday on the spot and see what is to be seen. I am glad to say that Dr. Hop- kins has had the pleasing duty cI discharging two of the injured persons and sending them to their homes, their injuries not being of such a nature as to justify their continu- ance at the infirmary. Tiieir names are Catherine Phillips, 32, of Gilfaeh Goch, and James Wil- liams, of Ynyscynon-street, Aberdare. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. A collier, named Robert Davies, of Maindee- road, Ton, Ystrad, was an occupant of tks smok- ing carriage during the collision, and escaped un- hurt. He presented himself on Tuesday at the police-station, and applied for a carpet bag and a basket which was full of bottles. When the collision occurred he held the basket in his hand. The basket and bottles however, were smashed to atoms, while he escaped without ::1 scratch. About the only thiujj be reniembeis, after the crash, was crawling over some picce3 of timber, under which his fellow passengers lay crushed. BURIAL OF ONE OF THE KILLED. The body of John Jones, Treallaw, the poor fellow who was founel with a wheel of the Tre- herbert train on one part of his body, and a wheei of the Cowbridge train 0:1 another part, crushed to death, was buried at St. David's, Lianw ciino, on Tuesday evening. PONTYPRIDD, WEDNESDAY. I learn to-day that there are several persons who sustained injuries of a more a less serious character, but whose names have not yet appeared in the list of injured. Ridney Q lick, 22, native of Collurnpton,Devon, and now living with his brother, John Quick, a porter in the employ of the Taff Ya'e Railway Company, at 52, Tramroad-side, Treforest, had be811- np tile Rhond.1. to Llwynypia seeking employment, and, after walking to Porth, got into the 4 p.m. train to return to Pontypridd. He was in the tirst third class carriage which was smashed up. He felt two shocks as he was sitting with his back to the engine on the side of the carriage next to the cutting. There was one other per.son between him and the door—a man named Cook, ,,& present in the infirmary, who wm sitting on his (Quick's) left hand. After the crash he remembc-re 1 nothing until he found himself sitting on the embankment. He was carried by two men to the station, and from there lie was taken in a cart to his lodgings. His injuries are abrasion of tiie left check, front of right, knee, and back of left knee, contusion and swelling of both ankle-, bruises oi calves of both legs. He was squeezed by'the se .ts of the carriage, and held firmly there. tie cannot stand nor walk. Morgan Richards, 31, Coednenmain, em- ployed by Messrs Llewellyn and Cubitt, Pentre, was riding in the second compartment of the smoking carriage, which wa.s full. After the col- lision he found himself on his knees against the carriage door. He did not feel any injuries at tir"t until he crawled out to the embankment. I His injuries are, contused and lacerated wound oil left hand, and bruises of calf oi right leg. He is able to visit the surgery, Dr Leckie's patients are all making very fair progress, except iiearu, who is in a very weak ;ai 1 prostrate state. Still his condition is not deemed critioa1. A VISIT TO THE INICR^D. At the Union tiiis morning I learned from each I and all the patients that thev were better. Dr Mc I Loughlki, assistant to Dr Hopkins, had attended to them during the night. As has been reported, many of them were iu au exceedingly low sta'u», and during Tuesday endured very acute pain. Those who had suffered most, namely, David I Davies, Mountain Ash George Kerslake, Tony- I pmdy; C. Cook aud E lwiu Jones, Heolfach and Swain, the telegraph lineman, ex- pressed themselves greatly pleased with the kind and unremitting attention which i the doctor had shown to them. Kerslake said, I should like yon (the doctor) to attend me al- together." Sara!) Griffith, Swansea, said, The doctor and all are very kind." William Morris, Pentre, whose wounds had been stitched in tho night, said he did not remember anything abouiit. night, said he did not remember anything abouiit. He slept well in the early morning, and felt much better. C. Cook said he had suffered very great pain in the night, and told me the doctor bad promptly relieved him of his pain when he cum- plained. William J. Parry, Gelly Ystrad, who has a bruised back, see.ael decideiiy better. Swain's wife was in attendance on her kusbaSnd in the morning, aall bad been during the night. Several times in the night he was, poor fellow, ill a critical condition, but by tiie morning he showed signs of evident improvement. Edwin Jones, Heolfach, whose leg is fractured, expressed him- self thoroughly pk-a-sd with his medical atten- dance, but was dissii defied o ith lis diet. He t dd me he had bread and batter and tea for his hist meal, and he understoo 1 he was ti get the s;;oe for the next. He wanted meat and potatoes, bat they had refused to give hi II them. On being told that perhaps lis stomach was not in a fit state for potatoes and meat-, he thrt v his head listlessly on one side, and made no reply. The doctor shortly afterwards saw hini, and asked him if he would ike to get some bread aud meat. He answered, "Yes, thank you;" and the nurse was instructed to give him so'ne. I saw several copies of the Graphic and other papers lying near the patients' bedsides, and. on enquiry, I learned that they hail been gh-.?n bv the Rev F. Rogers. The poor p. tieuts seemed to derive no small pleasure from looking at tile pic- tures, and reading what little tLfy were allowed to. Dr Hunter's patients are il r;e well. Mr .Tames Ricnard. of dref un. i snueriug still from severe shock ;.ud nerv-as cx.nt* rent. THANKS TO THE KE: AL -MKN. The following has a.idiessed to all the medical gentlemen who rendered tueir to the sufferers :— d .C Ta? Vale Railway, '■ Cardiff, 21st Oct., 1878. "SIR,—At the request OF the directors, 1 have tb pleasure to send herewith a copy of a resolutioi which was to-day passed ns a meeting of UJJ board.—Yours obediently, F. Ma3W00d" Seem* tary. Taff ills Than way Company. At a speclil meeting of the directms, ne'ul 4J the offices of the company, Cardiff, on the 21st <■ October inst., it was resolved that the best tbankl of the board be given to 'the me iical jres tie ne*. who so kindly and promptly assisted ia attendis* I tile and that a copy of this resolution lie forwarded it each of the medical gentlemen.—FK. MAUWOODL Secretary.1' Child Inspector of Explosive visited the varioal -,ty explosive magazines ia the district i-.v, and before lie left the place paid a visit to the scena of the railway accident. A N E v P LA X A TIC N. A N E v P LA X A TIC N. I have been desired to make a statement rw» pecting the alleged reia.ives oi Jeremia i and Aiai'v* Ann 1'arry, is* obtaining a sum of money, £ -1 2s 9 i, which aftat the acci ;eut, was retained by Mr Superintendent Matthews. The real fact of the matte.- is that the money was handed over to the applicant, AnA Pa.rry, deceased's 'laughter, in lass*than an boot after the first application, the Chief Con* table ol tiie county being present at rh. p. ROBERTS THE ST..KALIAN. Wiiiiam Rol>erts, tne sL:n dman, was before the Stipendiary (Mr Gwilym Wiilia iLj t^-dar. He was further remanded for a t:L: on tim same bail. A PAS3ENGEU*;S STORY. CnmER. Wednesday.—I this evening visited a.. house of Mrs Granger, and her little boy Harry 11 years of age, who were injured in the'co'lislt^ but whose names have been omitted in ti e list or injuied persons. She said—I, hi co.n; uith my little boy, took tickets at Porth staion, em route to Newport, to pay a visit to my daughter. All went on alt rizht until we arrived opoo^ite th« cutting near Pontypridd utation. We occupied a scat in a third class carriage, when ail of a sudden I heard a crash, and the next moment the carriage I occupied was in fragmented and the passengers knocked about in all direc- tions. One poor man who occupied the same seat as 1 did was jammed under the broken pieces, and had lis brains knocked out. I was completely covered over with the broken fragments, bus happily, and for which I thank the Almighty, I I only received bruises on my leg. left arm, and a cut over my left eye. I do not know how I was extricated, but some one must have assisted me to get out. The shock quite stunned me, alid when I came a little to myself I saw that my little boy was missing. I called unt as loud as my faint voice coa'd, "H;.rry, Harry." He readily answered me from the opposite side, "benI found that he was only injured on the left leg. I managed to walk to the wire railings, when a man with a terrible gash called out, "all! dear; my good woman, do wipe the blood from off in-, face, which I did, and then I fainted away. Two men caught hold of me and placed me on the grass, where I remained for about half-an-hour." My little boy told me to try to get up I will asaiat you to walk hosae don't let us stay here any longer and I found my little boy's coat covered with a human being's brains, No doubt they be. longed to the poor man who sat with us in ti* same compartment. Oh the sight was mart awful. A part of the broken carriage was pro- cured and I was placed on it and carried to the station, where a trap was procured, and I and my' little boy were taken home to Forth. Ever sirree I have lëe"t my bed suffering from the shock and bruises I received. My little boy manages t > walk a little about with the assistance of a walking- stick. I am now under the treatment of Dr H. N. Davies. FUNERAL OF A VICTIM. John Jones, collier, from Trealaw, who wai killed in the collision o:i the Taff Vale Rai'wav, on Saturday, wis buried on Tuesday afternoon,' at Rhondda Chapel, when the Rev D. LI. Wil. liams, minister 01 the place, preached from Pro. verbs xxvii, I. Boa-t not thyself of to-morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. The purposes and-plans of men, he said, reach into a future which will never be ours. Every day Providence delivers homilies to us on the uncertainty of the future. The mournful event winch occurred on Saturday was not the least among them. Iu concluding his practical remarks, the minister earnestly told his friends at the funeral not to calculate on the morrow. A FUNERAL AT LLWYNTPIA. The remains of Mrs Thomas, Llwynypia. one of the victims in be above calamity, were inter- red on Tuesday, in the cemetery at Treorky. A very large number attended, about a (!zen or even more carriages were present. The deceased lady was highly respected in the place for herquiet and unobtrusive manner. CO' O'n L YOI.LAND. Colonel YoIIand, R.E., one of the inspectors of the Board of Trade, arrived at Cardiff by the ex- press on Wednesday night, and will be preseut at the enquiry to-day. It is probable that Colonel Yolland will hold an enquiry into the collision, with special reference to points, which do not fall within the coroner's enquiry.