Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
19 articles on this Page
Hide Articles List
19 articles on this Page
Damage to Property.
News
Cite
Share
Damage to Property. TERRIFIED MINERS CEASE WORK. Collapse of a House at Maesteg. A severe shock ot earthquake was felt ihroughout South Wales on Wednesday Homing, and from all parts of the affected j ireareports are to hand of alarming experi- ences, accompanied in some cases by per- sonal injury, whilst in a large number of instances considerable damage to property was done. In some of the schoois there was little short of a panic, the buildiog3 being besieged by affrighted mothers de manding their children whilst at many of the collieries the men wero seized with fear of impending calamity, aod were brought to bank. The shock occurred between 9.47 and 9.50 a.m., the tremor passing from north to south, and the duration being variously estimated at from two to three seconds. For some hours before the shock thare had been a steady fall in the barometer, and immediately before the tremor passed ihere was an uncanny stillness in the air. to most of the colliery districts the resi- dents attributed the disturbance to a mine axplosioD, and people hastened to pit mouths, there, fortunately, to be assured that no disaster had occurred. In the large commercial centres, however, people At once divined the true cause of the ahock, for there were the usual symptoms af earthquake, snch as the rattling of windows and the swaying of chairs and tables, in many instances a shock was experienced of a severity unexampled locally within living memory. At Cardiff Docks scores of people ruabed headlong into the streets in a state border- ing on panic, in momentary fear of seeing she buildings tumbling down upon them. In several instances walls were cracked. Passengers travelling from Barry to Cardiff declare they felt the whole train being swayed back and fore by a seismic motion. At Swansea chimneys fell over into the street, and at Maesteg a house which was being demolished was so severely shaken that it utterly collapsed. The tremor3 were so distinctly felt at Merthyr that the children in St. David's School became panic-stricken, and had to be dismissed. Reports from Bridgend show that pedes- trians were almost shaken off their feet, and one street—Coity-road—was strewn with fallen chimney-stacks. At the Rock Hotel, Neath, a chimney crashed on to the roof. Captain F. Gard. ner, who was walking towards Neath from the direction of Pencaera, declares that he felt a strange motion of the earth, and a.t the same moment saw a number of chimneys literally crumble and fall. Edwards, of the Neath Borough Force, had a marvellous escape. He was standing Dear Williams's ludgmg-house iu Wind- street, and saw some slates fall, and got out of the way. A minute later a chimney tell on the very spot where he had been standing. Dr. Seyler, the Glamorgan counly analyst, was in his laboratory at Swansea, when he observed thebottles on his shelves dancing in a peculiar manner. Looking out of his window he saw" roof tiles fall- ing iu a veritable shower. At Abercynon heavy ornaments were thrown off furniture, A heap of boulder stones in the centre of the town of Ammanford became as if alive, and rolled about in extraordinary fashion." At Kidwelly the shock was accompanied by a rumbling noise, the inhabitants were terrified, and a part of the Nelson Inn chimney collapsed. At Port Eynon the inhabitants rushed out of houses in great alarm, the schools were closed, and the children hurried home for safety. Similar startling reports come to hand from the Ogmore and Garw districts. At Tondu the vibration was severely felt, reminding the populace of that terrifying experience on the occasion of the Tondu explosion. At Brynmenyn the Rev. Eynon Lewis hastily left his study, thinking that the furniture was about tumbling over him; while the family of Mr Arthur Davies, in the same village, were alarmed at breakfast by a number of bricks falling n through the chimney. Ystradgynlais night workmen asleep in bed hurriedly jumped out of bed and rushed towards Pantmawr Colliery, where it was believed an explosion had happened. At Porthcawlthe report ofthesbock was likened to that of a strong wind. Mrs Best, of the Queen's Hotel, had a terrify- ing moment. The crockery on the dresser came rolling over her, and she rushed into the street screaming. A second later the chimney fell iu through the roof. A similar incident took plnce next door. At Wells- treet, Porthciwl, Mrs Pearce, an aged invalid, while dressing was literally thrown back on to the bed, while her daughter was hurled against the furniture. The shock was slightly felt in North and Mid-Walea, and as far south as Lundy Island. Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire appear to have been only slightly affected. Shocks- are also reported from the West of England, the neighbourhood of Birming- ham, and other places.
Experts' Observations.
News
Cite
Share
Experts' Observations. SEISMIC RECORDER DUMB Wire From Prof. Milne. On Wednesday morning the" Soath Wales Echo despatched a telegram to Prof. Milne, F.R.S.. the eminent seISmologist. who is I rightly regarded as the first authority in the country on earthquakes, asking if he would favour us with any record which he might have of the earth tremor in South Wales and for his observations thereon. At 2.50 Professor Milne courteously wired us as under from his residence in the Isle of Wight:— Not recorded on the mechanically recording seismograph. If anything is found on photo- graphic traces will let you know, but it is I not tikely.—Milne.
EXCITING SCENES AT CARDIFF.:
News
Cite
Share
EXCITING SCENES AT CARDIFF. Panic on 'Change. I, The shock was felt with varying severity throughout Glamorganshire, and some exciting scenes are reported. t Almost without exception it was exper- ienced in all the Cardiff Docks offices, and to such an extent in Mount Stuart. square and on the Exchange as to create something like a panic. The upper floors of the buildings heaved and oscillated from three to tour inches, and panic-stricken clerks rushed out of the reading-room and from their offices on to the floor and balconies. Heavy tables were observed swaying after the fashion of a vessel at sea, books were thrown from their shelves, windows and doors creaked and seemed to threaten to splinter into pieces, pictures were shaken from their positions on the wans. and were left hapging aslant, whilst many of the clerks, succumbing to the terror of the moment, rushed into the square excited and pale. The officials of the Exchange Com- pany made a rapid inspection of the building Boon after the disturbance, and reported that 1 it had not in any way damaged the building or its foundations. A crack was discovered in one of the walls on the first floor, but this was stated to have existed for a very con- one of the walls on the first floor, but this was stated to have existed for a very con- ndcrable time past. The scene in other parts of the Docks was hardly less excited. James-street two or three :ninutcs atter the .shock presented a most ex- traordinary scene. Clerks and principals, affrighted hy the rockings and swayings of their offices, had rushed into the street, nearly all of them without hats, and many m their shirt sleeves. Those who were actually In the street at tLe moment or the disturbance agree I in their description of the swaying o. the houses. So alarming did it appear at one time that they expected many cf the buildings to j tumble duwn. XLe disturbance, however, proved of short duration, and clerks and tradespeople soon resumed their work in their office- and "hops. At the Merchants' Exchange a man was only just saved from being thrown over the stairs. At many of the offices the chimneys swayed dangerously and sent do-vn large quantities of soot; in several instances men were thrown from their chairs to the floor, whilst hundreds complained of giddiness and sickness. For about 15 minutes after the shock the affrighted clerks and principals remained in Mount Stuart-square, too timid to re-enter their offices, and many of them suffered from the effects of the shock throughout the day. In most of the offices three or four oscillations, accompanied by a sound as of the thud of an explosion, were experienced, but the direction of the swayings seems to have varied according to the position and stability of the buildings. At one of the business premises the fixtures rocked and the whole building moved per- ceptibly. Some ships' iren blocks swung to and fro, and wooden cases slid out of the line they were \D. At the Docks Post Office adjoining the Ship- ping Office the street clock stopped at 9.44, and atone moment the whole building seemed Lo be collapsing. Similar reports of the disturbing in- fluences come from the Channel Dry Docks and the South Wales Public Wharf, Warehouse, and Transit Co.. Ltd. 's office, Ely Harbour-road, Grangetown. At the latter buildings the effect seems to have been of a different nature than in the majority of places. Whereas in general the shock was more in the way of a swaying motion, in this instance there was a slight up- heayai of the floors, and momentarily it seemed as if the warehouses would collapse. At the Post Office. The shock was felt in a marked degree at the General Post Office in Westgate-street. It was most preceptiblo throughout the premises. but more especially in the instrument room. At one of the tables where an operator was busily engaged he was suddenly interrupted by someone apparently knocking violently against his desk. He looked round expecting to see that a colleague had ) met with some mishap, but to his astonishment there was not a soul near the table. For a moment he was dum- founded. The other operators ceased their work momentarily, thinking that the slight disturbance at their desks was due to the passing of a heavy traction engine in West- gate-street, but on looking out of the window no such engine was anywhere to be seen. The quake was felt in other parts of the building, especially by the superintendent of the tele- graphs, who alter consultation with the other officials came to the conclusion that there had ndoubtedly been a tremor of the earth. Their opinion was quickly confirmed by the Swansea office communicating with them telling them of the effects at that town. On the top floor of the building the men em- ployed in the battery-room were alarmed by i he swaying of the premises. One of them bought there had been an accident on the roof where workmen h^d been engaged, and he at once seLt a man up to inquire. When spoken to about his experience, this official stated that he thought the standard on the roof or a work- mai haft fallen, and was considerably, albeit agreeably, surprised that nothing of the sort had occurred. Little short of consternation was caused among the ladies in the telephonic department when it was known what had happened, but | their work was not seriously interfered with. Some trouble was experienced with the long- distance wires, but this was attributed at the time to bad weather. When interviewed the superintendent of telegraphs stated that al- though they received indications of earth cur- rents it was extraordinary that they should have had no record on this occasion. At the time of the San Francisco earthquake they had a record of it, but of course did not now in what part of the globe the sesmic disturbance had taken place. He was perfectly at a loss to understand how it was no such indication had been received on this occasion. Frightened Lady Clerks. The tremor was distinctly felt by the clerks in the office of the British Westinghouse Electric Co, Ltd., on the third storey over the South Wales Daily News and "South Wales Echo" offices. Mr Fred L. Davies told our representative that exactly at 9.45 he was seated in an arm- chair, which began to rock. At the same moment Miss Morris, one of the lady clerks, rushed in and said, The room is shaking." Miss Morris and Miss Meylor (lady clerks) corroborated Mr Davies's statement, adding that the windows rattled and the transfer books on the desk rocked to and fro. Miss O'Brien, another lady clerk, was very fright- ened. I thought," she said that an attack of giddiness had come over me, because every- thing about me seemed to rock and tremble. These transfer cases, which are heavy, shook in front of me, and I placed my hands on the desk to see if that would stop them, but it didn't. I distinctly heard the windows rattle. Then I learned that the clerks in the other office on the same floor had had a similar ex- perence. Alfred Lev/is, the lift boy at the Daily "W3" Office, was absorbed in a thrilling story in the" Boy's Friend." when. to use his own words. Something seemed to take me up and shake me, and wasn't I frightened In the Ferry-road district several consider- able cracks were made in the walls of the Windsor Rope Works and the Brattice Cloth Works by the seismic shock. <
WILD SCENES AT SWANSEA. GIRL…
News
Cite
Share
WILD SCENES AT SWANSEA. GIRL LEAPS THROUGH A WINDOW. Heartrending Incidents. At Swansea the shock was of a violent nature. From about 9.30 there had been a peculiar rumbling sound, which was at first attriMitable to the thundery nature of the weather, the atmosphere being oppressive and a misty rain falling. Then suddenly there came at 9.44 a violent shock. It seemed as if some mighty power had gripped the houses, held them, and shook them severely. Walls trembled and windows rattled. The tremor asted about two seconds. Then there was a dead silence. Everyone seemed to realise what had occurred, and excitedly rushed out of their houses. Children screamed, women fainted, men held their breath with terror. In the schools the scenes were particularly heart- rending, the frightened mites shrieking and in some cases rushing into their teachers' arms for protection and others fleeing into the open-air. Reports of damage quickly began to come in. Two heavy ornaments over the front of the General Post Office were thrown to the ground Chimneys in Dillwvn-street and that part of C&er-street near the church fell into the street. j A few roofs have also suffered. In Oyster- mouth-road house after house was injured in respect to chimneys, while at the Gaol itself there is severe damage, including a large stone down oup of the flues. There IS also some slight structural damage at the gas works. The excite- ment in the town was intense, the thoroughfares being thronged with people seeking evidence of the damage and discussing the occurrence. In some- cases the panic was extreme. Especi- ally was this so in the case of school children. School had just commenced when the shock was felt. and the heaving of the floor, the swaying of the walls, and the rattling of the doors and windows sent the little mites into a delirium of excitement. At Terrace-road all the children rushed out into the road, and a similar occurrence is reported in other schools. At Sketty the shock was even more severe. Bells were linging-,and this added to the excite- ment. At Dysgwylfa., the residence of Mr J. H. Rosser. the contents of the coffee cups were spilt over the table, and the bells rang. In Castle-lane there were a series of cracks in a building adjoining the castle. Several remarkable escapes are reported. There is no thoroughfare more used at the time of the occurrence than the pavement just in front of the General Post Office, and yet, though a couple of heavy ornaments came down with a crash right on to the pavement, with such force as to break a pavingstone, no one was hurt. Some of the employees rushed out into the street in the excitement. At the Cambria Daily Leader office an ornament also crashed on to the pavement in Western-street. Such a panic was caused in one of the houses that a young lady who was in bed at the time rushed into the*street in her nightdress. In Cwmbwrla numerous chimneys are down and many roofs damaged. Leap Through a Window. A man named Westburv has been admitted to the Swansea Hospital suffering from a scalp wound, the result of stones falling from the Sea Beach Hotel, which he was passing at the time. Another accident occurred in an extra- ordinary manner. A young lady engaged at Mr Rhvs Evans's in High-street was so frightened by the shock that she jumped through the open window into Union-court below, sustaining a fractured arm- It is stated that Sketty Lodge has sustained a wide crack in its walls J At Brynmill School the shock was greeted with one combined shriek from the frightened little ones. The floor of the infants' depart- ment is reported to have sunk. A large glass partition was smashed,and the glass shivered in all directions, while a gentleman who was out- side the building at the time said he distinctly saw the walls rock. At the Girls' Higher Grade School the forms were thrown over in aU directions. Parents were seen rushing towards the various schools making frantic inquiries for their children. The Sandfields has suffered heavily from falling chimneys, as may be judged by the fact that there are more than 20 cartloads of bricks down in the thoroughfares. The marvellous thing is that so far no one has I been seriously hurt by all this falling debris. the only casualties in the hospital being two men with scalp wounds. The Mumbles fort was violently shaken but not damaged. On a walk between the post office and the hospital a postman counted 18 chimneys down. From all directions similar accounts poured in. The only variation in the damage done was that in some cases the bricks crashed through roofs and in others they smashed on to the pavements. That everywhere—in Swansea at least—was the same satisfactory report that Providence had mercifully spared both life and limb. So far, the only person who sustained injury to limb was the young woman who in her fright jumped out of a window, chronicled above. There were two persons admitted to the hospital with merely su perflcial scalp wounds from falling bricks. The experience of the earth tremor was different in various parts of the town. While I in the upper districts there was a violent" tremor, in the lower parts there was a distinct undulating wava travelling apparently from east to west. Everybody felt it, and most people realised what" had happened. It is strange that the people in the streets were almost unaware of what had occurred until they saw shrieking people running out of houses and chimneys tumbling about. On the Mumbles Railway the fact was brought home to the travellers to Swansea by a great rumbling boom, and with almost one accord the passengers put it down to a demon- stration of warships in the Channel. Others attributed it to an explosion underground. Extensive Damage. The damage reported is widespread, and is confined to no section of the town or, indeed, the district. From Craig-y-Nos Castle on the one side, Gowcr on another, the Mumbles, Pontardulais, and indeed all round, came the sa me reports and the same accounts )f damage. Also the same immunity for human life and limb. The reports from the schools are all identi- cal. The only variation is in the extent of the damage, and in no case is it, happily, severe. At St. Winifred's Convent the pictures on the walls and a curtain fell in the boys' room, and the children flew to the arms ox the nuns for protection. At Swansea Grammar School bottles in the laboratory crashed to the floor, and in one room, as a ceiling seemed dangerous, the master in charge wisely removed his class to another. At the headmaster's house adjoin- ing the shock was more severe, ornaments falling: to the ground in profusion. We have recorded above one or two other scenes in schools, and to describe one scene is only to describe another. So demoralised were the children in some of the Board schools that their parents were allowed to take them home and a holiday was declared. Jobbing builders will be busy repairing the damage for some time to come. It would be monotonous and uninteresting to catalogue the damage. All that need be said is that hundreds were demolished. Reports to hand record instances where chairs were violently thrown across rooms, where people were actually thrown out of chairs and even beds, where bells rang violentlv owing to the tremor, pictures fell, chimney and sideboard ornaments were upset. In business places the shaking of windows materially affected the arrangement of goods displayed. STARTLING INCIDENTS AT MERTHYR. Panic-Siricken Schoolchildren. A rumour about the destruction by the earthquake of Pentrebach School, near Mer- thyr, caused parents to rush in that direction. Happily it was unfounded, and the children generally believed bo have been destroyed with the building were found all safe. The shock had been severely felt, but no damage what- ever was done and perfect discipline was main- tained among the children. The tremors were so distinctly felt at Mer- thyr that the children in St. David's School became panic-stricken, and had to be dis- missed. The shock was also felt in Dowlais and at Aberdare,there being also perceptible tremors at Hirwain, Trecynon, and the whole district around. The actual time of the tremor at Merthvr was 9.43. Some houses in The Walk had the plaster shaken off the walls, and some cottages in Tramroad side had the chimneys partly thrown down- The shock was very acutely felt at Abercynon, also in Merthyr Vale, Troedyrhiw, and Pontlottyn. At Abercynon crowds went in the direction I of the local colliery in the dread of a colliery calamity. The carriages at the railway station were severely shaken. One of the inmates of the Ynysmeurig Hotel states The house literally rocked irom west to east, and a bar- maid walking across the bar was thrown against the counter." The Merthyr Town Hall is described as being shaken like an angry child shakes a box of toys." The town clerk of Merthyr was nearly thrown out of his chair when sitting in the breakfast- room. His wife, who was upstairs at the time, had to cling to the bed rail for support. At Pencoed two invalids were nearly thrown out of bed. The chimney of Green Cottage, occupied by Mr Edward Jenkins, was hurled down. At Abergwynfl crockery was thrown from table to floor, and goods in shops fell from shelves. AFFRIGHTED LLANELLY MOTHERS. Schools Besieged. At Carmarthen buildings of a strong and substantial character rocked, and not a few residents thought the roofs of their dwellings were about to fall in, so pronounced was the shock Beer barrels rolled, crockery was dis- placed, cabinets were tilted, clocks struck a quarter of an honr before the time, bells rang in all quarters, beds uplifted, and there was a general disturbance in every direction. Rev. T. R. Walters, vicar of St. David's, was attend- ing to his duties as chaplain in Carmarthen Gaol when the shock came with a loud rumb- ling noise, setting the prison bolls ringing and shaking the whole place.
SCAREDCOLLIERS CEASE WORK
News
Cite
Share
SCAREDCOLLIERS CEASE WORK Throughout the Glamorgan coalfield the shock was very severe, and some extraordinary scenes of scared colliers are reported. One of our correspondents saw Mr Rhys Llewellyn, the goneral manager of the Bwllfa Colliery Company, in reference to the earth- quake effects Mr Llewellyn said that when it occurred he was sitting in his office in con- sultation with the mechanical engineer. They neither beard nor felt anything. In a few minutes, however, a surfaceman came rushing up in a terrible fright and told him that an accident had taken place in the old pit. He asked him what it was Oh," he said, it is an explosion." Mr Llewellyn at once hurried to the collieiy and descended. Nearly all the ;ren were grouped at the bottom of the pit, most of them undressed, and they begged of him to let their out. He told them nothing had occurred, the ventilation was perfect, everything was in order, and that it must have been an earth- quake shock. He found it very difficult to pacify the men, and ultimately they consented to remain while be went through the returns. A few minutes late" he met a pit boy crying piteously and begged him to go out. Seeing the fright of both men and boys, Mr Llewellyn arranged for them to ascend, and they all left the colliery. Speaking to one of the oldest men at the colliery, Mr Llewellyn was informed that there had been an alarming report—" something like the largest and loudest thunder" his informant had ever heard. The veteran added, Although I have been in an explosion in a colliery, I never heard anything like it in my life."
CORONATION OF KING HAAKON…
News
Cite
Share
CORONATION OF KING HAAKON AND QUEEN MAUD. The Coronation of King IIaakon and Queen Maud took place at the Cathedral of Tron dhjem amid the peeling of bells and the loyal acclamations of the people. The service was largely choral. The Prime Minister, M. Michel- sen, and the Bishop of Trondhjem jointly placed the Crown on the King's head, t he j prelate offering a-short prayer that his Majesty j should be strengthened in all Royal aud Christ- j K1\P;nt lan virtues. The Minister for Foreign Affairs. M. Loveland, also conjomtly with the Bishop, took the sceptre from the altar and handed it to the King, while the Minister of the Interior assisted m the presentation of the orb, and the. Minister of War in the deliverance of the un sheathed sword, each of these acts being accompanied by a special prayer. The carl n- i atioa of the Queen was subsequently performed with similar impressive ceremonies.
WOMEN'S AFFLICTIONS.
News
Cite
Share
WOMEN'S AFFLICTIONS. Many Ladies say YENO'S SEAWEED TONIC is Magic Itself." SYMPTOMS. 1. Do you fe«l as though something was DrfiMin„ down on the tap of »onr head ? pressing 2. Have yoa achins pnino in the back ? TV. ankl«s when you ntand for a time ? your 3. Bave you palPltatloll of the heart with « a„n pilin under the heart ? ™ dull 4. Do yon feel an aching paiu between the ahoul ders or shootinp pam« m the head and llrl v 8llonl 5. Aro you excitable and nervous ? 6. Ia yoar appetite poor ? Do you t»8b spirited T°U eM"r "CCd ? Do '"Wo" spwted ? ,„7»iKS•»» pains in the Jimbs constip.Uoo .nd If go, VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC win eure you. I, has cured many .adie8 who°^ ^ffereTnTany All these symptoms indicate & « the whole vital orRauism.1^ Thie iT wrong. VENO'B SEAWEED TONir Wili rishC. It cures by actine con8tirutLnany by resa lating and bringing into a normal whole vital system. It ig plea^6 to effect^ in action, and permanent in the results obtained EISO S SEAWEED TONIC is ffaaranteed to cure ailmrr.ta Stomach, Liver, and p w/ J°m successful in female ailments and con«iiB*Hnn I valuable book accompanies each tot«o price Is IWdand^d pei bottle. aE Chemist, and Drug S lores.
[No title]
News
Cite
Share
The Newport Tramways Committee on Tuesday had a special car placed at their disposal tor the purpose of testing the various brakes on the Stow-hill cars. The trial proved in every way satisfactory.
| !Sudden I nbu rst of Water…
News
Cite
Share
Sudden I nbu rst of Water An Ogmore Disaster. SIX MEN ENTOMBED. A colliery slant situated in an out-of-the- way site near the Gilfach Goch Valley between Blackmill and Tonyrefail was partly flooded by an inrush of water through striking some old workings on Tuesday afternoon about 3 o'clock. The colliery is known as the Caradoc Vale, and is owned by a French company. It formerly consisted of one main dip, which was abandoned for some years, and this main dip became waterlogged. About two years ago the present company started another dip. striking off to the left from the old headings, using the old heading as an entrance. When the new dip bad been driven 250 yards or so a cross heading was driven slightly in the direction of the old workings, and from this stalls were being driven at the time of the present inundation. From what can be gathered from stories of survivors it appears that two men named John Cox and Edward Hathaway were working in the furthest stall,and about half an hour before the rush of water came they noticed a spout of water issuing between the rock roof and the lashing. They did not consider it was serious and therefore raised no alarm, butsuddenly the water came in much greater volume, and then an alarm was raised and a general stampede took place in the darkness and amidst the wild rushing of the incoming water. Evidently a great volume of water burst into the workings at the same moment, for the men as they rushed out could hear the heavy trams being overturned by it. At the time of the disaster between 25 and 30 men were in the colliery, and when the survivors had got out into the open it was noticed that six colliers were missing, and up to the time of telephoning no trace of them had been found, and there seems no doubt that they were over- whelmed in the flood. and that no human probability could remain of their being rescued alive. Immediately after the disaster the manager, Mr Kingdom, and others went into the work- ings to the point that the water had reached, and waded in as far as they possibly could, but they could see no trace of the missing men. neither could they get any answer to their repeated calls. The Missing. The names of the missng men are :— I Thomas Edwards (23), Llewellyn-terrace, Gilfach Goch, single « Ed, Hatherway (25), Evanstown, Gilfach Goch, single. David John Stephens (32), Gilfach Goch, single. Richard Richards (27), Gilfach Goch, single. John Morris (45), Tonyrefail, married, four children. Edward Manley (40), Waunrhyd-road, Ton- yrefail, married, two children. Rescuers Forced to Retreat. The colliery pump was submerged in the flood, and therefore could not be used to reduce the water. In order to ascertain what had become of the six missing men Mr King- dom, the manager, assisted by numerous helpers, set once set to work to see if he could get rid of some of the water by means of bail- ing, using tubs and water-tight steel trams. But this was exceedingly slow work, and the water, which was evidently still issuing into the new workings from the old, gradually gained upon the rcscuers. News of the accident quickly spread throughout the district, and Mr water in the colliery at present covered a very small area, and was about 12ft. deep at the deepest point. Some of the unfortunate men at present in the pit worked in the Rise head- ing, where the water rushed out, and had they remained in their stalls they would have been perfectly safe when the water dashed down the gradient to the junction which is formed be. tween this heading and the main road. Some of the men escaped through the windway. and it is quite possible for those left to have chosen this way instead of going with the stream. The water rushed to the hole in the rackings, ttie I diameter of which would be about 3ft. They could discern by the mark of it in the workings that the water there had lowered to the extent of about 18 inches. A surface employee told our representative that some of the men were bowled over by the I rush of the water and had to swim in order to reach safety. History of the Pit. Mr E. Kennton, agent of the company, who had arrived at the drift, and was actively en gaged in rescue work, said that the pit had been worked out by the present company four years ago. It was abandoned but was re- started again in July of last year. There were 40 men employed and between 20 and 25 were down in the pit at the time of the accident. Edward Hathaway. (Photo by H. A. Chapman, Swansea).
GETTING OUT THE WATER.I
News
Cite
Share
GETTING OUT THE WATER. I Hope is no longer entertained that the six entombed miners in the Caradoc Vale Colliery may be rescued. Yesterday a powerful pump was got into position, and it will not be long before the water is pumped out of tbe dip or reduced suiffciently to enable a complete explo- ration of the workings. The drowning out of the colliery pump rendered the task of the explorers exceptionally difficult. The pump which arrived from Cardiff about 9.30 on Tuesday night was found to be un- suitable, and the use of it was soon abandoned, and the unwatering operations proceeded by means of tanking pending the arrival of a powerful steam pump which Mr W. W. Hood, of the Glamorgan Coal Co., had sent for from Llwynypia. This pumpf arrived by road about one o'clock rn Wednesday morning. It was drawn on a waggon by four horses, and was accompanied by a squad of mechanics from the Llwynypia Collieries. On being taken to the nearest point on the road to the colliery it was found impossible to lift it THE ENTRANCE TO THE DRIFT.
Walked into a Death Trap.
News
Cite
Share
W. Hood, of Llwynypia, at once drove ovor in his motor-car, anxious to render whatever assistance he could, and on hearing that pumps were required he despatched orders to Llwyny. pia for a powerful pump to be sent on. Among the managers who also arrived on the scene ready to give assistance were Mr D Bowen Jones, of the Britannic Colliery, Gilfach Goch, and Mr Price, Cilely Colliery, Tonyr. efail. Mr F- Gray, H.M.'s inspector of mines arrived by the 8 o'clock tt*ain, and at once commenced to make an investigation. A telegram was sent to Cardiff by Mr King- dom, the manager, for a pump, and this arrived about 9-30, and work was at once commenced of placing it in position. The news caused a sensation at Gilfach Goch, where four of the men lived, and a number cf people, including relatives of the missing men, hastened to. the colliery, t-vo miles from the village, and throughout the afternoon and evening waited patiently about the mouth of the slant and on the green hill- side for any result that might be brought about by the tireless efforts which were being made to reduce the water by the rough and ready method of using tubs and wat-;r-tight steel trams. to Walked into a Death Trap. The would-be rescuers managed not long The after the accident to pick their way through bv means of an abandoned cross heading a little nearer to the entrance of the main deep than the heading m which Cox and Hatbawav worked, t.o the stall into which tue water broke. From there they we-e able to explore to the fnr. P'ld of the cross heading in which those men worked, and found that that had not been affected by the flood, but there was no trace of Hathaway, who is missing, C;>x having managed to make his way out with the others. Tohn Morris and Manley were working in a stall in another cross head much further down the deep, and they were no doubt caught like rats m a trap and drowned ^>y tue volume of water which rushed in that direction, and which as <t rushed into the deep must have caught the other three missing men, who were worling in a stall at the entoe to the head- incr in which the break-m occurred. That part of the mine is now completely filled up with water, and until a powerful pump is put into working order there is no chance of that part being explored. There seems no doubt that when the water is cleared awav there the bodies of the missing men STlf be found. There does not seem to have W. anv other part of the mine to which they u have gone and found safety. The water extends from the face at the end of the deep to a distance of alihost 60 yards- Official Statement. TVTrF. Gray, Chief Inspector of Mines, who was accompanied by Mr Dyer Lewis, assistant, made the following official statement :-The colliery takes the form oi a driven from the surface through the to the seam and then continuing for about 100 yards to the dip in the 6eam. It is house coal work is carried on with naked lights. About 2.30 one of the men in the Rise heading struck into water and he escaped, and though his partner had plenty of time to do the same he for some reason did not do so, and he is still in the pit with five others. We have driven through the outer stall to the inner one, and thus have been able to explore the inner workings, where four of the men worked, but they could not be fonnd. The pump that was keeping the pit free from water was drowned by the inrush, and the pumps that have been borrowed are now on the ground, and all haste is being made to get them into working order. When this is done the water will soon be lowered, so that we can look for the men in a part of the colliery to which we have not been able to go. The water has been kept from rising by means of tanks, which are. kept working together. The water broke through in the second stall in the face of the level on the Rise heading. This would be about 40 yards from the end of the workings There was a horse in the first heading, which had been left there by the men on account of the rush of water, and this has been found alive and well. If the four men had remained where they were in the headway when the water broke out, they would have been alive, for it was acre that the horse was discovered. Wouid Have Been Safe in their Stalls. Mr Price, M.E., Tonyrefail, forming one of the rescue party, ir. an interview, said that the over the railway embankment and through a field which then separated it from the flooded mine, and therefore it had to be taken up to Gil- fach Goch, two miles away, and there loaded on a railway waggon and run, via Hendreforgan, into the colliery siding at tne Tynewydd slant, where it arrived in the early hours of the morn- ing. Early in the morning the men of the Glam, organ Colliery marched down to the flooded mine in a body to render whatever assistance might lIe required of them. The pump was got into position about 9 a.m. and pumping proceeded. Many people from the surrounding district were congregated at the pit-top ^throughout the day, and included in the number was the sweetheart of the young man Hathaway, anxiously awaiting tidings of her entombed lover, to whom she was to be married next Monday. She was the object cf general sympathy. Difficuties were experienced with the pump- ing operations between 5 and 8 p.m., but after- wards the pump continued to work success- fully. No bodies had been recovered up to mid- night, and Mr Trump, H.M. inspector of mines, said he did not expect any would be reached till the morning. Mr Kingdom, the manager, continues on the scene, though very fatigued, having ben assiduously working since the acci- dent occurred. I PLAN OF THE COLLIERY. I win rkrs Wie staJI where Cox and Hathaway c., Working when the water burst in. (2) i Position of Tomkins and Edwards, nnri IUT ,where the horse was found. (4) Morris shan! k y's Working place. The dotted line the explorers made their way whppn o abandoned heading to the stall Cox and Hathaway had been working. 1- OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. All Hope Abandoned. in^erv* InsP«ctor of Mines, when tive said 1;h^+T £ Sday4.by our representa- the water in « operations for letting out all thrrmwK fvf colliery had proceeded that of if night by means of baling, but cess,' and °v^t' lit?? <m exceeding1y slow pro- Asked u Pr°gress was made. hope for t>I J1.?, thought there was any 1\ hope for t>I J1.?, thought there was any head gravely and said and n^hIn!fa>thCre,iS ,Very ^pe indeed, and perhaps it would be better to say • No at once. I do not think that any hope can be held out to the relatives that the men will be recovered alive." Mr F. Gray supplied the followin g official statement in the afternoon :— Through the kindness of Mr W. W. Hood, of the Glamorgan Collieries, Llwynypia, an excellent pump was taken down the drift at 9 o'clock this morning, and at 12 o'clock was pumping, and is now working well. Of course we cannot tell how soon the water will be got out, but with real good luck we hope to get the water out by 10 or 11 o'clock to- morrow morning. We do not anticipate being able to recover any of the bodies until then. All hope has now been abandoned of rescuing any of the men." The Manager Interviewed. Mr Jacob Kingdom, the colliery manager, was reluctant to say very much in view of the inquiry. He stated, however, that the colliery belonged to the South Wales United Collirey Company, which was formed of French gentle- men, and the majority of the directors lived in France. He was working to plan. and had a plan of the old waterlogged workings, but did not know that they were so near to them. They had not a surveyor at present, for their surveyor had just left them and gone to Madagascar. WHAT THE SURVIVORS SAY. A Race With the Flood. John Cox, who was with Edward Hathaway in the stall where the water was tapped, gave our representative a very interesting and intel- ligent account of his experiences. We were," he said, having a snack about haJf-past 2, and Ned and I were having a few jokes. It was Ned's birthday, and he was 22. He said to me, I say, Jack, I am getting very old, and I replied, Yes, you are quite an old man. Ned.' He then said," I wonder if there will be any postcards for me when I get homo about my birthday. I don't suppose there will be,' and I replied.. Ye;" you are sure to get something. Ned.' At that time there was a spout of water— something like the stream from a tap issuing from the top of the coal and near the rock roof. We did not take much notice of it, and we did not know whether the old workings were near or not. But at last, when the haulier, David Shelly, came along ten minutes afterwards we drew his attention to it and fye said, I think we had better have the horse out. That startled us," added Cox. Ned and I began to run down the heading towards the deep in order to get out. As we ran our naked ligbt5,with which we were working in the mine, went out. We could hear the water rushing out behind us and overturning the trams. As we rushed along I heard shouts behind us of Look out and keep your lights.' We were shouting the alarm all the time and we must at that time have passed Stephens, Richards, and Edwards, who were working in the head. ing, but nearer to the top, and we think they were drowned. Ned Hathaway was coming behind me, and I heard him say something. What it was I don't know. I have the impression that he must have turned back in the darkness to help one of the others, and was himself carried awav by the flood. J staggered on blindly as best I could, and eventually got out of the mine, and gave the alarm to the manager. I after wards went back into the colliery as far as the water would allow me, but on hearing that my butty was probably drowned it made me feel so upset that I came out again. I had only been working in this colliery sipce last Monday- week." Joined Hands to Help Each Other. Philip Davies, collier, working in the cross heading farther down the dip where Manley and Morris were caught by the water, said :— I and my butties, Sam Humphreys, Morris Loverell, and Wm. Kelly, had come out to the mouth of the stall in order to have dinner. Manlcy and Morris were working at the time further in the heading. We suddenly heard a shout, but didn't know what it meant. But we socn began to fear an inrush of water, and began to run out. We had no time to warn Manley and Morris, and I have no doubt they were caught by the water and drowned. We lour had not gone many yards when we met a terrific rush of water, which came up to our necks almost, and we had the greatest difficulty in keeping cur feet. We joined hands in order to assist one another, and those at the end of the line which was thus formed ;ot hold of timbers or steam pipes or anything [hey could lay hands on, and thus we managed ivitli the greatest difficulty" to find our way out Di the colliery." Dunn's Providential Escape. Ernest Dunn, of Heolycyw, a married man, ibout 25 years of age, whose escape was re- na,rkable.must have been drowned had he been it his usual working place when the water )roke in. Dunn's partner, named Phillips, was inable to work on Tuesday, otherwise both .vould in all probability have been working in i part of the mine from which their escape would have been impossible. Dunn, after going lome to report himself to his wife. went back Mid worked aU Tuesday night with the rescue party, though he had been working since 5 o'clock that morning. SYMPATHY. Message From the Home Secretary. Mr Gray, H.M.I.M., received the following telegram from the Home Office on Wednesday evening Secretary of State hears with deep regret of the accident at Caradoc Vale Colliery. He wishes you to convey his sympathy to the relatives of those who havr lost their lives. —Under Secretary." The Mines Commission. The following telegram was also received by Mr Gray on Wednesday at the colliery :— The Royal Commission on Mines, sitting in Westminster, have heard with great regret of tbe disaster at the Caradog Vale Colliery. They trust that there is still hope of the imprisoned men being rescued.—Harries, Secre- tary, Great George-street. Westminster." From Federation Leaders. I A telegram has been received from Mr T. Richards, M.P.(general secretary of the Miners' Federation), by Mr Tom Evans, checkweigher. Penygraig.as follows "Go to Gilfach to repre- sent me. Get full details of the disaster. Con- vey the great sympathy of Mabon, Brace, Wil- Iiams, and myself."
SWANSEA COUNTY COURT.I
News
Cite
Share
SWANSEA COUNTY COURT. Workmen's Compensation Funds. At Swansea County Court on Wednesday, before Judge Bryn Roberts, Mr Picton Evans mentioned the case of Elizabeth Harris, Morris ton, and Messrs Rees and Kirby, in which Mrs Harris wished to have out of court moneys left in trust for her child, who had died. Her husband was killed io September, 1904, and £253 16s was awarded as compensation— £ 100 for the widow and the balance to be invested for the only child. On evidence that the child was dead, his Honour made the order. Bankruptcy Motions. Rees Macdonald, late of the Jeffreys Arms, iicensed victualler, applied for his discharge. The Official Receiver said the receiving order tt'as made in February last year, and he thought it a case where a discharge should be suspen- led for two years. The Judge Would bank- rupt consent to any judgment being made against him ? The Official Receiver It would oe useless. The applicant said he only earned 241 a week eus a barman. The discharge was suspended for two vears. On the application of Mr Treharne, solicitor, ivho appeared lor the trustee in baukruptcy of the estate of Richard Woolacott Mazley, a builder, the judge sanctioned the appointment af Mr J. F. Harvey, accountant, as receiver by ¡ way of equitable execution to recover the sum I sf JE337 7s 4d, from the bankrupt's wife.
THE ABERAMAN HOTEL.I
News
Cite
Share
THE ABERAMAN HOTEL. I Monopoly Value Reduced. The clerk to the magistrates of the division of Miskin Higher (Colonel D. R. Lewis) has received a communication from the clerk to the Glamorgan County Licensing Session stating tnat the committee has reduced the monopoly value of the Aberaman Hotel. The licence was granted at the last licensing session subject to a monopoly value of .£10,000. and the committee has now reduced this amount to £6,000. A meeting of the local justices will be held next Tuesday.
TILL NOON.
News
Cite
Share
TILL NOON. THE SIMPLE DISH THAT KEEP, VIGOROUS AND WELL FED. When the Doctor takes his own medicine and the grocer eats the food he recommends some confidence comes to the observer. A Grocer says Six years ago I became so weak from stomach and bowel trouble that I was finally compelled to give up all work in my shop, and in fact all kinds of work, for about four years. The last year I was con- fined to the bed nearly all of the time, and much of the time unable to retain fcod of any sort on my stomach. My bowels were badly constipated continually, and I lost in weight from list. 111b. down to 9st. When at the bottom of the ladder I changed treatment entirely, and started on Grape-Nuts and cream or milk for nourishment. I used absolutely nothing but this for about three months. I slowly improved until I got out of bed and began to move about. I have been improving regularly, and now in the past two years have been working about fifteen hours a day in the shop and never felt better in my life. During these two years I have never missed a breakfast of Grape-Nuts and cream or milk, and often have it two meals a day, but the entire breakfast is always made of Grape- Nuts and cream alone. Since commencing the use of Grape-Nuts I have never used anything to stimulate the action of the bowels, a thing I had to do for years but this food keeps me regular and in fine shape, and I am growing stronger and heavier every day. My customers, naturally, have been in- terested, and I am compelled to answer a great many questions about Grape-Nuts. Some people would think that a simple dish of Grape-Nuts and cream would not carry one through to the noonday meal, but it will, and in the most vigorous fashion." Name given by Grape-Nuts Co., 66, Shoe- lane, E.G. I
. Car's Amazing Careefc
News
Cite
Share
Car's Amazing Careefc THREE PERSONS KILLED; MANY INJURED. Motor Omnibus Wrecked; TraffiC Scattered. One of the most disastrous accidents recorded in the history of electric train^p occurred on Saturday afternoon on the gradient connecting Hollowav and *'V?J.0ad roads with that portion of the Great North known as Archway-road, Highgate, 'L.Qie Three persons were killed and some 20 or injured, incuding tramway and 'bus passeng and pedestrians. The accident was due to a runaway of the large and splendidly-equipped of the suburban system inaugm-ated vj? Middlesex County Council, plying Holloway and Whetstone, but the actual even the officials of the company were even the officials of the company were ugb to explain late on Saturday night. altIK*ngjj the disaster occurred about half-past 3 id afternoon. Loaded with passengers, possibly 60 in o ber, the car from Whetstone had stopper « Winchester Hotel, a little to the north Highgate Archway, where a steady decline the roadway commences, and had started the terminus at Highgate Archway Ta' when from some means complete appears to have been lost over its mechanic" Whether this was due to the propelling losing contact with the overhead wire and brakes being insufficient in power to check weight of the vehicle on the gradient IS course not at present known. With increasing impetus the car dashed he^V long down the hill, the driver apparently alone aware of the terrible danger that a,W. his charge at the terminus, where horse-buS £ **J motor-busses and electric and horse-tra.; assemble from various routes, until it was too obvious to those aboard, those on 1 vehicles in front and the crowds of awaiting conveyance that a very ala accident was inevitable. Midway down the gradient the first coo occurred, with a funeral procession rom Finchley Cemetery. Fortunately it safely two coaches containing mourners, the hearse was wrecked, the driver thrown to the ground and injured, horses were thrown and cut.. It A little further on a furniture van turned i corner, was caught by the runaway, pitched into a lamp standard. Van standard were wrecked, and by occupants of the tram were terror-stricken, in their panic crowded to the rear part platform to escape, but so great was the that so far as is known nobody except a yo on top of the car escaped while the car in motion, and he clambered over the side was thrown into the roadway stunned. lø < A motor 'bus was the next reached, and when the tram crashed into it tbd DUS seemed to be lifted bodily into the air :ø f was then hurled literally through the front of a stationer's shop. Catching the hind the 'bus, which had not cleared the lines, tram turned it round, this time wrecking front of a confectioner's shop. There was only the shapeless body of the 'bus, the heaVw buiit iron frame being bent out of shape. At the terminus police were regulating queue of people struggling for seats on a ca; about to start for Whetstone, this trip very popular one on a fine dav such as Sat1^ i day, when the runaway hurled its weightj*j the stationary car, and both were forced the limits of the rails on which they ran i^J the roadwa y, where dozens of tramcars 'busses of the horse type are always passengers for the centre of London. Hero i nothing but a battered mass of woodwork aB^ metal. a An electric light standard was smashed and, i cab overturned, and people prostrate a bleeding, groaning and shrieking for help, I'Z scattered over the roadway. The shouting ° observers, the cries of terrified women, and tD blowing of police whistles for assistance P1^ voked a situation most alarming, and it W8** j not until a large body of police formed a cor round the scene that anything like order obtained. The sight of a man lying on the road with head dreadfully smashed, and a nurse j beside him appealing for assistance, was oiD^ jj one of many painful incidents that made "P. terrible scene. The front of a cafe was in, and through the wrecked shop a 4 woman was hurled, but singularly enough tained besides shock only cuts to her hands face. iiflJl The suddenness of the whole affair can X gathered from the fact that although the '| must have run away for at least half a was only with the smashing of the shop fronrj and the noise of the terrific impact massive vehicles, combined with the shotrtJOK and screaming, that many of those to j vicinity of the terminus were made aware what had occurred. Before the police sufficiently strong to control the ^citemenC luo public bad improvised ambulances for tmjg injured and commenced the work of removal to the Great Northern Hospital Jj* » Holloway but medical and ambulance ? lrom the infirmaries adjoining the scene as jj as private practitioners were speedily on scene, and lent first aid to the sufferers» were then removed to the Hospital in vehicle obtainable. The following deaths were announced "ttbØ Hospital late on Saturday night:— Henry Stephen Hall, 9, Tregs-road, Park, coach-painter. Mr Mansfield, of New North-road. Ernest Cordell (18), painter, of 19, Grov road, Holloway. I The above all died after admission to Hospital. Among the most seriously injured are(5eoWj Edward datworthy, undertaker's assistant, Camden Town (injuries to head and arnil Russell Vowles, Fairbridge House, road (injuries to hand, face, and legs); Crowje, of New Park-road, Brixton injuries to head and fractured arm shoulder). A large number of injured were able to ptO" ceed home, 17 being detained. The Tram Driver Criticised. 01 At the ir quest on Tuesday on the victims the electric tram accident at Highgate on day, the driver of the car said that some tim before the accident he noticed that sometb. was wrong with the brakes, and told the CO ductor that if he saw the inspector he waS tell him that something was wrong. wnÐ coming slowly down the hill he could not SfOP the car at the compulsory stop, even by ing the motor and using all the brakes, and f ran down the hill at a tremendous pace, the car had collided with a hearse witoc jumped off. He had gone down the hill se^ or eight times a day lately. Mr A. H. Potts, chief engineer to the Me politan Tramways, Ltd., said he did not with all the evidence of the driver. He sidered it bad driving for the wheels to arZt Flats on wheels were marks of bad driv*f^ and if a driver continually caused them he 'Z. dismissed. In his (witness's) opinion, it was a** error of judgment on the driver's part. old Continuing, witness said the driver sho ti" not have used hand brakes, but the m:e11 brake, with which witness could have sal taken the car down the hill from the arch^8*. Drivers were warned by special notice to Pti" ceed down the gradient with tbe magna 011 brake. Hand brake was quite unnecessary tbe hill.. Witnesses were then called who saw the a^r^ dent, and Mr Harold Squire, on behalf Middlesex County Council, expressed symp8^^ with the relatives of deceased and sufferers, which the inquiry was adjourned to July 1°*
DIED FROM SHOCK.
News
Cite
Share
DIED FROM SHOCK. Effect of the Thunderstorm. A man named Sooby, living at the Dt Haverfordwest was found dead in a shed by. |rr son at Hepcastle early on Sunday nioijfo' Deceased and his son went into the shed ■jj shelter f-om the thunderstorm. The son asleep, and on waking found his father de.k. is supposed that the cause of death was ø as some time ago be had a brother who bJd killed by lightning, and since then be greatly dreaded being out in a thunderstoØ
TREHERBERT GROCER'S FAILURE-
News
Cite
Share
TREHERBERT GROCER'S FAILURE- At Pontypridd Bankruptcy Court on Tu (before the Registrar, Mr James Spickett.. D. Parry, grocer and confectioner, lately ing on business at Bute-street, Trehe came up for his adjourned examination, statement of accounts showed gross lia°jj 92 £ 2,153 13s Id, of which £ 2,125 represent* unsecured creditors, and the deficienc1 iet The Deputy Official Jteceb-4 (Mr Ernest Daniel) intimated that debtor been ordered to file special accounts, bti yj had not yet complied, as he had been UD?^tPt g*t the books from the trustee. informed him that the books had noW o1Øii' sent on, and he woulf1 prepare the acCag immediately. The examination was "a' adjourned.
MORRISTON MOTORIST FINED.
News
Cite
Share
MORRISTON MOTORIST FINED. On Wednesday at Swansea Thissen (18), for driving a motor fot danger of the public and °f not giving warning on the apro i his motor, was fined 20s and costs in tecond: case and ordered to pay the costs in therdS Whilst cycling from PenJlergaer towar^ c]je<» riston a man named David James was d c down, receiving bruises on the nose an No warning was given.
CAMBRIAN RAILWAYMAN K,LLtD^
News
Cite
Share
CAMBRIAN RAILWAYMAN K,LLtD^ A fatal accident happened on morning to a foreman ganger ^anltTjoilwa^3' Morris, employed on the Cambrian between St. Harmon and Rhayader- ceased was doing repairs near ^ar^??heels ° .n and was in the act of moving the lurry from the line, when a special g a pproached and struck deceased, cu T& left leg and causing immediate V, br.dy was removed to Rhayader MO 0jarr»e<v ceased was about 58 years of age. aa-