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Sad Drowaing Fatality at Kidwelly

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Sad Drowaing Fatality at Kidwelly On Thursday evening in last, week Kid welly was startled by the news that a son of Mr S. tl. Evans, conductor of the Town lland, had met with his death whilst bathing in ts-i River wendraeth-fach. The first, alarm was so indefinite that it was received with incre- dulity by many people, who weie inclined to attach no credence to it, but who, ne.er- tliehss, hurried alqng the embankment 01 the right bank oi the river to a point aoove a deep pool known as Pvvll Kinsail. ^ie there were evidences which piov-ed that the dread news was omy too true. Folded matly on the river bank lay the clothes jn Aoung Haydn Evans, second son of All" S. H. E. all, wIde one learnt Jroiu the lips of his com- panion and cousin, Willie John, the slJij which left no doubt that the cruel waters had rla.imed as their victim the innocent life or 11 one who was just entering the peiiou oi human existence'known as louth. ilit sto.y was a «"e-one tuu famirtar during the bathing season. It »1>- peared that Hadyn and lvis cousin, who lived with him, alter finishing their (tliey were 'both pupils of the Old CoJ e» School, Carmarthen) left the house about < p.m., with the object of jo.inillg some com- panions in a game of cricket lo reach til, rendevous they made a short cut along t ie embankment, and on arriving at one has now to describe the fatal spot, Hajd expressed a desire to have a bathe. • cousin tried to dissuade him on ^C° +}l01t the coldness of the evening,, but vv thoat success. Having divested himself oi 11 » clothing, he pAniged 111 and swam ac,<th ,river, a distance of about lo yard. On reaching the other side, he ccmplained oi the low temperature of the water and stated tint lie would at once return to dress. Suit n the action to the wOld, he gave one or -,wo strokes, when, without a "ord lie Twared his friend being under the impres IS; that he had dived, and would of course soon re-appear. The second, passe.3, and young John called out Haydn sev( a times, but there was no visible moven.ent in the dark water, and the eager witcliet-, realizing that there was something wron, called loudly for assistance. But in that un- frequented spot, there was no on^ t? r^t1e„ ,c, aoneal and it was only when the tr glitemci fad had run up to the town and going 500 yards distant that a response was^ made, and fn a short time many people had arriv ed ea<*er to render, what assstance they could. Ks Dan Davies, J. Watkins, P. J- G.las- bev, and later on Messrs Tom John, Fiank Waikins, and Evan Rees without the slight- est hesitation dived into the deep pool time after time, but each time the result was the Ihej oouM not .reach the bottom and their gallantry went unrewarded. But this did not cause them to relax their efforts, and their determined and persistent attempts to get at the i>oor lad evoked miration -from the large crowds of onlookere, each of whom silently hoped and prayed that Se it ,o,.1d be too late re^uers ™ U hrin^ him to the surtace. dIL W» lengthened into an hour and still no esndt. The tide now began to flow, and falling the work of the swimmers became more difficult. Meanwhile a boat was pro- cured and rowed to the spot. GrappliiV- irons .poles, and nets were requisitioned, and aided by a powerful light brought bv Master Oliver Stephens, Causeway street the' gallant band of men £ s work. But it was evident to the^ onl°okex- amongst whom was the grief stricken father of the missing lad, that the hope of saving life was gone. Hour succeeded horn, the darkness deepened the cold increased the solemn hour of midnight arrived, and still the diligence of the searching party was un- graded. Relief, parties were organised under the supervision of 1 .C. D. J. £ .8' who had been early on the scene. The tide receded, there were signs in the eastern skj of the approach of dawn, the sun slowly ap- reared above the horizon., the larks ascended and quite oblivious of the dark tragedy that had been enacted ibelow, poured foTth a Stream of melody, which, was swollen with the notes of others of the feathered woiM 1 ut even yet the 1-ong vigil was not ended. It was not until 4.10 a.m. that the body was found bv Messrs Wm. Fisher and Thos. Jones and having been reverently placed on a stretcher was conveyed to the W,t,ental home in Water street, accompanied by a large num- ber of sympathisers with the bereaved family. THE INQUEST. At 3.30 p.m. on Friday, Mr J. W. Nicholas (Coroner) conducted an inquest at the Town Hall, Mr Georige Jones being the foreman of the jury i; The first witness called was deceased s father, Stephen Evans, who said: I reside at 59, Water street, Kidwelly. I am a tin- plate worker. The deceased was my son, named Hadyn Mansel Evans, a.g« 14 years, and was attending the Old College School, Carmarthen, going back and fore night and morning. I last saiw him alive about 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 24th. I left him in the hous. I did not know that he intended going to bathe that night. The next witness was William Thomas John, age 15 years, who said: My home is at Waunyclyn, Trimsaran. I am lodging at 59, Water street, with the deceased's father, and .attended the Old College School, Carmarthen, going hack and fore night and morning. Deceased was my cousin. We left the house about 6.45 o'clock last night, with the intention of going to have a game of cricket on the burrows. To go down there we would have to go over the embankment of the Gwendreath-fach river. On the way deceased said he felt he would like to hdve a swim. I told him not to th 11k of it. that it was too cold. He was saying a. 1 the time that lie would like to have a. hath- When we got to the pool at the winding ot the river, deceased went to the side of ths river and felt the water. He told me that it was rather cold, but said "I will have a swim to the other side and back." He to'd me to mind his clothes. I did not batne iiiy self, as I can't do anything in the water Deceased then went into the water, and swam across to the other side. I asked him how was the water. He replied HIes very cold. I then told him not to swim hack, hut go round. I meant for him to go round by the bridge near by. He said "No, I'll swim and then dress, and shall not go in again." He then got into the water, and started SWJIP- ing back. After coming a few yards I noticed his face turn upwards, and then he got nnolpr the surface. I guessed he was in diff. u ties and shouted "Hadyn! Haydn W hut nid not receive an answer. I was thinking per baps he was diving, for he was a g'1' swimmer and diver. I stayed by the bank for some six or seven minutes, expecting hiin to come up, for I did not think it possible for him to drown under my very eyes. I thought then that it was all up. and started crying and ran to tell a lot of boys, who were pIn:" ing close by to come and help me, that Haydn had been in the water a very long trie They could not do anything. Some big bors came and dived after him, but could not be in the water long as it was too cold They then went to fetch the police. P C. Davies was the next witness. H" said: About 8.30 p.m. yesterday I was in- formed that the deceased was drowned while foathing in the river Gwendraeth, and that the body could not be found. We have no grappling irons in town, and I procured two hooks from the slaughter house, and ti l them together. There were scores of vvilli ig helpers there, several diving into the pool, which was from 10 to 12 feet deep, and known as Trocyn-sael pool. At this spot the river is 15 yards wide. The body Avas recovered at 3.35 a.m., and conveyed to his father's house. The Jury returned a. verdict of "Accident- ally drowned while bathing in the Gwen- draethfiach River." Mr George Jones proposed a vote of sym- pathy with the parents of deceased in their sad and sudden loss. The Coroner said he would see that it would be conveyed to then) by letter. THE FUNERAL. The mortal remains, of young Haydn Evans were interred in the Capel Sul graveyard on Monday last, when a vast concourse assem- .)7 e bled to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, and of svm- with the bereaved relatives.. A short service was conducted in the 110u"(> 1nr the Rev W. C. Jenkins (pastor) and the singing ();r "Bvdd mvrdd o rhytfeddodau." the pmce"- sion was formed in the following order, viz. 'M inisters of religion Rev W. C. Jenkins fT.), n. G. Owen (C.M.1). Gruffvdd Evans ^Vicar). D. T. Jones (Curate), H. T?. T(,n,s (B.), Ed. Jones (C.M.), D. Morgan (W.). T. Jones, Troorchv nv.), Joseph Harry and J. B. Thomas, Old College School, Carmarthen members of the deceased's class in the Old College School; upper standards of the Castle Council School (in charge of Mr D. O. Jones and staff); giri's of the HiTIfield School (in charge of Mrs M. B. Williams and staff); and the general public; the coffin, which was (r polished oak furnished with brass fittings, and covered with floral tributes, the breast plate beating the simple inscription: Haydf Evans. Died June 24, 1909. Ag«d 14 years. The mourners included Mr and Mrs Evans (inther mother), Masters Dd. John, Tudor, uillie, and Hubert Evans (brothers), Gretta Evans (sister)), Mr and Mrs D. Davie.s (gtandifather and grandmother), Mr J. Mansel Davies ancle), Mr and Mrs David Evans (uncle and aunt), Mr and Mrs J. Evans (uncile and aunt), Rev T. Evans (uncle), Miss M. Evans (aunt), Mr and Mrs Tom Davies (uncle and aunt), Mr and Mrs E. Jones (uncle and aunt). Mi- and Mrs Woolgar (uncle and aunt), and Miss Eliza Evans, Car- marthen (aunt). in Cape! Sul, which was too small to con- tain the huge assembly, the Rev W. C. Jen- k'ns read a suitable portion of Holy Scripture and prayed, and the Rev J. B. Thomas deliv- e: eel a short address on behalf of the Old College School. A very effective rendering of the "Dead March" (Saul), was given on the organ hy Mr Tom Thomas, organist. At the graveside, the Rev H. R. Jones offered up an earnest prayer for Divine solace for the sorrowing family; the hymn "Bydd nivrdd o rhyfeddodau" was again sung, the girls and boys of the Hillfield and Castle School dropped hunches of flowers into the grave, and the impressive .service ended. Amongst thnse present at the chapel were Mr J. Li'. Thomas J.P., T.inlan Mr Oakley Harries. Garreg: Mr T. Jones, Mountain S Ir ol Mr W. Richards, conductor or the orchestra at Capel Als, Llanelly, and the deceased lad's music teacher, as well as several Aldermen and ouncillors of the Boro' Council. Wreaths were sent by: Classmates at the ''•d College School, Carmarthen; Cousin Willie T. John, Waunyclyn; his former schoolmates and teachers Castle Council School; Capel Sul Sunday School; Aunts Marv and Lizzie; Edward Evans and family, Gla.is; from the girls at Llanelly School; from the girls at Hillfield School, Kidwelly; Mr and ,1f.rs Nicholas, Ty Mawr; Mr and Mrs Davies, Bailey street; Mr and Mrs Lowe, Gwendraeth terrace; Mr and Mrs Gower, The Arlais Ucliaf; Mr and Mrs Gower, butcher; Mrs R. H. Davids, Lady street; Miss Griffiths, Orchard Villa Misses Lizzie Gravell and M. Francis; Misses Edwards, Bont Farm; Miss Nellie Griffiths, Station road; Hillfield Infant School; David J. and Lily Davies, Llangadog Cottage; Frank Hart, Wesley terrace; Augustus Rees, Park House; Ernest and Aforton Wild, Lady st.; Sidney Walters and Ivor Cole, Water st.; Oliver and Freddy Stephens, Causeway st. There were alsa a few bunches of flowers with no names attached. The funeral arrangements were efficiently carried out by Mr Walter Cole, builder, etc., Water street. By the death of Master Haydn Evans a promising career has been cut short. Having passed with credit through the standards of the Castle Council School, which he left in December last, he proceeded to the Old College School, Carmarthen, to prepare for' tile pi-elin-vinary examination, of the Pharma- ceutical Society. Arrangements had been made to serve his apprenticeship with Mr Lewis Jones, chemist, Kidwelly, with whom he had worked in the short interval between leaving his old and going to his new school. He was a. very proficient violinist, having won several prizes at local eisteddfodau, and had taken prominent parts in operettas, cantatas, etc. Mr S. H. Evans desires to convev through our columns his heartfelt thanks to the inha- bitants of Kidwelly for the universal sym- pathy extended to himself and his family in their time of great sorrow. He also wishes to acknowledge the letters and messages of condolence received from friends outside, as well as the numerous wreaths received and other floral1 tributes so kindly sent. To the men who showed their sympathy in such a practical manner during the weary hours of ^hursday night he is profoundly grateful.

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