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Accidents at Rhas Las Pit
19 January 1901
Funeral The interment of the deceased men, James Hugh Jones and Thomas Lewis, took place on Thursday afternoon at Pant Cemetery. There was an exceptionally large attendance, the men employed at the Vochriw pits, which were idle for the day, being present almost en masse. Before proceeding to the cemetery, both corteges joined to form one huge procession, which was of an imposing and impressive character
19 January 1901
Another sad and serious accident took place about noon on Saturday at No. 2, or Rhas Las Pit, belonging to Messrs. Guest, Keen and Co. Limited, whereby two men lost their lives, and two of their fellows were badly injured. Reports of the mishap reached Dowlais in the course of an hour or so, and the news was quickly noised abroad. The nature and full extent of the accident were, however, not known at the outset, and the necessarily scanty details to hand were grossly exaggerated, so that the wildest rumours gained currency, and the affair became magnified into a bigger colliery disaster. At Fochriw itself, the affrighted inhabitants, fearful of the worst, flocked to the pithead, which lies within a stone's throw of the village, whilst in Dowlais, a perfect ferment of excitement prevailed, and large numbers of people made their way to Caeharris station, where the colliery workmen detrain, to ascertain the truth. More assuring information was, however, received, and served to allay the distracted feelings of the many.
Briefly the facts are these. Owing to the fatality earlier in the week to the winding engine-man, Elias Evans, his comrades, in order to attend the funeral on Saturday afternoon, worked only a short day, ceasing employment at 12 instead of 2 o'clock. Just about noon, the journey of 12 loaded trams of coal - the last of the day - was being drawn up the 9-ft incline. Suddenly, after proceeding a distance of about 100 yards, the last nine trams became disconnected, and made a wild run back for some 30 or 40 yards, finally crashing into several workmen who were making their way up the drift towards the shaft. A harrowing scene of indescribable disorder prevailed. Help was speedily forthcoming, and after the elapse of considerable time, and with extreme difficulty, the workmen were at last extricated from the avalanche of coal and debris. One unfortunate fellow, James Hugh Jones, collier, Pantscallog, Dowlais, was found to have been killed outright. He was 32 years of age, married, but had no children. Thomas Lewis, a haulier, a youth of 17, living with his parents at 15, Ivor-street, was shockingly crushed about the lower part of the body, and he died shortly after being conveyed home, Dr. Stuart Cresswell being in attendance at the time. Two other workmen, Thomas Bassington, collier, Deri, and Thomas Morris, roadman, aged 29, Penydarren, also suffered serious injuries and shock, the latter sustaining an ugly lacerated wound on the cheek, and one of his ears was almost torn off. They are, however, making favourable progress under the care of Dr. Davies (Fochriw), and Dr. Murison (Penydarren). Meanwhile, Mr. Henry W. Martin, the general manager of collieries, Mr. Howell Jones, deputy manager, and other officials, reached the spot by special train from Dowlais, and gave every possible assistance. Shortly afterwards, the dead and injured were conveyed to their respective homes, the arrival of the train at Caeharris station being awaited by an immense gathering of people.
The inquest upon the bodies of two men, James Hugh Jones, and Thomas Lewis, was held on Tuesday morning at the Police Station, Dowlais. Mr. Thomas Jones, grocer, Church-street, was the foreman of the