GENERAL
INTEREST
INTEREST
Non-mining/railway related accidents
30 August 1902 Boating Disaster at Dolygaer Four people drowned out of a party of fifteen from Rhymney. An eye witness account of the disaster was given by D. Harris of Fochriw.
1 January 1910 Sad Fatality near Dowlais: Sisters Drowned in Pond The mining hamlet of Pantywaun, situated on the mountain eminence adjacent to Fochriw, was overclouded on Christmas Eve by a distressing double tragedy, the victims being Margaret Ann and Martha Jane, aged five and seven years respectively, the young daughters of William and Mary Ann Dyer, Rhas Las Cottages, Pantywaun. In the neighbourhood are several ponds which serve as a feeder to the Fochriw collieries. It appears that the children ventured on the surface for some distance, when it gave way, and they were plunged into the water and drowned. There do not appear to have been any eye-witnesses, and it was several hours before the bodies were recovered, when P.S. Williams and P.C. Wilson of Fochriw made a raft, and after considerable difficulty, took the bodies from the ice. On Monday, an inquest was held by the district coroner, when a verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.
1 January 1910 Sad Fatality near Dowlais: Sisters Drowned in Pond The mining hamlet of Pantywaun, situated on the mountain eminence adjacent to Fochriw, was overclouded on Christmas Eve by a distressing double tragedy, the victims being Margaret Ann and Martha Jane, aged five and seven years respectively, the young daughters of William and Mary Ann Dyer, Rhas Las Cottages, Pantywaun. In the neighbourhood are several ponds which serve as a feeder to the Fochriw collieries. It appears that the children ventured on the surface for some distance, when it gave way, and they were plunged into the water and drowned. There do not appear to have been any eye-
12 March 1921 Fochriw Tragedy: A Death Trap Mr. R. J. Rhys conducted an inquiry at Fochriw into the circumstances of the death of Morfydd Jones, daughter of Walter Jones, who died as a result of injuries received whilst returning from school. Walter Jones, father, gave evidence of identification, and said his daughter was active and in the best of health. She was 10 years of age. On the day of the fatality, he was called from work, but his daughter was dead when he reached home. Mary Thomas and Mary Morgan, playmates of the deceased, said they were playing "touch" on the way from school. They did not hear the horn of the car. Percy Edwards said he was standing on the platform of the Fochriw station and saw the car coming down the Pontlottyn road. It was coming down very slowly and he could hear the horn. Hugh Jones, the driver, said that he was a driver of three years experience. He was driving from Pontlottyn down the hill, with the engine free. The children were coming out of school and he saw the girl falling in front of the wheel of the car without anyone touching her. He pulled up within his own length. P. S. Williams also said the car was going slowly. The coroner remarked upon the dangerous turn in the bridge, which was only 15 feet wide, and then passed a verdict of "Accidental Death," and exonerated the driver from blame.
7 March 1925 Accident A very distressing accident befell Master Stanley Jones, the young son of Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Jones, Glen View, Pentwyn, on Sunday morning, when a large stone from one