BURSTING OF A DAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14567, 2 January 1911, Page 5

BURSTING OF A DAM.

SCHOOL-TEACHER'S BRAVERY

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. (Received January 1, 6 p.m.) London, December 31. An Albert medal of the second class has been awarded to R. Williams, headmaster of the Clydach Vale School, for saving ' life last March, on the occasion of the bursting of a dam. '' ' • ■ - * ■ • •

WHIRLED ROUND AND ROUND. The bursting of a dam at Blaenclydach caused much havoc, and was responsible for the deaths of six persons—four girls, a mother, and her infant. The scon© in the Clydach Valo school when the waters burst their bounds was awe-inspiring. There were 900 scholars at their lessons. Some were marched into the playground, but unfortunately the playground was right in the course of the torrent. Children were swept off their feet by" the dozen and whirled round and round- like footballs exst into .the sea. Their screams were heard above the roar of the ■ waters. ' The 'men and ■ women rescuers, teachers, and miners, could scarcely retain their foothold. A girl aged nine, nomed Blodwen-Davies, was snatched from their hands by the flood, and was borne away for quite 100 yds: Her lifeless body was not recovered for some hours. Gertie Rees, the five-year-old daughter of a miner, was later reported missing. In the blinding snowstorm which marked a later ' stage of the* deluge her body was found in a brook into which she had been flung. Miss Harris, one of the school mistresses, stated 'that, the children .behaved splendidly, though the water was rushing in a torrent around them. Many of the girls clutched desperately at her clothes, while others looked appealingly in her face., It was when , the workmen arrived that the children got. excited, and they rushed to ; the men, pleading to be rescued. .The tender feeling shown by the bigger girls towards the infants was touching and splendid.