SCHOOLMASTER'S BRAVERY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1014, 2 January 1911, Page 5

SCHOOLMASTER'S BRAVERY.

'... 'ALBERT MEDAL 'AWARDED. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyright. '.(Rec. January 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 31. The Albert Medal, second class, has been'awarded to Mr. R, R. Williams, headmaster of tlio Clydach Valo School, ; foresvinij life in the flood.p{ Morch 11 wrt- -• .v»lt o'io 1 .! dtv

Through the bursting of a dam in an old .colliery level at Blaonclydach, in the ;Rhondda yaHey; Glamorganshire, on tlio' 'aftornoon of March 11 last year, several lives wero iost. At ten o'clock at night four bodies had been recovered. '. .

The old level is situated on a mountain 6ide, and operations had been abandoned for about nvo years. Tho dam had been ereoted a§ a precautionary measure, and it is surmised that an accumulation of water from the recent heavy rains proved too, strong for the barrier. Tho water, rushed out in a 'great resistless torrent, sweopingeverythingbeforo.it. ■ The flood descended, with , scarcely & moment's warning, upon the village below. and men, women, and children, liad to fleo for their lives. When tho flood had assumed a definite! course tho .villagers stood and watched like helpless children tho path of ruin made by the waters. Tho scene in tho Clydach Vale Schools when the waters burst their bounds was awe-inspiring.' There wore 900 scholars at their lessons. Some were marched into tho .playground, but unfortunately tho playground was right in tho course of tho torrent! Children were' swept off their feet by t|ie dozen and whirled round and round like footballs cast into tho sea. Their screams were heard above the roar of tho waters. The men and women resetters, teachers, nnd miners, could scarcely retain their foothold. • • .