Cyflawni'r dasg
Yr tîm o achubwyr
Cerdyn post yn cofnodi trychineb
Y pump glöwr hachub
Ym mis Awst 2010 caewyd 33 o weithwyr 700 metr o dan wyneb y ddaear yn dilyn cwymp ym mwynglawdd copr/aur San Jose yn Chile. Wedi 69 diwrnod o dan y ddaear ac ymgyrch achub anferth, gan gynnwys cyfraniadau gan NASA a dros ddwsin o gwmnïau rhyngwladol, achubwyd pob un o'r 33 dyn dros gyfnod o 24 awr. Ar ôl codi'r gweithiwr olaf i'r wyneb, daliodd y gweithwyr achub arwydd tuag at y camerâu ag arno'r geiriau Mision cumplida Chile — Cyflawnwyd y dasg Chile. Amcangyfrifir bod dros biliwn o bobl wedi gweld y geiriau yma ar y teledu.
Trychineb Tynewydd
Dyma'r gwaith achub yn Chile yn dwyn i gof ddigwyddiad tebyg yng Nghwm Rhondda dros 130 o flynyddoedd ynghynt. Ar 11 Ebrill 1877, boddwyd Glofa Tynewydd yn y Porth gan ddŵr o hen weithfeydd gwag Hen Lofa Cymmer gerllaw. Ar y pryd, roedd pedwar glöwr ar ddeg o dan ddaear, ac aed ati i geisio eu hachub.
Cafwyd hyd i bump o'r gweithwyr ar ôl clywed sŵn curo, a bu'n rhaid i'r tîm achub dorri drwy 12 llath o lo i gyrraedd atyn nhw. Yn anffodus, dyma un o'r dynion yn cael ei ladd gan rym yr aer yn dianc drwy'r twll achub. Roedd naw dyn bellach ar goll.
Ymdrechu taer
Clywyd mwy o sŵn cnocio o lefydd gwaith o dan linell y dŵr a dyma'r tîm achub yn cymryd bod y dynion wedi goroesi mewn poced aer. Ceisiodd dau ddeifiwr o Lundain eu cyrraedd ond roedd yn dasg amhosibl gan fod cymaint o rwbel yn y twneli. Penderfynwyd taw'r unig beth amdani oedd torri twnnel achub drwy 38 llathen o lo.
Yn ystod y deg diwrnod o gloddio i gyrraedd y gweithwyr caeth, daeth y gwaith achub i glyw'r wasg ryngwladol ac anfonwyd telegram gan y Frenhines Fictoria hyd yn oed, gan ei bod yn poeni am ffawd y dynion. Cyrhaeddwyd y glowyr ar ddydd Gwener 20 Ebrill; doedd ganddyn nhw ddim bwyd ac roedden nhw wedi byw ar ddŵr brwnt y pwll am ddeg diwrnod. Gan fod y boced aer wedi datgywasgu mor gyflym wrth eu hachub, roedd y pum glöwr yn dioddef o barlys y môr (the bends) ond dyma nhw'n gwella'n llwyr wedi treulio noson yn yr ysbyty. Boddodd y pedwar glöwr arall.
Dewrder ac arwriaeth
Er taw bychan oedd y nifer a gollodd eu bywydau o gymharu â thrychinebau eraill yr oes (lladdwyd 114 o ddynion a bechgyn mewn ffrwydrad yng Nglofa Cymmer ym 1856), denodd dyfalbarhad y timau achub gryn sylw gan y wasg a'r cyhoedd. Dyfarnwyd pedair ar hugain o
Dosbarth Cyntaf ac Ail Ddosbarth a nifer o wobrwyon eraill i'r timau mewn seremoni a gynhaliwyd ar y Maen Siglo uwchlaw Pontypridd. Gwneir amcangyfrif i hyd at bedwar deg mil o bobl fynychu'r digwyddiad.
Achubwyr Tynewydd oedd y cyntaf i dderbyn Medalau Albert am ddewrder ar dir. Mae pump o'r medalau yma bellach i'w gweld yn Big Pit Amgueddfa Lofaol Cymru ynghyd ag esiamplau o lestri arian ac eitemau eraill sy'n gysylltiedig â'r digwyddiad.
Erthygl gan:Ceri Thompson, Curadur
sylw - (10)
Dear Allan Woodliffe
We have five photographs in our collections which appear to have been taken around the time.
There are three photos of the men in their working clothes. One came from Isaac Pride’s grandson Emrys and the company that took that one was W&D Downey. These look like the type of images that Victoria would have wanted as one shows rescuers, one shows rescued and the third shows rescuers and rescued together.
However, we have three other photos of rescuers in their ordinary clothes.
Two of these photos show Isaac Pride, Gwilym Thomas and Abraham Dodd wearing the same clothes but in different positions in each photo. None of them are wearing their medals so probably taken shortly after the incident. One of these has Thomas Forrest as the photographer.
The other one shows Isaac Pride (in a different suit than above), David Minton, David Davies and Charles Oatridge. All have cigars but no medals. This was taken by Goodwaye and Williams. The sitters look less formal and rather heavy eyed and tired so may have been taken earlier than the above ones.
We now have two photographs of rescuers, along with their names, but as you know they are not all depicted.
I do have a further question, however. It is well known that Queen Victoria took a very close interest in the unfolding rescue - she had to be advised daily of the rescues progress by means of the newly installed telegraph.
When the rescue was completed, the Queen sent a photographer to the colliery so that she could see what these men actually looked like. I presume that the the two photographs of rescuers, and the one of the rescued, are part
of the portfolio he took. Does anyone know any more about the whereabout of any other photographs - I would assume that he would have taken more than thee!
Hi Pamela,
I originally had the names from a different photograph, and simply spotted the 'look alikes'. Your G.G.grandfather was easy to spot because, as you said, of his black face.
My interest is actually in mining gallantry awards, which I like to write about. This was the rescue that changed the Albert medal from a sea based gallantry award to one for both land and sea.
Co-incidentally my grandparents lived about a quarter of a mile from the filled in pit head, and I used to pass it most days on my way to school, so I have always had an interest in this particular rescue.
Reference Allan Woodliffe's comment of 15.6.2016: back row, 3rd from right is indeed John Williams. john Williams was my Great-great-grandfather. I have a copy of this photo and have always been able to pick him out as he has such a black face. Apparently he came straight from work to this photo shoot and they didn't have time to let him clean himself up first. I would be interested to know why Allan has been able pick him out, does he have a family connection too?
Siju,
I'm sorry we didn't get back to you with the information sooner - your comment must have slipped between the cracks.
Our curator, Ceri Thompson, spotted it and has answered your question as follows:
5 killed, 4 by drowning 1 by rush of compressed air (during initial rescue)
9 Saved (4 in initial rescue, 5 rescued later)
Thanks for your comment and for your patience,
Sara
Digital Team
Back Row L-R :- Thomas Griffiths, Charles Oatridge, John Williams, David Davies, David Minton, Thomas Rees, John B. Howells, Richard Hopkins, William Morgan, Morien (Historian)
Sitting L-R :- Thomas Thomas, Isaac Pride, John Davies, William Rawlins
Kneeling L-R :- David Davies, John Griffiths, Thomas Jones
So, well spotted indeed!
Ceri Thompson, Curator, Big Pit
Hi there Allan,
Thanks for your comment - you have a keen eye! I will contact our Curator of Coal and pass on your enquiry.
All the best,
Sara
Digital Team
Top row third left looks like John Williams (Albert Medal)
Top row right end is Morien (Morgan Owen) of the Western Mail.
Bottom row of two are John Griffiths & Thomas Jones.
All females had been banned from working underground from 1842.
Note the classic 1870's braided hairstyle on top of her head. Also her lower position in the picture; but also the protective male arms around her. Perhaps one is her husband or brother - in any case, often whole families would have to work in this industry.
As women worked above ground pushing coal trucks and doing other hard manual labour, it is only one next step to going to work in the mine itself.
Women at such work wore trousers under their skirts, anyway, and were tough characters, quite unlike the popular image of Victorian women as 'wimps'!