THE TOLL OF THE MINE 

 

Senghenydd Disaster has been thy lot,

The explosions terrific thou has been caught.

The terrors experienced, I cannot define,

The hundreds of victims, the toll of the mine.

 

Brave colliers dear to their homes and wives,

Descended the pits at the cost of their lives.

Who can portray your horrible fate,

No rescue possible, all too late.

Descending to work no thought at the time,

So soon to be counted, the toll of the mine.

 

Ah ! who can imagine your thoughts and fear,

For the homes you had left and the lov'd ones dear.

It is hidden from view in every line,

Sons, Fathers and Husbands, the toll of the mine.

 

Your wives and dear children eyes blinded with tears,

Anxiously waiting some good news to hear,

The hours, the minutes in countless time,

Awaiting the dear ones, the toll of the mine.

 

Grief stricken Senghenydd, very low is your fall,

May God in His Mercy provide for you all.

The widows and Fatherless by thee be fed,

Thy promises always is water and bread.

This dark Vale of Death Lord make it to shine,

To brighten the hearts from the toll of the mine.

Give repose to the Souls, victims of the blast,

In Heaven receive them, all safe at last.

RICHARD WARDMAN 1848-1923

TO THE RESCUE   

 

Brave heroes of rescue in haste to the mine,

Descending the pits without lots of time.

Each braving the dangers the toll of the mine.

 

Midst fire, fumes, smoke, this horrible place

Our helmeted heroes they moved apace

Determined to rescue,their comrades in time,

Before they were counted, the toll of the mine.

 

Many were saved at terrible cost

To add to their numbers a brave life was lost.

His memory dear as a hero must shine

For comrades his life was the toll of the mine.

 

May kind hearted people consider this home

The dear wife and children are now left to mourn.

Bereft of a Father like others in line,

With hearts that are broken, the toll of the mine.

 

Glamorgan has suffered in times that are past,

When homes were denuded by terrible blast

By hundreds are counted that for all time

In dreadful explosions, the toll of the mine.

 

Let warnings be taken, how brave lives are lost,

Consider their numbers, spare not the cost.

Let science come forward improvements outline,

To minimize explosions in tolling the mine.

 

Great Britain has suffered too much has been seen,

Thy Herald misfortune of fateful thirteen, *

Anonymous donors commend our esteem,

From the King on his throne, benevolent Queen.

The Mayors of our Cities and Towns great and small

To relieve the distressed all respond to the call.

There's credit to all who relieve the distressed,

By the Father of Mercies, May all be Blessed.

 

When years have passed long shall we refine,

Deep stamped in our memories, the toll of the mine.

Prepare us Oh Lord on thy own good time

With oil in our lamps when thou tollest the mine.

RICHARD WARDMAN 1848-1923