Preece Family Tree

FROM PITBOY TO DIRECTOR.

DEATH OF MR THOMAS GRIFFITHS, M.E., J.P.

SERVICES TO THE COALFIELD

The death occurred at his residence, "Longfield", West Cross, Swansea, yesterday, at the age of 77 years, of Mr Thomas Griffiths, M.E., J.P., formely a director and general manager of Messrs Insoles' Cymmer Collieries, Porth.

The late Mr Griffiths' career was a remarkable example of the triumph of personality, ability, and industry over initial obstacles and difficulties. Beginning as a door boy, he worked for ten years as a collier, and then step by step rose until he became, when still comparatively young, manager of the Cymmer Colliery, where he first worked as a door-boy. His career was also remarkable for unusually long service, as in 1919 he completed 50 years' service in an official position with the company and 43 years as the general manager of the Cymmer Colliery. His predecessor, the late Mr Jabez Thomas, held the position for 42 years.

GREAT RESCUE WORK.

Over 50 years ago, the late Mr Griffiths won the regard of the whole coalfield by his daring rescue and exploration work in colliery disasters, and his great work in this direction is shown by the fact that he was a leader of rescue and exploration parties in the following disasters: Dinas, 1860; Pentre, 1871; Naval (Penygraig), 1880; Gelli, 1883; Naval, 1885; Mardy, 1885; Wattstown, 1887; Park Slip, Tondu, 1892; Great Western Colliery, Pontypridd, 1892; Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, 1894; Tylorstown, 1896; Llest Colliery, Garw, 1899; Sengbenydd, 1901; Clydach Vale, 1905; and Wattstown, 1905.

His exploits formed a veritable romance. He had been working at the Cymmer Colliery for six years, when, in 1856, the great explosion, at which 114 men lost their lives, so affected him that he abandoned underground work and worked for two years at a blacksmith's and fitter's shop. He returned to the mine, however, and in 1870 he was appointed manager of the Cymmer Colliery. His gallantry in later disasters was therefore all the more notable.

Mr Griffiths used to declare that the most difficult exploration work he did was at the Cambrian Collieries, Clydach Vale, where an outbreak of fire and deadly fumes made the work highly dangerous. So far as falls of roof were concerned, the worst explosion in his experience was at the Dinas Colliery, where he and his heroic band of workers failed to penetrate one fall, and the bodies of many entombed men were not recovered for some years, until the late Mr Daniel Thomas, M.E., drove through from the 4ft. to the 6ft. seams.

At the time of these early colliery catastrophes the presence of carbon monoxide was not known. Mr Griffiths often expressed the view that ignorance of the presence of the gas had caused the death of many a rescue worker. Its presence was first revealed at the Tylorstown explosion, where several lamps were found burning whilst the men lay dead, provied that satefy lamps burnt freely where this gas was present, although a very small percentage of it in the atmosphere would prove fatal.

PUBLIC SERVICES.

Though devoted to his profession, Mr Griffiths accomplished a great deal of public work, and was an ex-chairman of the Rhondda Urban Council. He first represented his ward on the old Rhondda Local Board, and became a member of the Rhondda Council upon its formation, rendering valuable public services.

All movements for public welfare received his support, and his charity was unbounded, although most unostentatious. A Welsh-speaking Welshman, with a strong but genial personality, he exercised great influence in his district, and had a solid reputation as a peacemaker in the coalfiend. He was a member of the Conciliation Board from its inception, and was also chairman of the Coalowners' Association in 1911-12, and had repeatedly given expert evidence before Royal Commissions and other bodies. When, in 1906, all classes of the Rhondda community united in presenting him with a full-length oil painting of himself for his great public services, Colonel D. Watts Morgan, M.P., D.S.O., recalled that the late Mr Griffiths was once within an ace of being made a miners' agent - an illustration of his cordial relations with the men. His work on the magisterial bench was also marked by his kindness and shrewd sense.

On retiring from an active part in the management of the Cymmer Collieries a few years ago, the late Mr Griffiths retired to West Cross, where his death occurred.

Mr Griffiths was twice married, his second wife predeceasing him two years ago. He is survived by one son and two daughters - Mr W. T. Griffiths, mineral valuer to the Inland Revenue Department for South Wales; Mrs H. E. Thomas, wife of the agent for the Powell Duffryn Co., Bargoed, and Mrs Rhys Morgan, of Abercynon.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Thomas Griffiths, J.P., who died on Monday, aged 77 years, had a distinguished career, both in personal advancement and in conspicuous rescue work. He was formely a director of Insole's Cymmer collieries, in the Rhondda, and retired a few years ago from the position of general manager, which he had held for over 40 years. So far back as 1860 he commenced work in that colliery as door boy, and won his way forward by determined effort and signal ability. His personal association with the wormen, and their confidence in his fairness and judgment, gave him enormous influence with them, both in colliery control and in rescue operation, where the presence of "Griffiths, Cymmer" evoked the heartiest of co-operation. He had served as chairman of the Coal Owner's Association, and also taken prominent part in the proceedings of the Conciliaton Board; and amongst his other distinctions was 40 years membership first of Rhondda local board and afterwards in its successor, the urban council. He has repeatedly been called to give evidence on Royal Commissions and on similar inquiries that necessitated expert testimony, was a governor of the Welsh University, a life member of the Institute of Engineers, and in 1906 had a public presentation of a portrait and silver plate in recognition of his rescue work and public service. His life story would embody romance of the South Wales coal field, as can be indicated by a bald record of some of the principal colliery accidents with which he was associated in rescue work - namely, Pentre in 1871, Penygraig 1880, Gelli 1883, Naval 1885, Mardy in the same year, Wattstown 1887, Park Slip 1892, Great Weslam in the same year, Albion 1894, Tylorstown 1896, Senghenydd 1901, Clydach Vale and Wattsown 1905. His experiences in the prolonged efforts due to the underground fire at Clydach were exceptional in a remarkable degree, and he always recalled that as the most difficult exploration work undertaken. He was a widower, and leaves one son and two daughters - Mr. W. T. Griffiths, mineral valuer for South Wales to the Inland Revenue Department, Mrs. Thomas, wife of the agent to Powell Duffryn Co., and Mrs. Rhys Morgan.