The
Great Snowstorm ~ 11-02-1929
It was the day
before Shrove Tuesday, an icy morning with a cutting
east wind. This was not so surprising at that time
of year, but life carried on much the same anyway
- doubtless the children were looking forward to
the next day when, according to ancient custom, they
would go from house to house asking for pancakes.
It started to snow
heavily towards ten o'clock, and the quarrymen were
unable to continue work. Disappointed at loosing
their wages and concerned at the long-term
damage that frost could cause to the quarry and its
machinery, they reluctantly began their journey across
Rhos Las towards Nebo and Nasareth.
At about two o'clock,
Mr Griffith the retired headmaster, was alarmed by
the untimely procession of men past Nebo Shop, where
he lived. He went straight to the school, astounded
that the children were still there. As it was so
cold, Mr Thomas and his two assistants had put the
small number of pupils who had arrived at school
that wintry day in the Infants' snug classroom where
there was a roaring fire. But they themselves were
totally unaware of the weather which continued to
deteriorate.
So without delay,
the children put on their coats and were organised
into groups according to where they lived, with the
strict instruction to keep together as long as possible
on their way home. Other children were met on the
way by their parents.
*
Here is one version
of the story about Harri Wyn Williams, eight years
old, who was the only child from Nasareth who had
turned out that day. He had a long journey back to
Llwynbedw and surely the prospect of a short cut
together with a bit of adventure was a great temptation.
.
In this instance,
straying from the path proved to be a serious error.
Instead of going
past Goleufryn and along Ffordd Nasareth, he decided
to go down the slippery slope of Pen Isa'r Lôn towards
Cerrig Mawr where the strong east winds had started
to pile the snows into deep drifts. In no time at
all the snow would have covered all traces of his
footprints.
Harri's father
had set out to meet his boy along the obvious route
past Goleufryn and up to Nebo. On arriving at Nebo
School and being informed that his son had left some
time before, Mr Williams was desperate. He headed
back down the empty Ffordd Nebo, searching as thoroughly
as he could in blizzard conditions. No doubt he remembered
the things his son had said about the lanes past
Bryn Melyn in the summer. He saw the white wilderness
about him and feared the worst. He leapt over the
stone wall, sinking up to his knees in the drifted
snow; but he had no time to loose.
In the meantime,
Harri was in considerable difficulties, as it was
impossible for him to wade through the snow which
now filled the lowest part of the lane. But despite
the cold and exhaustion, he was not ready to give
up. Taking off his coat and laying it on the snow,
he managed to crawl a foot or so forwards. This he
repeated and repeated until he reached safety.
When he arrived
home, his mother was confronted with a wretched sight
- his clothes were as stiff as boards and his curly
hair was frozen into little icy horns. His father
returned soon after looking like a snow-man! All
efforts were made to get the boy warm again, but
Harri was extremely ill for several weeks with double
pneumonia.
To add to this
misfortune, Mr Williams slipped on the kitchen floor
- his boots were caked with snow. He bruised his
back badly and was unable to work for a week. In
spite of their terrible experiences, they both recovered
completely.
Postscript
The fears of the
quarrymen were confirmed. The quarries had been in
trouble since the turn of the century because of
a number of reasons, including intense competition
from quarries overseas. The shareholders had lost
faith in Welsh quarries as a generous source of profit.
The financial crisis deepened throughout the world.
Thus, by 24th October 1929, when the stock market
crashed in Wall Street, no-one who had still got
money wanted to re-invest here, and many quarrymen
lost their jobs. Consequently, a significant number
of Welsh communities were dispersed.
Further information
See
also Harri Wyn Williams' tape transcript in Caernarfon
Public Records Office and the book 'O Benrhyn Llyn
i Lle bu Lleu' by Mrs Janet Roberts (a former teacher
in Nebo School). |
