The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1867-01-25 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE CENTRAL GLAMORGAN GAZETTE-FRIDAV, JANUARY 25, 1867.  Yon thought that the ice WM &Dwane P—Yee, did; but I saw no notice posted ahont to that effect. Several persons who were on the ice at the time of ths accident corroborated the latter witness as to its dangerous state; when Mr. Young, the seeretary of the Royal Humane Society, was examined, and after explaining its objects read a etatistieal statement, from which it appeared that, in the past twenty years In the Serpentine, Hyde.park, there had been 1,265,240 skaters, 250 immersed and rescued, four deaths, three broken limbs. 148 severely cut or bruised. In the Long Water, Kensingtoniardene, 436,722 skaters, 199 immersed and rescued, and nine who had been severely out or bruised. In the round pond, Kensington-gardens, 218,231 skaters, 125 immersed, one broken limb, One severely cut or braised. In the Regent's-park, 1,251,493 skaters, 125 immerged and rescued, one drowned, four broken limbe, 58 severely cot or bruised. In St..limee's-park, 999,609 skaters, 1,216 immersed and resound 10 drowned, and 43 severely cut or bruised. Total, 4,201,295 skaters, 2,125 immersed and rescued, 15 drowned, eight broken limbs and dislocations, and 259 severely out or bruised and who received medical attendance. The secretary further read a statement te the effect that respecting the accidents from bathing during the same time, 119 bathers bad bees rescued, 194 suicides rescued, and 43 ditto prevented. Total lives saved, 358; and bathers drowned, 24; suicides drowned, 120; total lives lost, 144. After reading the above statement, Mr. Young continued his evidence to the following effect :—lf the water in the Regent'spark could be reduced in depth, it would tend greatly to the prevention of fatal accidents, but we have made no official representation to the Government en the subject. My duty is to inspect the parka daily, and I visited the Regent's-park last Tuesday from half-past eleven till • quarter to one. My object in going round is to see if our men are doing their duty. 1 went on the ice, and I noteed that it was in an unsafe state—at least in such a state as to make it unwise for people to venture on it. I entreated and eautioned people not to go on. I told our men to try and get the people off; but it seemed to be [melees. The police have orders not to go on the ice. On Thursday last I got the assistance of 25 policemen to clear the ice in Hyde-park at night, and it took us an hour to do so. In some iaetanomi we had to use force, and I am told I rendered myself liable to a charge of assault. I applied to Mr. Walpole for the assistance of 200 men to get the people off the ice before six o'clock, because I apprehended another accident there, but Mr. Walpole said be had no power to give the order. We had ten men and • boy in the Regent's-park. Having specified the appliances the society had in the park to meet cases of accident, Mr. Young continued to say—lt is useless to plate up notices, except at the gates, as the public tear them down, and often our appliances are destroyed. The ladder already referred to was broken by the people sitting on it. We have had no written report upon this accident, but reports are made to me verbally every morning. Within an hour and • half of the occurrence, complaints were made that two of our men were drunk, but I saw one of the men, whose name is Mitchell, an hour after the accident, and he was then perfectly sober. We are quite satisfied with the exertions of our men. Two were taken to the infirmary, one of them almost in • dying condition. The day after the accident, how. ever, we discharged one man in the Itsgent'e-park, for having been intoxicated. To prevent such accidents in future, I would in the firet place strongly advise • reduction in the depth of the water, say to four to five feet, gradually sloping to the maximum. The objection to making the water lees shallow would be that it would encourage the growth of weeds. I think, in the second plsce, the Government might make it a punishable offence to go en the ice while in • dangerous sts o, A ball should be hoisted to ware people off, and if they remained on after, the police should have power to take them into custody. I susgeated the other day to Mr. Walpole that the pa. n should be closed while the ice is not fit for use. Certainly there ought to be some authority who should have power to act in all these oases. In 1865 the income of our society was £1,854, which waa all ex ponds d with the exception of a balance carried over of £278 odd. I think it undesirable to break the ice at the sides. The rush of people was, in my opinion, the prime cause of the accident. After some further evidence, the Coroner said he proposed to adjourn until the 28th inst. In the meantime, though he hoped it would not be the ease, other bodies might be found. Five of the pere.ns whose names had been published as missing had turned up, and he trusted that the others would be discovered to be .till alive. _  In reply to the foreman of the jory, the Coroner acid he did not think that any resolution they could COMO to would induoe Lord John Manners to sot more readily than he was already dispoeed to do. They had heard from Mr. Russell that his lordship was most anxious to do all that he possibly could in the matter, and he (the coroner) felt convineed that after what had rimmed something would be done to render the ornamental waters, and especially that in the Regent'spare, lees offensive in the hot season and more safe in winter.  Mr. Young announced that the Royal Ilareane Society had appointed, or were about to appoint, a committee to inquire into the whole subject. The court woe then formally adjourned for a week.  AN