'Baner ac Amserau Cymru Newspaper', Wednesday, December 17th, 1856.
TALSARNAU, - An inquest was held last Friday in front of Mr Griffith Jones Williams, estate agent,on two bodies, namely William Owens and Edmund Jones, who were in the service of L. H. Thomas Esq., Cae'r Ffynnon, Talsarnau who were found drowned while attempting to cross Traeth Bach.
As the circumstance is such an uncommon one, we put down the details. The previous Tuesday, the two, together with another, John Owen, Dyffryn, had been in Porthmadog, asking for a load of hewn stone; but because something broke, they had to leave the load on the beach.
The next morning, they went very early to look for the load, and after unloading it at Cae'r Ffynnon, the three men set off again to go to Porthmadog. By this time, the tide was coming in, and everyone who saw them were amazed that they were entering the beach and the tide so high. They were intent on making the crossing without delay. After going into the water, the driver, W. Owen, went on the back of the leading horse, and E. Jones; and J. Owen, in the wagon. The men who were on the shore found that they were still too close to the pool which was near the ford, and they shouted, but they were not heard due to the sound of the horses in the water; and the next moment, the wagon and the horses, and the three men, were out of sight. Nobody could see W. Owen, or the three horses. E. Jones and J. Owen wrestled with each other for some time, but E. Jones grabbed a piece of plank, and J. Owen the sack that contained the horse feed, and he held on to it until a boat came to him.
It is assumed that the driver, who was on the back of the leading horse, was too high up from the ford, too close to the edge and the deep water, which is close to the ford; and as the horses were supposed to have begun to swim, the tide, which was coming in with great force, caused them to be taken over the edge into the deep water, which swallowed the three horses, the wagon, and two of the men. John Owen says that he will never forget the great noise he heard at the bottom of the pool from the horses. There is rock at the bottom of the pool, and it seems that the horses were struggling on it to try and get out. It was strange that the horses would not swim to the shore, but there was such a suction in the pool, and the reins became tangled, it seems, so that it was impossible for them to swim to the shore . The bodies of the two men were found. One of them was a married man with three children. Hopefully Captain Thomas will look to support their families. Reporter.
The above report was received from Helen Jones formerly of Maes Mihangel, Yr Ynys with thanks.