Letter from David Evans to Children
Hirwaun April 28, 1875
Dear Children Ve)
I received your letter dated the 24 of March, the 21 instead
we were all very glad to have it and have at such times as we have here at
these times, when all the iron works are at a stand still through all south
Wales and not so much as one Furnace on blast through the whole districk of the
iron Works, and since the beging of the year there is so many strikes among the
Coliers through the whole district and there is nothing but poverty to be seen
in every face, and thousands of Men Women and Children begging all over the
country, and the lock out the begining of February when all the Blast Furnaces
was blown out all together, and so all of Dowlais workman were thrown out of
employment at once, and through that all the shoemakers Coblers and Tailors
were all the same most of them were thrown idle at once, and owing to that your
old Father is the same without nothing to do but liveing out here at Hirwaun
among my relation a day here and a day there with them all as I can call by
them all, I shall not be in want among them and as it happend these days I had
the Ten Pounds from Liverpool which you sent and Monday I have been in the Bank
and had them Cashed in Gold and I ought to be very thankful to you all for your
kindness towards me in my old age;
I hope that they shall settle something in Dowlais before
long that they will have to begin to work again, and I hope that I return back
again to my former work as before after this three months of idleness which I
have now, I have tired of such a life as this, however although I am not in the
want of nothing were I am and as I am at present because they are giving so
much here dayly taking compasion on those that are begging about continial and
it is pity to see them from Aberdare Merthyr and Dowlais and every other place
about they are the same except Hirwaun.
Hirwaun at these times are better than any other place at
present, there is some Coliers at Cwmrthonda working at present as others on
the strike and so they are at Hirwaun one at work and two on the strike, but
there is scores out here now of strangers from other works which are some are
forced to be on the strikes with others and some locked out and through that
the works are crowded till they are to full to work as they ought to work and
get their full wages as usual the times are here at present that I never did
see such times before and I hope that I never shall see such times again nor
nobody else neither.
All our relation at Hirwaun are all well and doing well in
spite of all the strike and lock out in other places, they effect upon the sea
coal Coliers only the Iron works coliers and Iron workers in general, all the
Hirwaun coal goes to sea for the Iron Works here are at a stand still this long
time, I hope that there is better signs of settlement these days better than
they have been from the beginning of the lock out and I hope that many more Men
have had enough of it both sides by all accounts, we have here it is so bad in the
United States of America as it is here every bit- and now I think I can
conclude because I have gathered together all I got to write at present and no
more at present from your most Affectionate Father Ve
David Evans All
your relations and friends at Hirwaun send their best respect to you all and
old Father the same and write back as soon as you can. Davis Evans, Hirwaun
Please to direct your letters as usual No 72 Well street
Dowlais
P.S. there is some sort of a bettle in Colorado which is a
terror in France and Belgium Please to give some account ot it you can in your
next letter if you can--
