Sheffield Independent – Wednesday 27 April 1927

Two Miners Killed By Fall Of Five Tons.

“Crushed To Pulp.”

Third Victim In Critical Condition. Stricken Village. ‘

TERRIBLE and sudden death overtook two Thurnscoe miners when at a fall of stone occurred in the new pit of the Hickleton Main Colliery yesterday morning, and a third was seriously injured.

The dead men are Allen Lodge (46), night deputy, Shepherd lane, Thurnscoe, Joseph Hollins (35), miner, 34, Cromwell street, Thurnscoe East.

Lying in the Mexhorough Montagu Hospital in critical condition with abrasions, broken collar bon© and shock is Charles Davidson (34), miner, 377, Stuart street, Thurnscoe.

All three are married men, and Hollins leaves three children. The fall, which was a huge lump of stone weighing five tons, occurred without warning when the men were ripping and packing to make the roof secure. Davidson was extremely fortunate in not being caught by the full force of the fall, but the other two were directly underneath the stone when it fell, and they were crushed to pulp. Rescue workers began immediately recover the bodies, and when they did an hour later, Hollins and Lodge were mangled corpses unrecognisable. Medical men state that they must have been killed outright.

When a representative of the “Sheffield Independent* called Montagu Hospital, last night, he was told that Davidson was fairly comfortable, considering all the circumstances, but hi« condition would not allow an interview.

Rescue Work.

Six Yards Between Life And Death.

As soon as the news of the tragedy, reached the mining ottiecs, Mr. J. Minuinkin, the manager, and two under managers. Mr. Parkin and Mr. James Glover, went down the pit and supervised the rescue operations which had already begun under the direction Mr. William Goldthorpc, one of the deputies.

Mr. Goldthorpe had taken prompt measures in setting work a party of men, who were using levers to get away the huge piece rock. cffoits could have saved Hollins and Lodge, however, but it is undoubtedly due to the immediate rescue efforts that Davidson was brought out with his life.

Boy’s Escape.

Dr. Boyle, who was quickly on the scene, states that the injuries to the two dead men were very extensive. Lodge had crushed skull and both his legs were broken. Hollins had a fractured neck and one side his chest was crushed in. “Hollins and Lodge wore killed instantly, and crushed to pulp,” he added.

A pit boy named Jim Fogg, who was working in the pit with his cousin, Kichara Fogg, aged 17 years, had a miraculous escape from death. They were helping the others to secure the roof just before the accident. “Lodge, the deputv, who was afterwards killed,” he told our representative. “sent us away for some material. We had hardly gone six yards when we heard a terrific crash. We went back, and saw that the men were burled. We separated and went in all directions for help and the men were extricated soon afterwards

“If had not gone away I am sure that I should have been killed, for I had been standing on the very spot where the stone fell our few seconds before the fall occurred .

Distressed Homes.

A sad feature the tragedy that Hollins had only started work at the pit week ago. He was born of the 128 men who left Harworth to be signed on at Hickleton last week.

The calamity has stirred the. village of Thurnscoe, which has developed rapidly in recent years, and where all the men were well known.

Lodge, the deputy, particularly popular in district, and his wife was formerly school teacher.

There were sad scenes at the homes of the dead men when the news was conveyed to the sleeping wives. The news so spread, and when “Sheffield Independent reporter called they were crowded with sympathetic neighbours.