Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 31 July 1929

Pit Roof Fall.
Heroic Efforts to Rescue Entombed Miner
Denaby Main Drama

For most of yesterday and last night a splendid struggle to reach a buried man was being carried on at the Denaby Main Colliery.

A huge fall of roof in the Barnsley seam of the pit occurred at 10.30 yesterday morning. It overwhelmed John Brook (53), a miner, of 18. Hampden Road, Mexborough, married, and uncle of Brook, the Manchester City football player and Mexborough cricketer.

Through the accident, coal-getting was suspended in the seam for the afternoon, and last night all efforts were concentrated on the gigantic task of removing tons of fallen debris, a task which had difficulties and dangers because of recurring falls.

Under Mr. Hulley, the colliery agent, and Mr. W. Steel, the manager, who directed operations for many hours, rescue work was carried out by relays of men, who toiled methodically and strenuously in an attempt to reach the cut off miner. From the start there seemed little hope of rescuing Brook alive, but in the miners have of fighting for possible chance there was no relaxation of endeavour to reach the entombed man.

Up to a late hour last night, this aim had not been realised, and efforts for that purpose were still being maintained. A pathetic feature of this underground drama was the gathering of relatives of Brook at the latter’s home, where long past bedtime they were waiting up hoping for the best, while hearing nothing as the hours passed by, but knowing all the time that everything possible was being done in the pit to reach the entombed miner.