South Yorkshire Times, December 16th 1932.

Hospital Drama

A relative of Humphries who watched at his bedside told a “Times” reporter that in the hospital he spoke only three sentences. Twice he mentioned “Jane” and “Bill,” showing that he recognised those standing around him, and just before he died he  uttered the words “One big flash.”

It is stated that just before the explosion Humphries and others were singing the popular song, “Five Minutes to Twelve.” The hour had reminded them of it. On the stretcher going to the pit bottom Humphries was delirious and was still singing the song. Windle was crying out “Fred, save me” to Humphries, who was his pal.

Humphries was a son of the late Mr. Thomas Humphries, of Brandon Colliery. Durham. He came to Yorkshire three or four years ago. He did not get a job until lie was sixteen. There is a large family and Humphries has been sending money home to help them. ‘rho youth was very fond of cycling and once pedalled from Durham to Wombwell in seven and a half hours. In the explosion he was fearfully burned, his features being almost obliterated.

Frederick Humphries was a son of the late Mr. Thomas Humphries and had been livin., with his sister. Mrs. Swift, of Pearson Field,” Wombwell. He was ten days short of his 21st birthday.

William E. Dandles, who was well known at Brampton, had been on afternoons until the night of the catastrophe. Mrs. Dandles told a “Times” representative that she had a premonition that some ill would befall him and for that reason vainly tried to persuade him not to go to work. Her husband was singing to the wireless before he put his “snap in his pocket and walked out of the house never to return.

John William Eccles has fora long time i.e.., an officer in the West Melton Boys’