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Full Details

Surname
KNIGHT
Forename
Edwin
Day
14
Month
06
Year
1907
Age
57
Occupation
Chargeman Sinker
Mine/Quarry Name
Snowdown
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Foncage Syndicate Ltd
Location
Nonington
County
Kent
Details of Event
The shaft having reached a depth of 280 feet from the surface, or from 80 to 90 feet below the level of the water head in the chalk a sudden inrush of water occurred while 13 men were in the bottom. The water appears to have risen about 15 to 20 feet or more within five minutes but where it came from is not yet known as they have not been able to get the water out. All the men except Knight escaped by climbing the pumps and chains and floating with the aid of brattice cloth fastened up the side to prevent feeders splashing in the shaft. A strange thing about this water is the sand which accompanied it as there are still at least 500 or 600 feet of chalk before reaching the Gault according to the borehole which is within 150 yards of the shaft.