Coal Pit water for Embalming

An odd news item from the register of St. Andrew's, in Newcastle states;

"April 24th, 1695, were buried James Areher and his son Stephen, who, in the month of May, 1658, were drowned in a coal-pit in the Galla-Flat, by the breaking in of water from an old waste.

The bodies were found entire, after they had lain in the water 36 years and 11 months."