Charles Schonfeller

Charles Schonfeller was a miner in Redan,.

History
Schonfeller was severely injured in an explosion in the Ballan Tunnel in May 1917: "The Ballan Tunnel Explosion. BALLARAT.— Robert Chinnery, who, as reported in 'The Age,' was fatally injured in the blasting accident at Ballan on Friday, was a resident of Ascot-street, Ballarat West. He leaves a widow and daughter. Deceased, who was about 50 years of age, was a nephew of the late Mr. R. Chinnery, hotel proprietor, of Sturt-street. Charles Schonfeller, his mate, who was severely injured in the explosion, is making fair progress in the Ballarat Hospital. He is a resident of Darling-street, Redan, and has a wife and family. Both men were experienced miners, and had been engaged for nine months in making the tunnel in which the accident occurred. They had put in two charges of gelignite. Schonfeller applied his lighted candle to the fuse, and the explosion immediately followed. The shot consequently went off prematurely, notwithstanding that the fuse was long enough to give the men plenty of time to reach a safe distance before causing the explosion."