2 Butte men believed
killed by blast in mine
Two Butte miners were missing and believed dead as a result of an accidental blast about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday on the 4,400-foot level of the Mountain Con Mine.
Coroner Leo L. Jacobsen identified the two as Norman Enberg, 51, of 2729 Aberdeen and Glen Lloyd Hendricks, 23, of 1818 Reynolds.
Cause of the blast was not determined. Mine crews began excavating tons of rock and mud from the blast area in an attempt to find the two men.. However, Anaconda Co. officials end the coroner said there was little chance of finding the two men alive. Workers were not expected to be able to reach the two men until early this morning.
Injured by the blast was Al Hofbauer of 3201 Sanders who was about . 50 feet from the explosion, He was knocked into a water ditch. Jacobsen said Hofbauer
suffered neck bruises. He was not hospitalized.
Hendricks and Enberg were timbering and making preparation! for blasting when the explosion occurred. An
Anaconda Co. spokesman said 58 holes had been drilled in slope above where the two were working and two holes exploded prematurely. Fifty-five
of the holes were loaded with explosives.
Another miner, William Derringer of 645 W. Quartz was working with Hendricks and Enberg, but left the immediate area only minutes before the blast to get more timber.
Jacobsen said he end Deputy Coroner Frank Johns will continue their investigation 'today.
Mr. Enberg, a Butte resident 3i years, was a member of the American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign wars, and Gold Hill Lutheran Church.
He served in the Army during World War II. He was a carpenter and a member of
the Miners Union.
He was born Chisholm, Minn. and attended schools la his native state.
He is survived by his widow, Amelia; son, Charles of Butte;
daughter, Elda Marie, Butte, brothers Tivo in Minnesota and Arnie in California; sister, Mrs. John Wilson Michigan, nephews and cousins. Arrangements are pending in Duggan Merrill Mortuary.
Mr. Hendricks, born Aug. 28. 1943. In Oreas. W. Va.. came to Butte with his parents 13 years ago. He married Barbara Wedlake in Boulder in September 1962. He was a member of the Miners Union. Arrangements are
being conducted by Wayrynen Funeral Home.
He is survived by his widow and children. Tracv Lvnn and Mark; parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Camden Hendricks of Butte; sisters, Mrs. William Mouer of Granger, Utah, and Mrs. Lawrence Mitchell of Butte; brothers, Wayne and John of Butte
.
[The Montana Standard, Butte, MT, 17 May 1967, Wed, Pages 1 & 6]
Norman Enberg is laid to rest
Services for Norman Enberg, who was killed Tuesday in the explosion at the Mountain Con Mine, were held Friday in the Duggan Merrill Mortuary. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery.
The Rev. Joseph F. Wahlin of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Helena, officiated. Pall bearers were Robert Hogan, William Larson, John Cuculich, John Rautio, Ed Burner and Joe Sologub.
Military rites were held at the graveside. Members of the United Veterans Council participating were Ben Hardin, Sylvester, Hugh and William Graham, Ralph Rand Oliver Atkins, Joe Simonich, John and Frank Gleeson, Henry Pomroy, Robert Patt, George Cortier, William .Gilbert, Tom Arthun, William King, Morris Steen, William Beery, Fred Tarri, Richard Dunstan, Art Barheau, Dewey Price and Tom Strickland.
[The Montana Standard, Butte, MT, 20 May 1967, Sat. Page 2] |
[courtesy of Ed Metesh]
Grave marker for Norman E. Enberg in Mountain View
Cemetery, Butte (Silver Bow county), Montana.
Sgt Enberg was transferred from the 3rde Replacement
Depot to Hq 3rd, 508th PIR on 16 January 1945.
Prior to his transfer, Pvt Enberg was awarded the Silver
Star, as recounted in this newspaper article: |
Ex-Butte Miner Decorated
Pvt. Norman Enberg Saves Comrade
ANZIO BEACHHEAD, Italy, Three American soldiers, who went across bullet-swept beachhead battlefields to rescue wounded buddies, were awarded silver stars yesterday in a front line ceremony.
The medals went to Sgt. Laverne Flournoy, Coming, Calif.; Sgt. Gustave Lindholm, Webster, S. D., and Pvt. Norman E. Enberg, a hard rock miner from Butte, Mont., whose family now lives in Virginia, Minn.
Flournoy received his medal for gallantry on the Fifth Army beach-head the night of Feb. 17. After
his patrol had completed a mission of blowing up an enemy ammunition truck, it came under intense cross-fire and one of his comrades was wounded. Flournoy stayed behind trying to carry the wounded man to safety, all the while coming under heavy machine gun fire. He was unable to
make it alone. Another soldier volunteered to help him and the two made a
litter of their rifles and carried the wounded man to safety.
Enberg. aided by another soldier who was unable to be present for
the ceremony, was decorated for a similar feat near Littoria, deep in German beachhead lines, the morning of Feb. 17. Enberg picked his way 600 yards across open, fire-swept territory to bring back a wounded comrade.
Lindholm volunteered to run a gantlet of enemy fire Jan. 7 to pick up a wounded soldier and succeeded without Injuries despite heavy fire.
Former associates of Private Enberg, mentioned in the above dispatch, who worked with him in the mines here, well remember the American soldier who risked his life to save a "buddy." Enberg, while in Butte,, resided at 361 East Granite street. He was employed In the mines here In 1941 and '42 and left from Butte for the armed services. Friends contacted Wednesday said they do not believe he has any relatives in the Mining city. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Enberg of Virginia, Minn.
[The Montana Standard, Butte, MT, 16 Mar 1944, Thu, Page 10] |