OBITUARIES: Henry OLBERT, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ruth Udwary 20 May 2000 ==================================================================== HURLED TO DEATH BY AN EXPLOSION SHSW FILM #P71-1325 The Eau Claire Leader Eau Claire, Wisconsin Tuesday, February 21, 1911 Page 5 Col. 5 HENRY OLBERT MEETS INSTANT END AT MICHELS BREWERYING PLANT SUDDEN BURSTING OF BIG VAT THROWS BODY SOME DISTANCE Henry Olbert, 507 North Barstow Street was instantly killed yesterday at 3:30 by the explosion of a beer vat in the Michels Brewing Company plant, where he was employed. The explosion was due to the ignition of varnish with which the big vat was covered. The foreman, A. H. Springer, was assisting in the varnishing, but had left the storeroom about fifteen minutes before the accident occurred. Immediately upon hearing the report, he rushed to the assistance of the unfortunate man and with the aid of other employees carried out of the storage room. While there were no direct witnesses to the accident and the exact cause will never be known, it is believed that the deceased was standing on a ladder with a candle, putting the finishing touches to the work of varnishing the big vat. He probably got the candle a little too close to the varnish and it ignited, causing an explosion; the force of which was so great as to blow him up upon a pile of ice nearby, together with pieces of the ladder. It was upon the ice he was found. Doctors McKirtick and Selbach were summoned to the unfortunate man’s side but life was extinct and they could do nothing. The body was later removed to J. H. Fleming & Son undertaking parlors. In speaking of the cause of the explosion, the foreman stated that it must have been caused by the ignition of the varnish by the candle which was presumably held too close. He stated that the deceased was warned against using the candle with the open flame but persisted in using it. That yesterday they had both been working on the vat using a lantern for light but that Olbert went back to finish the job with a lighted candle. The deceased leaves a wife and five children, the oldest boy being in Germany, a recent graduate of a theological seminary. Burial of Henry Olbert SHSW file #P71-1323 The Eau Claire Leader, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Friday, Feb.24, 1911 Page 3 Col. 4 The remains of the late Henry Olbert were laid to rest in the German Catholic cemetery yesterday morning. Services were held at the Sacred Heart church, the Rev. H.J. Untraut officiating. The sermon was very impressive and contained many kind words for the deceased. The funeral was very largely attended by relatives, friends and acquaintances of the deceased. A large number of the Catholic Knights, of which the late Mr. Olbert was a member, followed the remains of their late brother to his final resting place.