El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-11-11

AIRBANkS. Alaska. Nov 1.-THE
winter is coming and Monte Ter
L rin viii have to 90 TO Jail that the
public may be able 10 take care OF
MIN"
This remark gives in nutshell one
OF the strange conditions that obtain
= the heart OF Alaska. This country
has no accommodations for Migrants
and no laws for the needy poor It
has one pioneer home. but that is at
Sitka on Baranof island about 1000
miles from where Monte lives.
Monte Terrin is a character His
whole life has been a fight against
misfortune and now. although blind and
lame. he is not willing 10 give up the
battle / do not know his age, but
he has long passed three score and ten.
Years ago when he first came to the
Klondike he was one Of the most am
bilious. determined and industrious OF
the sourdoughs. He underwent all
sorts Of hardships and one day when
out trapping sank through some rotten
ice he attempted to cross and was wet
10 the waist. The thermometer was
IS degrees below zero and his wet
feet were frozen TO such an extent that
one had TO be amputated to the ankle
and the other taken off half way to
the knee. He had a pair OF artificial
feet made. and with them again took
m the battle Of life He got about so
well on his wooden pins that but few
knew Of his troubles and he succeeded
IN obtaining job with q gang work.
ing on the Copper river railroad.
At that time he was quartered with
. number Of other men in a clubhouse.
BE did not want his state known for
fear he would lose his position But
one night when in his bunk. having
taken off his false feet and LAID them
beside him. the string attached to one
of them hung down and tickled the
man in the bunk below The man gave
the string a jerk and the wooden foot
came down and kicked him in the face.
The man was a mean fellow and he re-
ported Monies condition TO the boss !
and as a result he was fired
After that Monte went about doing
odd jobs He worked at anything he
could get. drifting from camp to camp. |
Finally he settled in a cabin on the /
where he cut wood for the steamers. 4
For several years he earned his living !
in that way. Then his eyesight failed. /
and it was pitifUl to see how he tried I
TO keep the people from knowing his 4
When he heard a man I
coming he would straighten up and /
start TO walk about boldly. often run I
ming into . tree or fence He was
offered assistance bur would not take
l. Last year he was known TO be
from lack of food and was ar
-ested on = charge Of vagrancy and
sentenced to jail for the winter This
vas in order that the citizens might |
rave a legal right to take care OF him. I
even then. he complained. saying he I
wanted 10 go back to his cabin. and
hat he knew he could in some way
arm enough to care for himself
Marshal Erwin Has Hot job.
The above story was told me 5y L
r Erwin. who is now chief OF police
nd United States marshal at Fair
lanks- judge Erwin came originally
rom a little town in Georgia. being
,orn on the same street as Sam Jones.
L is related that sam Jones was eight
ears old at the time. and that he was
nZious TO see the new baby When ii
vas shown him. he remarked "Oh.
ny amt he red
Well. marshal Erwin is still red. and
10 has a red hos job in Alaska He
las to keep order in a district half
gain as large as either Germany or
france. and he does this with the aid
u = large number OF deputies In the
lumber Of assistants employed. he tells
ne. his marshalshiD is second among
he districts of the United States
The district has only 10000 pOpula-
ion but these are so scattered that
o deputies are required TO watch over
hem. and the annual expenses are
ga. 900.
Everything Referred 10 Washington.
Here in Alaska the marshals and /
AtI ufpuLlt$ nave 90 refer almost
verything to Washington before they
an act When q crime is committed.
ct q cent can be spent 10 detect the
riminsl without authority from the
general five or six thousand
niles away The other day a terrible !
murder was committed just outside
he city No one knew who was the (
lurderer. and it was important TO .
cour the neiEhborhOod and begin the
FORK Of investigation at once. Before
? could proceed. the marshal had to
end this cable to Washington
Attorney general Washington n. @
Woman foUliy murdered last night
long the railroad tracks within five
liles OF Fairbanks Authority re-
uested TO pay expenses Of office depu-
les and make Investigations in the
urroundinE country.
(Signed)
UNITED STATES MARSHAL" I