Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-06-15
Alfred Esler did Much
to Develop Mining i'm
Montana i'm Early Days

all day n every day, is his own cook,
laundress n seamstress. the latter con-
sisting mainly of patching, mending and
the sewing on of buttons; living on the
p~lainest fare and, in those days running
the risk of being scalped by Indians or
shot by highwaymen; death from pneu-
monia or from blood poisoning induced
by an accident; enduring all these and
many discomforts and risks for an I'M
certainty. Yet men have devoted their
lives TO prospecting. 1t had its compen-
sations, any fOrbidding looking noun
tainside might conceal untold wealth.
The prospector, nc matter how hard he
labored, never regarded himself as q
working mamie was always a prospec-
tive millionaire.
A supposedly rich mine discovered,
there was the same amount OF uncer-
tainty in it's development. If a quartz
mine it might run out. and the best
placer claims become exhausted. Such is
the history Of gold and silver. The hum
BILE copper is more persistent
MIR. Esler was both a prospector and q
miner, n was fortunate in playing the
game. His ventures generally proved
successful; but not enough 50 to keep
him in one locality any great length OF
time. While in the Occur d'Alenes he
had an unpleasant experience that came
ItdT DClllS IIdBlS. Inc bdQbtI ullll lInIC
was controlled by him. when a strike
occurred among the miners. Strike break
ers were brought in by Mr.. Esler to OPP
crate the mill. This the strikers quite
naturally resented, their resentment TAX
ing the form of q charge OF dynamite
unde the mill. This was fired, and the
mill blown up.
Two of Mr.. Esler's brothers were in the
mill at the time of the explosion, but al
most miraculously escaped injury. One
of them was taken prisoner. yet no harm
was done him. Every nook and corner
of the mill which escaped destruction
was searched for Mr.. Esler.
Whatever the intentions of the strik-
ers may have been regarding Mr.. Esler.
he was not found. One of his brothers
who also escaped, hid in a hole in the
ground somewhere in the neighborhood,
and there remained until the man hunt
ended.
After this trying experience, II might
have thought Mr.. Esler would have
ceased to be a miner, and either retired
from business altogether, or engaged in
some other occupation where there was
less risk. He had mined in Beaverhead,
Madison, Silver Bow, and possibly lewis
and Clark counties, operated mills, smell
tiers or refineries in various places includ-
ing the Occur d'Alene district; his mill
there had been dynamited, n yet he
was not ready to give up the business
that he knew and loved.
His next operations we're in the Black
feet coded strip in Teton county 1t was
a copper mine that he had made ar
rangements to open up, when suddenly
death took him. Whether the mine ever
to anything, / never heard.
Perhaps it refused to yield its treasure
to any one but this miner who alone
knew the magic word to which it would
respond, and Alfred M. Esler's voice was
silent.
The office Of justice Of the peace con-
ferred upon him by Montana's first gov
ernor, was not the only official position
held by Mr.. Esler. Elected q member of
the legislature of 1866, he represented
one Of the hopeless Republican minority
of that session. There was no lack of
excitement during its meetings, yet the
work accomplished at those stormy gath
erings was destined to be nulli1ed by
congress later. Far from benedting Mon
this legislative session and the fol-
lowing one were a detriment, causing as
they did, unnecessary expense, which
might have been avoided If the opinion
of the judiciary had been needed. h
fact that Mr.. Esler was elected a repre-
is sufficient proof OF the high
In which he was held by his fell
citizens. 1t was difficult then for a.
member OF his party to obtain recogni-
ton. l doubt If any Republican could
nave been elected without receiving ne
votes of Democrats, n only the popu-
lar Republican could win these. His per-
s~onality had to outweigh party prejudice.