The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-16
ERNIE" MART|NARCTIC TRADER LOSES LIFE ON WRECKED; LIVES MENDENHALL BAR BELIEVED LOST
Accidentally Shot by Com panion While Duck
 Hunting Early Sunday


 Tn Juneau's second hunting trag- edy of the current season, E. J. (Ernie) Martin, 32 years old, yes terday lost his life on Mendenhal Bar when a shotgun in the hands of a friend and hunting compan- ion. Joe Short, accidentally dis- charged. The entire load of the 1G-gauge gun struck him m the right side of the breast and caused instantaneous death.
 Mir. Martin is survived by D widow, formerly Miss Name George. and a 5-year-old son, two brothers, Richard and George Mar tin. and two sisters, Mrs. Moily ward and Mrs J. B. Smith, all residents of this city. Funeral rltes will be said at the Methodist EDS copal Church at 2 pm. WednesoaS and internent will be made III Evergreen Cemetery.
 Inquest Is Held
 The tragedy, which shocKeo tlS entire community, occurred on tns Eish Creek flats about 6:30 am Sunday. The body was brought tc tnwn at once and a report mace to Judge J. F. Mullen, United States Commissioner and Coroner. An ln- ouess was held yesterday and the ilry returned a verdict of accident- al death, finding MT. Short was blameleSs.
 He was unnerved by the accident and almost on the verge of a breakdown. He hardly knew what had happened, it had occurred so fast and with such tragic results. ue said MT. Martin and himself were almost side by side on the hank of a slough. The former was inst slipping a dead bird into the hunting pocket of his coat ana short. at the same time, stopped to pick up a bird he had Just killed
 
 His gun. a 16-gauge automatic, was resting across one arm, its putt on the ground. As he stopped, IL discharged and Martin dropped without a sound.
 George B. Rice, who was close py' looked in that direction just Tn time to see the powder flash ana gas haze from the guns muzzle; and George Kohlhepp, also hunt ing nearby, looked up at the snot and saw Martin fall. Both men confirmed Shorts story as to the manner of the accident.
 MT. Rice was accompanied by ms sen and did not go to the spot, but MT. Kohlhepp hurried to it. When he reached there Matrin was dead.
 The body was brought to Glacier Highway, two miles across the mud flats, by MT. Short aided by several other hunters, including: Richard and Casey Harris, Spiro Paul, Frank Behrends, Earl Lagergren, Dan Livie, Ed. Sweum, w. J. Reck, Billy Alexander, and several others whose names were not available today.
 Joe George, brother-in-law of MT. Martin, and who was a mem her of the party but who was hunting elsewhere on the bar, hur- ried to town for physician as soon as he heard of the shooting, not knowing that death had al- ready occurred The body was brought to town in Spiro Paul's car and taken to the c. w. Carter Mortuary.
 Had Many Friends
 Mir. Martin had resided here for many years. He had been em- nloyed in the delivery department, of George Brothers Grocery for a long time. Six years ago, he mar ried Miss Mamie George.
 He had made host of friends, young and old during his residence here. He was especially popular with the children with whom he came into contact on his daily rounds about the city. He always had time to pause minute and speak to them and pat their heads, and when he was not too pressed for time, he always found room for his little friends to ride with him on his truck. He was just Ernie to them.