The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-12-04

soldiers, thrown into bull pen,
ABOUT which was strung barbed wire.
Numerous of the mine workers were
kept in the bull pens for weeks.
Some died from exposure, some 9TH
ers became insane.
After days of confinement, Mr..
Latimer escaped through the barb
ed wire at night and under cover
made his way to Montana, where
he was safe. He then went to work
in Montana, doing cow-punching
and on the railroad as a section
hand
For nearly three years he roved
the west, from Washington to the
Sonora district in Mexico. There
he had some more bad luck in a
rough and tough mining district
He became engaged in an alterca-
ton with Mexicans. One slashed
at him with a knife, nearly severing
the right thumb.
Returned to Alaska
Leaving Sonora, Mr.. Latimer
worked in gold mines elsewhere in
Mexico. and then up through the
United States. Finally, he got back
to Alaska, landing at Nome in April
of 1903.
He prospected for himself did
miscellaneous jobs, acquired little
money, and then caught the last
boat in December, again turning
up in Seattle. Until the fall of
1904 he continued his roaming,
sending money home when he could,
and saving for the time when he
could further his education.
He sailed on an excursion boat to
Hawaii, then made friends with a
captain of a freighter and sailed
into the South Seas.
After mine work in British Col
umbia, he went to Yakima, Wash,
purchased a fruit farm, worked it
and history in the Yakima High
and history in the Yakima HiHgh
School. In Seattle he organized
street sales of new newspaper, the
Seattle Star. During these years
he made a trip back to Hillard and
there married My Helser A son
was born of this union, but the cou-
pie separated Mr.. Latimer was
not to see his son, Ira H. Latimer,
until 1885, when the son read of Mr..
Latimer's election as Mayor of
Minneapolis and thus learned Of his
whereabouts.
In the autumn of 1904 he matricu-
lated at the University of Washing
ton, but after one term he had
again to leave school, beca e
of lack of finances. But in 1905,
after work in the harvest fields
and logging camps, he again was
back in school. In 1908 he was
awarded Bachelor of Arts degree.
! Wins Phi Beta Kappa Key
He also was awarded the key of
Phi Beta Kappa, one of the high
est of Scholastic honors. Even while
working his way through school and
devoting much attention to study,
he also managed to play football
and engage in other student activi-
ties.
After being graduated from the
University of Washington, he went
to the University Of Illinois and
/ spent year there, working for his
degree of Master of Arts. After
receiving this degree, he spent two
years at Illinois teaching econo-
mics, or as assistant professor.
Comes to Juneau
In September, 1911. he went to Jul
neau, Alaska, having been appoint
ed superintendent of schools in
that community. During his super
intendency, he taught economics
and history in the high school
When a new school board was elect
ed he was ousted All but three
students followed him to new quar-
tiers and when the school year was
finished he sued for full salary and
won his case and salary. In the
fall of 1912 he returned to the Unit
ed States and began the study OF
law at the University of Minnesota.
He was graduated from the Uni
versity of Minnesota law school in
June, 1914, when he was Is years
old
While at the University of Wash
ington, Mr.. Latimer had met Elsie
Henry, who was sophomore when
he was a senior They married ear
ly in 1911. When he entered the
University of Minnesota law school,
she too, attended class with him.
They were graduated together and
took the bar examination together
In the same year there was opened
in the Security Building the law
/ firm of Latimer & Latimer.
His wife and law partner died in
January of 1882 In 1884 Mr.. Lat
inner married again, to Mrs. Mil
dred Unger, mother of two daugh-
tiers.
Through his years of law prac-
tice, Mr.. Latimer was interested ac-
lively in politics, but did not hold a
public office until 1888 when he was
appointed as an attorney in the IL
/ ni,idatiora di.ticic.a af +lo AAirnrnecnta