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Show FOREST SERVICE IS LOSING MEN AT RAPID RATE Rudolf E. Mellenthin, a forest ranger, ran-ger, with offlcos at the local building of the forestry service, was shot and killed last night near a sheep camp on Pine Bluff in tho La Sal national forest, for-est, while attempting to arrest a Mexican Mex-ican draft evader from Now Mexico. Mr. Mellenthin haseen connected with the local offices of the forest service ser-vice since 1909, and was stationed at the La Sal forest. The Mexican who did l.he shooting is Ramon Archuletta. The report says that he was aided in his escape by two other 'Mexicans. A posse of ten men was organized at La Sal at S o'clock last evening, when the shooting shoot-ing was reported, and left by horseback horse-back in soarch of the evader. The evader escaped from federal officers of-ficers at Pueblo, Colorado, about a month ago and escaped to the La Sal mountains. The authorities then asked the aid of R. E. Mellenthin, who was permanently located in the La Sal forest, for-est, in the capture of tho man. The forester received information that the Mexican was working at Pino Bluff and had reached there in company com-pany with Jas. Moore, Jr., when the Mexicans started to fire. The ranger fell from his horse wounded, and Moore left for tho, ranger station and telephoned to La Sal for assistance. Officers started a search of Grand and San Juan counties immediately, and say that escape is improbable. Mcllinthln is of German birth, but a naturalized citizen of tho United States. Officials at the local forestry office state that he has been devoting much time to training men of draft age for service in tho army, as he had several years training in the German military machine before coming lo this country. Mellenthin spent the winter of 1916 on detail -work at the local office, and, according to Inspector Scott, was one of the most popular and well-liked men in the service. It is said that Mellenthin tried to enlist in the army last spring, but. failing, decided to devote his attention atten-tion to training other men for the army. The forester entered the service at the local offices in 1909, as a forest ! guard, and was promoted in 1911 as assistant forest ranger. In 1916 he was ! made forest ranger because of his expert ex-pert work in the forests of the La Sal mountains, which he is said to have known thoroughly. He held this position posi-tion when shot. Forester Mellenthin is survived by a wife and two children. Officials of the agricultural department depart-ment say he was protected by the Federal Fed-eral Employees Compensation act, which will pay his wife about 65 per month until the children reach their majority. |