The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-08-31

Tim O'Connor, head of the Renville
County Safety commission, was called
on but declined to give a talk, Judge
| Lorin Cray of Mankato gave some in
teresting "reminiscences of early days,
after which Frank Hopkins of
Fairfax, accompanied by the Fairfax
band, sang a patriotic solo, which
made fine impression and he was
obliged to sing an encore number.
Julius Schmahl delivered stirring
patriotic address and gave some in
teresting "reminiscences. He recalled
| how France had aided America in the
revolution Of 1912, and how Russia
had helped during the Civil war. He
also recalled how German admiral
had attempted to spoil the American
victory at Manila Bay. He told how
his parents, like thousands of others,
| had come to America to better their
condition and had done so, and that it
was the duty Of all citizens to support
the government.
Mr.. Schmahl stated that he had
known the late Colonel Pfaender of
New Ulm, who had been an officer
in the northern army at the time of
the Civil war, and made very
creditable record. He recalled con-
versation with the old colonel in which
that veteran had told him that he
hoped when his boys grew up they
would fight for the stars and Stripes"
| as lyally as he had done. a.,
Songs were sung by glee club,
| composed of six members of Com
pany l. of Redwood Falls, who were
roundly applauded and encored. A
young lady, dressed as Red Cross
nurse, and a relative Of the late
Judge E. st. Julian Cox of st. Peter
then gave a short talk, explained the
work and superiority of the Red
| Cross supplies.
Company L Gave Drill.
Gathering storm clouds were then
| noticed, and the storm which had
crept up unobserved frightened some
of the people, who began to dispense
Company L gave splendid exhibition
drill before the meeting adjourned.
The company included six Indian men
| from the Indian reservation near Red
wood Falls, who made spendid soldiers.
During the picnic dinner the members
of the company were entertained by
different parties of the picnickers.
The program was hurriedly con-
Guided, and the tourists hurried fol-
their automobiles, hoping to be well
on their way home before the storm
broke. but all were caught in the
storm. The automobiles packed the
| road toward Fairfax for two miles, so
! solidly that the big cars had to
creep along at snail's pace, and 9TH
| err roads were also filed with cars.
The Mankato contingent came home
by various roads. On their way to
| the park they had been plotted by
Plummer Pitcher, who set a COM
Portable speed, but coming home ev-
ery driver was his own pilot. some
coming by Bernadotte and Winthrop
and arriving home last night about
! ten o'clock.
Officers of the association are:
Frank Hopkins, Of Renville county,
president: A. B. Kircher of Big
Stone county. vice president; A. II.
A. Laudin, Redwood county, secre-
tary and treasurer; Thomas Hughes,
Mankato, historian; directors: j. L.
Hall, Traverse county; Emil Ostlund,
Big Stone county; j. ]. Mooney, yell
low Medicine county; H. M. Aune,
Redwood county; Charles Lammer,
Renville county; Albert Steinhauser,
Brown county; Alex. Russell, Nicollet
county; Judge Lorin Cray, Blue
Earth county.
Business Meeting Held.
Officers and directors held bust
ness session during the forenoon, and
talked over improving and marking
the trail from Browns Valley to st.
Peter and Mankato, passing various
points of historical interest. 1t was
decided to register the trail under
the laws passed by the last legisla-
ture. A name for the trail was
adopted, and it will now be, known as
the Sioux Historic Trail" The pres
ident was authorized to appoint
committee of three to definitely To-
cate the trail, and Attorney Frank
Hopkins of Fairfax, president of the
association, will be member of the
committee. This committee will al
so have charge of marking the trail.
| 1t was decided that the trail be
marked with three nine inch stripes
on the telephone po!es, the center
stripe to- be red and the outside
stripes white. Above the stripes an
| Indian head will be stenciled. 1t was
| voted to raise funds to carry on the
work of the association by having
| membership charge Of $1.00 and many
memberships were sold on the
grounds during the day. Assessments
will also be made on cities and towns
through which the trail passes, the
/ assessments ranging from $500 to
$50, according to population. Most
of the trail is now in good condition,
excepting strip from New Ulm to-
Fort Ridge ly. One of the duties of
| the association will be to induce the
county commissioners to keep the
F.! trail in good condition. 1t was de-
cided to issue strip maps, having the
road map on one side, and sum-
mary of the historic spots along the
: trail on the other side. A booklet
containing a more detailed history
will also be issued The trail runs
through the historic old battlefield OF
Birch Coolee, near Redwood Falls, in
addition to the many other interest
ing places which it passes.
Mankato tourists travelled to the
fort by the river road, the mileage
from the Saulpaugh corner being for
ty-six miles.
The next annual meeting of the
will ha hold in Granite