The Mankato free press., 1921-09-09
white PINE IS SWEPT
Lumber Village Devoured
BY Flames Today
OTHER FIRES CHECKED
State Troops Continue Their
Battle Through Night
And Today
Associated Press DIspatcnI

ASSOCIATED Press DIspatcn1
St. Paul, September 6.--Gov.
ernor J. A. O. Preus, who returned
from a trip Of inspection to Nc
Grath, Willow River and other
points in the fire zone today re-
ported that the fires apparently
are under control and that the
danger lies In a high wind. The
governor said that troops and
rangers are doing excellent work
and that they will be kept In the
fire district until danger Of seri-
Gus fires Is past.
MGrath, Minn., September g.
According to word received at
military headquarters here, the
fire has reached the lumber yards
at White Pine and is rapidly lap
ping over to the stores, postof-
flee and residences.
st. Paul, September 6.-Forest
fire conditions remain practically
the same as yesterday, according
to reports received this morning
by Major e. A. Walsh, acting ad-
jutant general.
No hopes for rain Is held out to-
day and the fire danger will con-
tinue until many Of the fires have
been extinsuished by rain or
brought under control by troops.
soIana, Minn., September g.
Villagers Of soIana were forced
to flee from their homes when
forest fires broke out Of control
Of fighters and raced through the
tree tops to the very edge Of the
village. Ten members Of the de-
tachment stationed here as fire
fighters were overcome by smoke.
They will recover. The fires In all
districts was reported in check at
eleven a. m. but about half an
hour later thirty mile wind
came up driving the flames be-
yond control Of fighters. $50
McGrath. Mimi, September g.
White Pine, a lumber settlement
eight miles north of here, was destroy
ed early this afternoon, and inhabi-
tants of Solana village, four miles
east Of there, were forced to fee the
town when a sudden thirty mile wind
sprang up at noon and swept fores,
fires north of here beyond the control
of fire lines.
The condition in the Solana- White
Pine district was reported favorable
by forestry and military officials al
eleven a. M, but half hour later the
sudden wind lashed the flames into
a new fury, and upset hopes that the
fires might be under control by tomor.
row morning.
To Rescue of White Pine.
All available transportation was or
dered rushed to the rear road II
White Pine by Adjutant Genera
Rhinow, who left here shortly befort
noon when first reports came that the
town finally was being swept by the
flames.
Six large trucks were dispatched tt
the rear road to pick up the refugee!
who, according to the generals mes
sage were safe outside the fire.
Orders have been sent from head
quarters here by the way of Solan:
to officers commanding the troop!
east Of White Pine to immediatel,
abandon all lines except breaks ant
to proceed toward McGrath.
From the top of q seventy-fiv foo
water tower at McGrath it appeared
as If the large lumber yards at White
Pine were afire., The yards extent
over several square acres. and Nor,
than five million feet Of lumber ar,
stacked there.
Troops stationed between Whit,
Pine and Solana were also ordered t,
retire from headquarters.
Fire Started In Shed
The fire at White PineSwas said tt
have started in the saw mills shed.
on the west side of town from spark.
blown over. the fire lines from tn,
woods. The flames spread to tn,
small group <of residences and stor
buildings on the east side almos
instantly, according to refugees
The flames then doubled back from
the sawmill sheds to the rows O
lumber piles to the west and north.
st. Paul, September 6.-Workin,
strenuously in the calm of the nigh
to check forest fires in scattered
sections of seven counties of centra
and northern Minnesota, more thai
700 national guardsmen and severa
hundred citizens and rangers earl,
today hoped to have the blazes unde
complete control by nightfall.
All efforts of the fire fighters werl
concentrated in starting back fire
and digging trenches to confine tn,
flames to certain areas and to pre-
vent their further spread. With fav
orable weather conditions, the larg,
forces Of men expected to have tn,
menaces removed late today or to-
night.
, Latest reports received here wer,
that Solana and White Pine, who's,
population had evacuated. had no
been reached by the flames thi
morning, though there were fires OF
nearly all sides. At Arthyde. fur
ther north, threatening condition.
were reported and Adjutant Genera
w. r Rhinow, In command OF tn,
state troops, dispatched ons hundre,
men to that place. Residents Of thu
town and farmers living In that vi
cinity were ordered by state official.
to leave at once.
Moving Refugees To Safety
Roads leading from McGrath, So
lana and White Pine are filled will
refugees, moving ito safety under tn,
guidance Of guardsmen and rangers
Throughout the fire swept region IL
sections of Lake, st. Louis, Mile
Lacs, Kanabecs, Carlton and AitkiI
counties the prayers Of steelers are
for calm weather and rain. but in thu
latter particular at least, the weather
bureau held out no hope.
There as been no loss OF life sc