The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-08-25
FOREST fires TOLL
HASPASSEDDOzEN
FEARS THAT NUMBER WILL
BE INCREASED
.RHINOW IS IN CHARGE
Adjutant General Commands
Four Hundred Guardsmen
Battling Flames

Four Hundred Guardsmen
Battling Flames
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1
St Paul, August ,1S.-walter
Davidson, director Of the Amer
lean Red Cross for the central
division, this morning offered
the full support Of that orsa-
nization in the forest fire relief.
The Red Cross, he declares,
will Immediately put its full
machinery at the disposal OF
Governor Preus.
Duluth, Mimi, August IA
warning to tourists, curiosity
seekers and others whose bus
mess is not imperative to keep
away from the sections Of
northern MinneSota threatened
by forest fires was issued by
Governor J. A. o. Preus today.
Fearing that numerous vaea-
tionists and the curious ones
would be attracted to the scenes.
thus endaneering not only their
own lives but congestine high
ways and interfering with the
work Of fire fighters, Governor
Preus urged that all such per-
sons remain away from the
north woods until the menace
has been removed. First stops
along this line came when the
chief executive Of the state or
dered three highways out Of
Duluth closed to public traffic.
These are the North Shore, the
Vermillion and the Miller trunk
roads.
Duluth, Mimi, August 1S.-Fears
that the death toll from tae forest
fires raging in northern Minnesota
would go beyond the reported total
of twelve when additiona, advices
are received today from the fame
swept areas, were expressed this
morning by scores of refugees who
are arriving here hourly from all
sections of tae north woods.
While 400 Minnesota national
guardsman under command OF Ad-
jutant General w. F. Rhinow, con-
tinued today the work of Succoring
the refugees, more than 1000 forest
rangers, settlers and others redoub
led their efforts in fighting the
flames, which already have destroy
ed three small towns-Cotton, Cen
trail Lakes and Whiteface.
Fate of a score of other tiny set
Elements scattered over S. Louis and
Lake counties, north OF here hung
on the weather today. Only rain or
calm day can save these places.
Terrific winds were the chief enc
mics of the fire fighters yesterday.
Situation Reported Improved
The first ray of hope of prevent
ing further serious loss was re-
ceived as district headquarters OF
the state forestry service shortly
after midnight when rangers at Kel
sey fifty miles north of here, the
center of the worst blazes, reported
the situation much improved with
the wind subsiding and heavy dew.
Similar afvices were received
from the vicinities of Fairbanks and
Eveleth.
New fires were reported early to-
day in several sections, however, in
Guiding one at Cronigan, eight miles
northeast of Hinkley and another at
Deerwood. Emeb ana Sherw1n.
north Of Two Harbors near Lake
Superior sent in word that flames
were becoming menacing while ten
miles from CloQuet peat fires were
Showing increased signs of activity.
Homes Are Abandoned
Mindful of the 1918 holocaust in
northern Minnesota when more than
400 persons lost their lives, hun
dreds of persons abandoned their
homes, their livestock and in fact
Everything they owned. The main
thought of the women and children
was to reach a haven of safety.
Most of the men remained behind to
bid fire fighters.
\ Last night and today all main
roads leading to Duluth, Eveleth and
Pther northern villages were crowd
ed with fleeing women and children
Duluth national guardsmne and
|other citizens manned trucks and
pleasure automobiles and went far
into the country to meet the plod-
ding villagers and aided them in
reaching hastily established relief
stations supervised by the Red
Cross here. ..--
/ Chief among the scores directing
this work, was Governor ]. A o.
Preus of Minnesota, who come here
yesterday to make plans for speed
ing up coal shipments to the north
west The governor, after ordering
out five companies of guardsman
and six airplanes stayed up most
OF the night arranging for cots, food
and other comforts at the Duluth
armory for the arrivals from the fire
country
Another Account Of Fires
UNITED Press Dispatch.l
Duluth, August 1S.-Adiutant
General W. F. Rhinow arrived here
early today and Immediately con-
ferred with Gov. Preus. He then
went to tie armory to organize the
national guard for fire fighting duty
The governor suggested that Adju-
tant General Rhinow remain here
and establish headquarters to take
charge of the situation "The situa
ton is more serious than l have
ever known it to be-"
There are innumerable fires
burning north of here, spreading
across the north shore of Lake Sup
eriQr up to the Iron Range and Lake
and st. Louis counties, and there are
numerous scattered fires as far west
as Bemidji" said the governor.
This will probably be a lone
drawnout fight. Only dalluge OF
rain can stop the fire / have never
seen the forests so dry. A drought
which may be expected in this