The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-08-25
Says situation Aggregated

grevated," State Forester W. P. Cox
told the United Press today. I'VE
have been unable to verify reports
of deaths In the region north Of
here and II Is untrue that a number
of villages were destroyed by
flames. ~
For instance, it was reported
Fairbanks had been destroyed and
our ranger there reported this morn
ing the fire was two miles from the
THE town Of Bntton is reported
burned. The great crews OF men
that have been lighting the flames,
are holding them quite well, Cox
added. There is very bad fire
near Kelsey and a number of fami-
lies-about twelve, understand,
were driven out.
in an airplane making a far trip
over the situation and will report
back. Most of the telephone wires
are down, which made it necessary
to send the airplane. The troops
now here are used in guarding the
road to prevent tourists from going
into the danger zone"
Report From Governors Clerk
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
st. Paul, August 1S.-Twelve peo-
pie have been killed, several hun
bred made homeless and all roads
blocked and communication cut of.
except for one telephone line &C
cording to a report made to the
governors office this morning by
Herman Z. Samuelson, the COVER
nor's executive clerk who is at a
point twelve miles north of Biwa>
blk. Samuelson is on his vacation
at this point and declares that it
will be impossible for him to get
through" probably before a week.
He reported that the fires appeared
to be gaining Roadway on all sides
and that those Of the farmers who
have not already fed are panic
ed practically all roads and torn
dow n telephone lines with one ex-
ception, Samuelsons aid. His mes I
sage came over the one remaining
telephone line which was open this
morning..
Two Hundred Fires Burning.
Duluth, August 1S.-It is estimat-
ed that more than 200 fires are
burning in the forest sections of the
state. The majority of them are in
peat boys, but the finder like con-
dition of the woods makes even the
smallest FIRE a potential menace.
Before leaving with .Adjutant Gen
eral Rhinow for Kelsey at 1870 a.
M, State Forester Cox expressed
the belief that when the smoke
cleared and permitted a check of the
fire area, it would be found that the
property loss was comparatively
small. He based his estimates on
first hand information obtained from
his rangers. AS for the reported
death of ten persons, Mr.. Cox said
he had no reports from rangers.
At a conference at local hotel
this morning Governor Preus, Cen
eral Rhinow and Forester Cox agreed
that the situation is serious, as it
always is at this time of year but
that the hundreds of guards had the
situation fairly we'll in hand and
would retain control unless terrific
winds should again drive the flames
past Are lines. 's
Damage in the stricken areas OH
the Iron Ranges has been overesti-
mated, reports this morning show.
At Bull the only damage done by
the fire was destruction of the Gem
etery fence and several haystacks.
Change in direction of the wind
saved the town d Buhl from being
razed. ms aaA = pnpi IAOus
At Eveleth and nearby towns the
fires were reported practically eX-
tinguished. At Iron Junction and
Wolf which were surrounded by
fires yesterday afternoon the dan
ger has passed.
Fierce Fire At Kelsey.
Ranger A. B. Gibbs flying in a
Minnesota national guard airplane,
returned to Duluth at noon from a
trip over the fire district and re-
ported the Kelsey fire burning
Hereby. Governor Preus immedi-
ately dispatched six trucks to Kel-
sey to transport the townspeople
take no chances" said the governor.
where there is apparent danger
we will order all people to places OF
safety"
All employees of the large paper
mills and saw mills at Cloquet near
the fire zone have been ordered out
by State Forester Cox to fight fire
and care for the refugees.
The trucks will pick up settlers
in the Kelsey district as far north
as Shields, said the governor. The
population of Kelsey and the sur
rounding territory AFFECTED by the
FIRE is estimated at 200.
Outside of the Kelsey and Mark
ham FIRE areas there is no grave
danger to settlers, Ranger Gibbs
reported. The plane piloted by
Lieutenant T. G. Williams covered
twenty four townships north and
northwest of Duluth. A forty mile
wind is tanning the first at Kelsey
the ranger said.
Many Pressed Into Service
Every avilable man in Duluth, out
Of work, has been induced into spe-
cial service with the state forestry
department. in the fight against
forest fires. State Forester Cox re-
ports about 1000 men. on duty. In
northern Minnesota, in addition to
the national guard troops patrol-
ing the roads.
In a telephone message to head
quarters at ST. Paul Mr.. Cox di-
rected the office to notify all avail
able men In the forestry depart
ment in the state to rush to Duluth
Immediately and report to him for
duty. All forestry men In northern
Minnesota, whose territories are me-
in danger, were Instructed by tele-
graph and telephone this morning
to Duluth at once.
Hopeful that the comparative light
wind of today would not strengthen
until complete control Of the situa-
ton could be gained, state officials
here In charge of the forest nre SIT
nation this afternoon were pressing
into service every available man