The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-07-28
the already badly wrecked hotel,

the already badly wrecked hotel,
Three weeks ago the mooushin.
ers burned three lumber campo
owned by Grace In the woods three
miles west Of here. The camps were
valued at $4,000, In the wintertime
Grace employees about 100 lumber.
jacks cutting pulpweod and ties. In
the summer time the force Is 10.
duced to half a dozen men EN-.
ployed only in loading,
Grace owns the largest general
store, runs the implement business
hardware store, sells drugs. sup.
plies and merchandise. His son
and daugaters aid him. He Is the
community oaief.
The psychology Of the situation IL
against him, He owns the only big
car within a radius Of forty miles.
The workers look upon him as "tae
power and are violently opposed to
him. Raised In religious family
Grace has always opposed liquor
and lawlessness.
Church Was Started
Upon his invitation an attempt
Q church. A Rev. Mattson Of Min.
first time a meeting was held In the
school. house o band OF ruffians in.
vaded the meeting and demanded
that the minister leave town. He
left.
Later a Rev. Wicke of Superior
tried it. He too was driven from
town and Rev. McClaip from
Markville came. He and then q
fourth minister who came from Su-
perior, were also driven from town
A 500 line depot agent who be-
came friendly with Grace was driven
from town. Last week when the dy-
ramiting was done, the present 500
line agent was bound so taat ha
could not send out word that the
gang was on a rampage.
Grace can number his supporters
in town on his fingers. They are
confined to three peace loving fam
lilies The rest of the dozen fami-
lies are either sympathizers with
the moonShiners or are inundated
to such an extent that they do not
dare side with Grace.
Are Backing Up Grace
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Lund and
their eight children, farming on the
edge of the community, are back
ing up Grace in his fight
Paul Pahos, 500 line section fore
man, and his wife, are friends Of
the Grace's but do not dare take a
hand. Emil Nelson, his wife and
five children. sympathize with
Grace
Nelson recently was warned that
he was having too much to do with
Grace" and was told that he might
come to violance If he did not lay
off,"
These peaceful citizen are now
ready to fight it out They are
arming themselves with the weap
ons of the moonshiners long range
rifles and revolvers.
Grace's daughters are not afraid
to fight. They are good marks
men.
4 have $4,000 invested here"
said Grace. Il am not going to
quit. Mine was the second family
to settle here. 1t is my town. They
are not going to make me quit.
They may get me, but Kingsdale
will be here when l am gone. "
Kingsdale is not an incorporated
village 1t is a settlement
Grace told federal agents that the
moonshiners have made a render
the general store run by Andrew
Gilman. Complaint has been made
TO postoffice officials that the place
is unsafe for the mails, and that
wives and daughters of the citi-
zens have been insulted as they
went there to get their mail. Post
Office authorities are expected to
investigate.
Dry Director Soiicits Aid
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl
Minneapolis, July 25-Coopera-
ton of the federal dry forces in
Wisconsin to assist in stamping out
the activities of moonshiners in the
vicinity of Kingsdale, on the eastern
border of Pine county was asked to-
day by S. B. Qvale, federal prohibi-
ton director, following the plea for
help presented to him yesterday by
a delegation of Kingsdale citizens.
The Kingsdale residents declar-
ed that the source of most of the H.
quor coming into their community
was across the Tamarick river in
Wisconsin" Mr.. Qvale said. Here
in a secluded valley are located a
number of large stills operated by
men who were formerly southern
moonshiners. They have a lookout
posted on a high hill to notify them
when any strangers approach.
81 am sure that the federal forces
in Minnesota will have the full CO.
operation of the Wisconsin officials
In destroying the stills and arrest
ing the law violators. The govern
ment win not stand for conditions as
described by the Kingsdale resi-
DANTE apd az pacacearv ru,ad forcoa