Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-10-08

railroad men who were building and
opening road across the reservation
without permission.
DESTRUCTIVE JOSEPH.
Joseph Destroys . Quantity Of Cow
| Leaves for Cauada I'm Search OF SIT.
ting Bull
Helena special, esth, 70 Chicago Times.
In my last telegram stated that
Joseph had eluded the pursuit of How
ard and Sturgis, and was making his
way toward the Canadian line. This
statement has been fully verified, aud
there is no doubt that the hostile band
of Nez Perces, after passing through
the territories of Idaho and Montana,
have made good their escape beyond
the Canadian line.
YIEE AND SWORD.
A report reached Fort Benton Oh the
22d list, tha. Joseph had been seen on
the south branch Of the Missouri, in
the vicinity Of Cow Island, where a
large quantity of government stores
were located under guard Of twelve
soldiers with a sergeant IN charge,
Major 1Iges, Of the Seventh infantry,
stationed at Benton, Immediately pro-
ceeded to the point with small force,
and discovered that the Indians had
destroyed the stores and had afterward
gone north. Iiges forwarded the fol-
lowing report to General Gibbon BY
courier this morning:
"BASK OPPOSITE Cow ISLAND, Non
tana, Sept. "a, 8. p, m.-GES, G1B-
BON: ] arrived here with thirty-six
mounted citizens about $50 D. II. One
mile below Cow Island 1 met small
boat with Col. Ciendening and four
citizens in it, on their way to the
steamer Silver City, which IS reported
above Grand Island. OF the citizens
two are wounded, Walter and Weimer,
10th seriously. The Nez Perces crossed
yesterday noon and first tried to ap-
proach the rifle pits in friendly way,
but Sergeant Halchert's company would
not let them approach any nearer than
100 yards. Chief Joseph and Sergeant
Malchert shook hands at that distance.
At sundown last night the Indians
commenced the fight from the surround
ing hills. The fight lasted until 10
o'clock this morning, when the Indisns
drew off, going up Cow Creek, in the
direction of the pass between Bear Paw
and the Little Rockies. Sergeant Nal.
ebert had twelve soldiers and four cit
izens in the pit. He says he fought
about three hundred warriors and there
were about five hundred altogether
The Indians charged the party seve
times, and were repulsed with som
loss in killed and wounded. During
the night the Indians burned pile Of
freight, consisting of about thirty tons
of government property and twenty
tons for private parties. l think that
a strong party should be sent down on
the road at once, although from the
action of the Indians, they are gong
across the mountains to the line as fast
as possible. They had about one thou
sand horses with them. I followed
their trail nearly all day, but only
found two abandoned horses. There
are no soldiers or Crows after them. l
will crsss at daylight, and get on the
road with my party to protect what
can. Lieut.. Marden Joined me half an
hour ago, with twenty-eight enlisted
men and abcwitzer. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Gu1Do MILES,
Major Seventh Infantry.
HEADED FOR SITTING BULLS HONE.
The value of the stores destroyed BY
the Indians cannot be properly estima-
ted, but is probably great, and is cer-
tainly the greatest damage yet done by
the Indians during the campaign. 1t
was fitting stroke on their departure
from this country Joseph is heading
in the direction of the Wood noun
tains, and will prcbaly join the band
under Sitting Bull.
The Minneapolis Tribune says: Col
Lounsbery, of the Bismarck TRIBUNE
has stepped into the Minneapolis editor