The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-04-30
I THE R1EL REBELI1oN.

81 Eorf-Aa 8kirmash ut Battleford, and an
Early Attack Expected. ,s4 sS
Winnipeg, Special Telegram, April IS =
AZ Battleford, yesterday, EfiveS5 mounted
policemen arrived from Fort Pitt, bearing
Intelligence that in an attack by the Indians
one Of the policemen was killed and one
wounded. AL the other occupants Of the
fort, including the Hudson Bay factor, Nc
Lean, and family, have taken refuge in a
camp Of friendly Indians near the post The
police, who escaped upon raft, tell the story
OF the fight and give details Of the position.
For two weeks the fort was surrounded by H.
It!inns, who constantly menaced the place. and
mn attack was constantly expected The In
Iians demanded the surrender of the fort, but
INSPECTOR Dickens, Of the police, resolutely r,,-
lacks, including the police, and as they were
well armed they could have kept the Indians
away, but Chief Big Bear sent to have parley
with Mclean, the chief factor The chief told
him II the civilians and police would lay down
them. Mclean is tmid, and accepted the offer
for himself and the oivilians Insp ector
Dickens even after the civilians had left him.
refused to surrender; and, with his mon, he
was embarking on raft for Battleford when 4
band of hundred Indians under Big Bear
@ssoohSn II AO pUuC0 1UuRuG desperately
and killed considerable number Of red-skins.
The band was finally forced to retreat and the
police escaped William Cowan, one OF the
number, was killed, and another, named Ions
BY, fatally wounded Others were wounded,
but not seriously. The hmidity OF MOL can
tai to the liberty Of thirty whites
men, women and children-who are believed
to have fallen victims to the treach-
cry Of the Indians before this. The police who
escaped brought intelligence regarding the
Frog Lake massacre, which was reported . few
about Frog Lake had been acting in a strange
manner for some time, and one Sunday they
invited the whites to attend church. Tho
frightened people complied There in the sane.
tuary for hours sat the trembling women and
children and much scared men, side by side
was!over the Indians retired first and as the
whites left the edifce ten Of them were shot
Instantly. The two priests, Fathers Fafard
and Marchaud, who. had officiated at the
service, were then seized by the bloodthirsty
sn oss ssnE ssas sa, Il A b th
quently raided houses in the vicinity and
committed many depredations. Battleford
dispatches states that Frank Smart, store
keeper there, while on duty at the barracks,
was killed by bullet from a rifle in the hands
Of an Indian sharpshooter: The guards then
crossing with what result is not known.
Moosimin's band is in communication with
l'oundmakers, and tronble is feared An early
attack on Battleford is expected The gar
rison is thoroughly alarmed. Word has been
sent to Col Otter 10 make all haste with his
column to the relief of the besiegod 1t is
now expected that he will reach there. Satur-
day. There seems little doubt he will have
some fighting to do, aa the entire country
about Battleford is supposed to be swarming
with hostile Indians. sufficient amount OF
supplies has at last, reached Middleton to en-
able him to proceed forward A dispatch re-
oeived this morning said:
Y MIDDLETON WOULD ADVANCE TO-DAY. i}s
Melgund and his scouts encountered several
Of Riels scouts yesterday and exchanged shots
with them, but as Riels men retired into am
bush, where 1t was probable that half breed
endorsements lay. Melgund retired. Middleton
telegraphed Instructions to have the steamer
Northcotte bring on supplies with all haste The
steamer isnow on the way to Prince Abert, heav-
lily freighted with provisions Middleton says he
will meet her in Prince Albert in three days,
ny which time he expects to have cleaned out
the robels., Arrangements have been made for,
Irvine to meet him near Batoche's Crossing,
where 1t is expected q fight will take place
Irvine will prevent the escape Of the rebels In
the event Of an engagement It is quite svl-
dent ass the q it sy not ssh9 aaaSn
were received from Middleton to have ali
troops stationed here to go to the front at once.
The London fusileers and French battalion,
each SOY strong, left in two special trains
they will be- forwarded by river to join
Middleton. The governor-general's body
guard, the Winnipeg troop Of cavalry and
Quebec school Of cavalry go to Fort Qu'Ap-
pelle. The obtectls to reinforce Middleton from
the rear should it be necessary for him to fall
ho Al mill al ha a.
depots along the line It is believed here that
Middleton has information regarding Riels
intention and his forces which led him to ask
reinforcements. A late dispatch from Middle
ton tonight announces that he has postponed
his forward movement till to morrow morn
ing. Prince Albert intelligence indicates all
we'll, but anxiously awaiting relief Charles
hewitt, who was reported killed at Duck Lake,
is alive, Nolln, one of Riel's councillors is q
prisoner at Prince Albert
As telegraphed, -Riel is at Batoche's, the
greater part Of his force being in rifle pits and
the river. According to the best information
attainable BY Gen. Middleton, the insurgent
chief has $50. half-breeds armed with forty
Winchesters, twenty Snider's Captured at the
Crozier fight together with 400 to 500 rounds
Of ammnnition) and $50 to 200 shot guns, the
slugs and sbuckshot It is now positively as
serted that he has two brass held pieces (seyen-
pounders) with few rounds Of solid
shot for each. # he has, the guns are relics
Of those formerly owned by the Hudson Bay
company and not regarded as very. dangerous
in these modern days. Estimates Of Riels In.
dian allies vary from three hundred to Eve
hundred, and the former is likely to DO nearer
the truth. The Indians have arms o: oil sorts
very similar in effectiveness and condition to
1859 of our own Sioux and with the Same lack
I first-class ammunition. Rolls men have
:lade up their minds that if caught they win
be hanged ergo, "'Tis better to have fought
and died than never to have fought at all, and
die anyhow. They will fight on the Indian
style, each man on his own hook, and using
every tree trunk and inequality Of ground as
coign Of vantage Z,