Connecticut western news., 1885-05-13
LATEST NEWS NOTES.
Happenings of Interest to All,
 At Home and Abroad.
FIGHTING THE INDIANS.
Colonel Otter Gives Them Battle near the
 Saskatchewnn.

A dispatch from Battleford says flying column, under command of Col. Otter, num-
 bering about 300 comprising the mounted police under Herschmer, men from the EQueen's Own" rifles, B Battery, the Ottawa
 Foot Guards, and 0 Company, besides the mounted volunteers from Battleford, had an engagement with Poundmakers forces on their
 reserve. The Indians numbered 609. The | fight lasted from o'clock in the morning until
 noon, and was most hotly contested through out. The loss on Otter's side is eight killed | and twelve wounded, and the Indian loss is es- 1 timated at fifty. Otter's column marched 35 l miles, fought the battle, and returned to Bat | tleford, all inside of 36 hours.
 The steamer Northcote has been extricated, | and reached Clark's Crossing Tuesday. Gen. | Middleton now having plenty of ammunition and supplies, an advance will be made aG once. | It is expected that the rebels will offer battle at Batouche. Gen. Middleton has two Gatling guns.
 A later report says: Poundmaker is one oi | Che most restless chiefs in the Northwest. He | has always been source of trouble to the gov ernment, but was borne with because of the l large number of followers he had. Pound- | maker was the cause of the first Indian out
 rages in the present difficulties, and at his door | may be laid the entire Indian rising. Further particulars of Colonel Otter's battle | indicate that the Indians fought with coolness and bravery, but they were poorly armed. Many squaws took part in the fight, and be- haved equally well with the braves. Although | exhausted after the long march, Colonel Ot- | ter's column fought steadily for seven hours, | by which time the Indians seemed to have | had enough aud retired for short distance. l Colonel Otter took advantage of this to draw his men back for rest and refreshment. The report of Sundays battle between 300 | of Col Otter's forces and 600 Indian rebels, at Poundmaker's reserve was officially confirmed | in the Canadian House of Commons. The re- port says:-The attack was begun by the In- | dians suddenly, and it looked as though trap | had been set for us, into which we ran. The enemy was estimated at 600, and fought l fercely from cover, while we were compara- | lively open to their fire, fighting flom the after the first shot was fired we appeared to be completely surrounded. Fifty men were sent back to clear the rear. They made brave dash and accomplished their object, thus less | ening the danger of the situation.
 | The fighting was over a large and uneven | stretch of country, and our men were working | at great disadvantage, but they stuck to | it like heroes, and with the bullets whistling | in on them from almost every direction, never | finched for an instant. Every corps continued steadily on the aggressive, and by 10 o'clock | the enemy was almost silenoed. They soon | resumed again, and the fighting was again heavy. The artillery, two 7-pounders and the | Gatling gun did good work, repeatedly driving | the enemy from cover.
 At Il o'clock the enemy was again almost | silenced. Col. Otter had already given orders | to withdraw from position of such disad- | vantage. The Indians, observing this, en- | deavored to cut off the retreat of the men. | Our troops fought their way out inch by inch, | front always to the enemy.
 | The men were badly used up before the | withdrawal began.
 | Edmonton advices say: "The region north | and east of here is full of hostile Indians; in | fact, all Indians west of Battleford arc in war | paint. The settlers have all fled. John Walk | ingshaw and Albert Hardness, both from On- | tario were both killed by Big Bears band,
 over a week ago. Their wives and the | wives of two missionaries are pris- oners. Scouts from the Northeast say | Otter will have fearful time of it. Pound
 maker, Little Child, and all the other chiefs
 are on the war path, and a number of half
 breeds are directing them. Major Steele was | to have sent word back when he reached Ed
 monton, but nothing has been heard"
 There is perfect panic in the Eleanor dis l trict. Scores of homesteads have been burned i A courier brings the news of the capture of | four white women by Big Bears band, all of
 whom are being frightfuly maltreated.