Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-15
A BATTLE WITH REL.

A Portion of NIiddleton's Command At
tackled by the Rebels Ncar Batoche's
Crossing - -Four of the Government
Troops Killed and u Number Woundcd-
The Rebnl ISss Not Known-TroOps Ar
rive at Battleford-A Basis of Settle-
1ncnt.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 25.-The
long-expected encounter between General
afternoon. Dispatches received carly yes
tcrday morning from Middleton's camp an
nouNccd that his columns had advanced to
within twenty miles of Batocle's Crossing,
and it was generally supposed that
Riel would be met before many
miles had been traversed. The Gov
eminent troops broke camp in the morning
and had advanced about five miles when the
insurgents came into view. They had post
ed themselves with their Indian allies OIL
the edge of a deep ravine, and as the col
umn Of Government troops Oh the west
side of the river came up the rebels
fired into them. Full information
as to the number killed and wounded has
not been received. The first report that
wounded is contradicted by a courier, who
has just come in by way of Clark's Cross
ing. lie states that -four of the Government
troops were killed and about fifteen
wounded. Catain Clark, of G Com
pany, is believed to be fatally wounded.
He is a Scotchman who has seen much
service, and was looked on as one of
W%innipeg's best soldiers. Captain Wise,
one of General Middleton's aids, had his
horse shot beneath him, and a bullet passed
through General Middleton's cap. When
the courier left the battle-ground
the fight was still raging: Three houses
which contained a number of the reb-
els had been shelled, and the occupants
took refuge i'll the ravine. The troops
then made a dash at the enemy, and, al
though for the most part volunteers, be-
haved CALAMITY. The rebels in the ravine
are estimated to have numbered over three
hundred. They fought vigorously in true
Indian fashion. When dislOdged from the
ravine they retired into the bush, and as
they retreated set the prairie on fire. The
fire was fortunately ~extinguished by o hail
storm, which occurred soon after the begin
ming of the rebel retreat. When the courier
left the scene the troops were pursuing the
rebels into the bush. 1t is believed that Riel
may have had a number of achievements
concealed behind the brush, and that further
fighting may have enSucd.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 25.-Dis-
patches from Battleford announce that re-
lief has arrived there at last and that the
danger of an Indian raid upon the town has
been averted. Colonel Herchmer, with
seventy-five mounted police, reached Bat
tlcford Thursday night, and Colo
mel Offers column arrived at noon
yesterday, bringing a quantity Of sup
plies for the relief Of the garrison.
The arrival of the Government troops
was the signal for the dispersion of the In
dians, though some of them nave congre-
gated at Perkins's house, near the steam
boat landing, and others still Turk about the
town. By the burning Of the Hudson Bay
C%ompany's storehouse Thursday a large
amount of bacon was consumed, and a case
of powder concealed in the building caused
a terrific explosion.
OTTAWA. Ont, April 25.-In their i'll
structions the Northwest Commission are
told that the Government deems it expedi-
ent to satisfy claims existing i'll connection
with the eytinguishment of the Indian title
in the following manner
BY, granting to every half-breed head
of q family who resided outside of Mani.
which he is at present in bona fide and nndis-
puted possession, to the extent of 16O acres;
and. and if "a, the Ian land ne is enltiyating is less
scrip redeemable in land at the rate
OF one dollar, per acre: and in the case
the Territories previous to July Is. 1870, who
is not in bona fide occupation of any land, by
issuing scrip rcdeemablc to tho extent of l6l
born outside, of Manitoba previous to July Is.
1910, Il lot of land OF which he is ut present an
unlisputed occupant to the extent of 40
acres or its equivalent in scrip"