Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-19
BATTLEF0RD'S DEFENSE.
THE BESIEGED WAITING FOR
REINFORCENfE E1NTS.


No Immediate Danger of n Disaster--
All tho Houses on the south Side OF
the River DestrOyed-Ths Hurried
Advance of the Troops Across tho
Prairie.
WINNIPEG, MAN, April 1s--Rev. d.
NJ. Gordon, Of this city, telegraphed Rev.
j. II. Cameron, Presbyterian minister
at BattleCord, asking him for information
regarding the situation there, and received
the following reply: "There is no inn
mediate danger. We are waiting for
troops to take the offensive. All are we'll"
Other dispatches from Bottleford say:
Every house and store on the south side
of Battle river has been ransacked, and
all goods not appropriated have now been
destroyed. All persons other than those
occupying the town on the north side are
homeless, ana many are destitute. II
absence of communication cOntinu S,
chOake, dog and bacon Will become the
staple food in the near future. 1t is
estimated that LOCO head OF cattle and
600 horses were driven of by the Indians.
FARMERS RUINED.
Agricultural enterprise has been thor
0ughly checked. All the seed in the
country is destroyed and farmers gener.
but all work Is suspended. 1t is reported
that Instructor Payne's body was chopped
up and thrown about the barn yard. In
suuctor Jefferson is a prisoner with
Poundmaker. The persons within the
stockade number 506. Instructor Mckay
and family, Of the Sweet Grass Reserve,
started down the Saskatchewan river in
a small boat Co Prince Albert. He was
threatened with death for warning Agent
a ltr rars q
maker.
The Crees hereabouis, it is reported,
will not act decsveiy until they return
from Fort Pitt with Big Bear.
NO WORD FROM FORT PITT.
Fort Pitt is still unheard from. There
is much anxiety With respect to The fate
Of the garrison.
swift Current dispatch says: Col.
| Otter, with force Of several hundred
mounted men, will make dash across
the prairie TO Battief0rd, expecting 70
reach there in about four days. The re-
mainder Of Col. Otter's force, consisting
OF the Queens Own Rifles and infantry
companies, viii move forward in the wake
of the dying column and keep guard over
the supply posts. supply stations have
been arranged at twenty-mile intervals,
and 10 is expected that the main body will
make a station each day. The whole
distance is about lS5 miles.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
The transport service is well organized
with over 800 teams engaged. Part OF the
35th and the whole OF the Midland Bat
TALON Will likely be stationed at points
along the railroad, TO be ready when called
on. Col. Smiths Winnipee battalion has
arrived at Colgarry, dropping one com
pany at Glcicben for garrison duty, owing
TO fears OF Indian trouble. Ii has been
found that the ammunition served Out 10
the Swift Current division is def ctiye
and a new supply will be necessary.
There is strong feeling over the bad
cartridges being served out. The steamer
N0rthcote has been assisting in ferrying
Col. Otter's force across the river at Swift
Current and will attempt to take supplies
down the stream TO Clarke's crossing for
Gen. Middleton.
THEORIES as TO THE GOVERNMENTS
PLANS.
The theory is gaming ground that there
will be no fighting, that the government
will treat with the half-breeds and satisfy
their demands, or that Riel viii keep
them out of the way Of the troops. 1t is
said that large numbers have deserted
Riel on the approach of troops. Gen.
Middleton's advance from Clarke's cross
ing will be in two wings, on either side OF
the river, with Col. Iryine's column to
come down from Prince Albert.