Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-25
BATTLBFORD RELIEVED.
COL. OTTER AND HIS NfEN AR
RIVE AND RAISE THE SEIGE.

Quicker Time Made Than was Expected
The Indians Improve Their Last OPP
pOrtunity OF ID evastating the Country
The story of the FAN of Fort Pitt
WINNIPEG, MAN, April 24.-All Win
nipeg gave a sigh Of relief to-day, says the
Free Press, when it was announced that
portion Of Col. Otter's force was camped
last night across Battle river near Bat
tleford. To-day's dispatches show that
this was the advance guard Of mounted
police under Col. Herchmer, and that
Col. Ottor's main force was only short
distance behind. The long suspense has
told heavily on the garrison, and some of
the women have become i'll with anxiety.
The majority OF the Battlelord people had
relatives or friends in Winnipeg, and the
| knowledge that they have been released
| tfom danger causes much rejoicing. The
/ relieving force has made much better
| time than was expected, and Col. Otter
has evidently performed his work as well
as could have been done. He was no
doubt very largely aided by Col. Ilerch-
mer's experience and energy, Battle
| ford dispatches Indicate that last nights
| burning and raiding by the Indians was
due to their knowledge of Col. Herch-
mer's approach, they doubt
| less wishing to avail themselves to
the last of the opportunity for
mischief making. When the garrison be-
came aware of Col. Herchmer's proXtm-
/ ity a detachment was sent down to the
Grand crossing of Battle river. Shots
were exchanged by these and the Indians
across the river, and it is believed that
some of the Indians were shot. After the
arrival Of Col. Otter's force to-day, Col.
| Herchmer, with 80 mounted police,
secured the valley, but could not find any
one. The Indians and rebel half breeds
evidently fed at the approach OF the troops.
THE FORT PITT MASSACRE.
A special from Battleford gives the fol-
! lowing account Of the Fort Pitt and Frog
Lake affairs: Yesterday morning the Fort
| Pitt garrison, under Inspector Dickens,
arrived, having had hard trip in scow
on the Saskatchewan river, and parttcu-
lars of the fight which occurred at Fort
Pitt were obtained. On April 13 Chief
Big Bear and his band Of Indians
approached the fort, and, send
ing messenger, demanded that
arms and ammunition be given him by
the police. Inspector Dickens swore
that they would never be given. The
scouts returning at this time from Frog
Lake were passing the fort and were
fired upon by the Indians, who were en-
ragged at the refusal OF the police to give
them the arms. An exciting fight fol-
| lowed, Policeman COwan being killed
and Policeman Lonsby wounded. The
latter was hotly pursued by
the Indians, but reached the fort
without further injury. While the red
skins were pursuing Them they We're
brought to a stop by firing from the bar
racks -Four Indians were killed and
several wounded and the rest were driven
back. fhe Indians numbered about 20O,
but notwithstanding, their superior num-
bers could not stand before the steady and
well directed fire Of the policemen.
M'LEAN's FARLEY.
just before the firing commenced,
Factor Mclean, of the Hudson Bay Com
pany, had parley with Big Bear, who
told him that it was intended to kill only
the police, and il the civilians would
leave the fort they would be safe. Be
! lieying the Indians so far outnum-
| bered the garrison that they would
| be able 10 take the fort and anxious for
| the women and children, Mclean de-
| termined to accept Big Bears terms. He
! then lett the fort with all the civilians
and they are now with the Indians, about
thirty Of them of all ages. This reduced
/ the garrison to twenty-five men, and
being insufficient to defend the
fort for any great length Of
time, they left the same afternoon after
/ the fight on the scOw they had previously
| built, brin1ing all the ammunition and
arms that were in the barracks. Before
leaving Fort Pitt the police received word
from Mclean that the Indians had coal
oil and fire arrows prepared, and were
ready to fire the fort if the police remained.
The conduct OF the police was most gal
liant in every respect. On their arrival
here Col. Morrow sent the police band to
meet them, and they marched into the
barracks amidst the cheers Of the whole
population. Mrs. GOwanlock and Mrs.
Delaney, who were taken prisoners by the
Frog Lake Indians, are reported to be
well treated.
RESTLESS AMERICAN INDIANS.
FARGO, OAK, April PA tourist Just
returned from the National Park reports
the Indians in Montana quite uneasy.
Epsissaries from Riel have been
among them melting the
bucks TO 90 10 war against
the Dominion. one hundred and fifty Of
them crossed the Northern Pacific tracks
Sunday bound north, and il the trouble
continues many warriors Of Wyoming,
Montana and the Black Hills VIII go north
to join Riel.
Exposition Affairs.
NEW ORLEANS. April 24.-The three
hundred and twenty-irst anniversary Of
the birthday Of William Shakespeare was