The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-01

Thirty Whites Probably 1AtahSrsd st the
1ort-A 1kirnAisA q 1astlsfora. IA ~
1a.ly Atsasx 1xpsetsa.
Winnipeg, Special Telegram. Arr,, -
AZ Bsttloford, yesterday I'VE mounted
policemen arrived from Fort Pitt, bearing
intsllieerto That in an attack by tho Indians
Che Of the policemen was killed and enc
wounded. All the other occupants OF the
fort, including the Hcds5n bay factor. Nc
Lean. and f.sniiy, have taken refuge in a
camp OF friendly Indians near the post The
police, who escaped upon raft, tell tho story
OF the fight and give details of the position.
For two weeks tho fort was surrounded by In.
dams, who constantly monaccd the place, and
aisns demanded the surrender 81 thI fort, but
fused. There were about nifty men in the bar
racks, including tho police, and as they were
wen armed they could have kept the Indians
ave" mt Chief Big Boar sent to ha"c- ,,srlJy
MIN Mcfc1n, lnvr,.,ei iarnr. The CHIEF told
him it the civilians and police wonI,l Law dywn
. .ne'r arms and surrender he ~t,iid protect
them Mclean is timi,t, and accented tho Offer
ior himself a.! tho civilians Insp ector
olckens cson after tho civilians had loft him,
Feiised to surrender; and, with his men. no
was embarking on raft for BattIefrri when a
band Of q hundred Indian. nntcr Big Bear
attacked him. fhc fa!ice fought desperately
anu killed = considerable number of REDSKINS.
me tahd was finally forced to retreat and the
polite escaped. William Cowan, one of the
NUMBER NJ, was killed, and another. named Ions
lut not seriously. The tinsiaiiy of Mclean
embarrassed tho police and proved ia
tai TO the liberty of thirty Whites
men, Women and clildren-who are believed
to have fallen victims to the trcach-
Try OF the Indians before this. police Who
escaped brought intelligence regarding tho
Frog Lake massacre, which Mas reported few
days ago to haye etGn canarl. The Indians
about Frrt Lake had been acting in strange
alla,'nSr for some time, and one Sunday they
invited the whites TO attend church. The
frightened people complied There in the sane
tnary for hours sat the trembling women aud
children and much scared n,cb, side by siJo
with their dueky eneMica. Whom the service
was over tho Indians retired first, and MS tho
whites left the cdificc ten of them were shot
instantly ,t Tho two priests, Fathers Fafard
service, were then seized by tho bloo,lthirsty
Indians. and after being beaten to death, the
bodies wero burned. The redskins subse-
Hucnsly raided houses in tho vicinity and
committed many dcpretlations Battlcford
keeper there. while OH duty at the barracks,
was killed by bullet from a rifle in the hands
OF all Indian sharpshootcr. Tho guards then
Tired upon band of Indians at Baltic river
crossing with what result is not known.
M0osimin's band is in communication with
Poundmaker's, and trouble is feared. An early
attack on Battleford is expected. The gar.
rlson 10 thoroughly alarmed. Word has been
scnt to Col Otter to make all haste with his
column to the relief of the bescsed. 1t is
now expected that he will reach there Satur-
day. There seems little doubt no will have
some fighting to do, as the entiro country
about Bsttlcfordis supposed to DO swarming
with hostile Indians. A sufficient amount Of
supplies has at last reached Middleton to en-
able him to proceed forward. A dispatch re-
cclved this morning said:
MIDDLETON WOULD ADVANCE TODAY
Melgund and his scouts encountered several
OF itlei's scouts Yesterday and exchanged shots
with them, but as liicfs men retired into AMI
pasil, where it was probable that half breed
relnforeemehts lay. Melgund retired Middleton
ttelesfaphed instructions to have the steamer
steamer is now on the way to Prince Alert, heay-
lily freighted will, provisions. Middleton saws ho
will meet her IN Prince Albert in three DAYS.
6y which time he expects to have cleaned out
the robels. Arrangements have been made for
! Irvine to meet him near Batocho's Crossing,
Irvine will prevent the escape Of tho rebels in
inc event OF an engagement. 1t is quite evl-
dent that tho military authorities are
y, y, possession Of fact, not known to
re sSs fSf %s,ps , orders
troops stationed here to 70 to tho front at cuca
III The London .. fusileers and French battalion,
each 300 strong, left in two special trains
for Swift Currert from which point
, M;S, VIII bs E., forwarded by river to join
s n,a.ete m The governor generals body
s Gaf, the Winnipeg troop Of cavalry and
n a1,,,,
nelle. Theobjestls torclnforce Middleton from
."e rear snould It he necessary for him to fall /
Jack. They will also be used to guard supply |
;1lep4te along the line. 1t is believed here that
siiddieton has information regarding Ricl's |
intention and his forces which led him to ask |
relnforcements. late dispatch from Middle
ton tonight announces that he has postponed
his forward movement till to morrow morn
ing. Prince Albert intelligence indicates all |
WELL but anxiously awaiting relief Charles
hewitt who was reported killed at Duck Lake,
IL alive. Noln, one Of Riels councillors. is
AS telegraphea, Eicl ID at Batoches, the
greater part of his force being in rifle pits and
Ut is alleged, ntrenchcd oh the south side of |
tho river. According to the best information
attainItlo by Gen; Middleton, the nsurscnt
Winchcsters, twenty Sniler's Captured at tile
Crozer fight, together with 400 to 800 rounds
Of ammunition) and $50 to 200 shot guns. the |
latter effective at lGO yards when loaded with
slugs and bucksllot It is now positively as
serted that he las two brass held pieces lseven
shot for each. If he has, the guns are relics
Of those formerly owned by tho Hudson BAY |
company and not regarded US very dangerous
in these modern days. Estimates of Riels In.
aian allies vary from three hundred to five |
hundred, and the former is likely to be nearer
tho truth. Tho Indians have arms O: oil sorts |
very similar In effectiveness and condition to
those Of our own Sioux and with the same lack |
Of first-class ammunition. Reils men have |
made up their minds that if caught they will |
be hanged-ergo, "'Tis better TO have fought |
die anyhow. They will fight ON the Indian
stylc, each man on his own hook, and using
every tree trunk and inequality Of ground as
coign of vantage.