The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-06
RIEL's REBELLION.
Gloomy Reports Received from
Col. Irvine at Prince Albert.
No Battles Fought and the Troops
Short of Provisions.

WINNIPEG, April A despatch from Fort
Qu.Appelle says that the troops which left
Qu' u'Appelle station yesterday, are now all
comfortably encamped in valley near the
fort. The half breeds in the Qn'Appelle dis
trict, to the number of 800, had a meeting at
which jackson, the government agent, read
proclamation, TO the effect that commission
would come soon to average claims as to lands
and other grievances. After the conference
leading half breed informed jackson that the
commission would be referred to Louis Riel as
the representative of the half breeds in the
territory. This statement causes considerable
uneasiness, as it shows Riel's power. 1t is
feared that rainy weather will prevent the
troops reaching the Saskatchewan for month
owing TO the bad state of the trails.
Half breed reports show that Crozier left 13
dead on the field at the Duck Lake fight The
half breeds lost four killed and two wounded
Crozier's men fired first The half breeds,
who were interviewed assert positively that
RieFs order was never to fire first. Sir A. L.
Gait has offered the government the use OF two
steamers and twenty barges now at Medina,
being used by the Gait Coal Mining Company
These, he says, can be brought to point oppo-
site Swift Current on the line of the Canadian
Pacific railroad, from which point direct water
communication exists between Pripce Albert,
the ordinary time occupied for the voyage be-
ing about two days. COL Herschmer, of the
mounted police, left Calgary for Swift Cur
rent today, to look after the embarkation at
Middleton, last night, by the Winnipeg &
Western Transportation Company to send out
crew at once to start the steamer Northcote
down the South Saskatchewan, and Capts
Sieger and Russell left this morning with
crew, and will go from Moose Jet. by special.
They expect to pc ready to start about We'd
nesday. Forty men of A and B batteries,
with four field guns and horses arrived at Port
Arthur this morning and hurried through
here tonight. The remainder of the batteries
will arrive tomorrow.
QUAPPELLE, Man, April 4.-Gen. Middle
ton is tired Of waiting for troops, and says If it
was not for orders he would make dash with
those now here and he believes be could 90
through all right He will advance as far as
hescan without them, and will probably move
those now here to Touchwood, Monday or
Tuesday, and establish another supply depot
The troops expected here Monday will be
rushed to the front at once. 1t is reported that
twelve miles of telegraph line between Duck
Lake and Clarke's Crossing of the Prince Al
bert branch, have been cut down SO that it
has Just returned from visiting the File Hill
Indians, OF which there are four bands. Ha
reports everything quiet.
WINNIPEG, April 5.-Tidings from the North
indicate that the state of affair there is grow
Ing worse. A despatch from Col Irvine to
the government has come through by courier,
and carries bad news Supplies are scarce and
unless relief geta through very goon the
mounted police and all the Prince Albert peo.
pie will be completely at the mercy of the
rebels. Col. Irvine says that reinforcements
of 1900 men are wanted at Prince Albert at
once. BE adds that the country people, owing
TO threats from the rebels. are leaving their
homes, and that the Teton Sioux are swarming
over the country and committing depredations
Irvine's message was dated March 30th, and
further word is awaited with great anxiety.
The rebels havs evidently organized provis-
ional government. The remainder OF A and
batteries arrived at Winnipeg this afternoon
and the whole detachment, comprising 228
officers and men, with 27 horses and four nine
FOUNDER guns, went west this evening. The
detachment Of Toronto troops is expected to-
night