The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-30
ONE BLOW STRUCK.
FlRs- BLOOD SHED IN THE MANI
ToBA DIFFICULTY.
A Detachment of Police and Volunteers
Defeated with Twelve Killed
and Eleven Wounded.
Riel Said To Be Backed by I,500 Mon,
Well Armed-The March to the Front
of Canadian Troops-Nothing SEN
sational From Europe,

WINNIPEG, Manitoba March 0.-The
first shedding of blood has taken MA CO he
tween tue half fbreeds and the mounted
police, and the excitement over the matter
is consequently greatly intensified. On
Wednesday Maj Crozier, with body Of
100 men composed of mounted police and
volunteers left Fort Carleton for Duck
lake. While crossing the reserve of Cree
chief named Beaudry, they found the half
breeds had taken up strong position to bar
their way. The rebels are said to have num-
bered over 200. When Crozier's force ad-
vanced, the rebels attempted to surround
them, probably with the intent to take them
prisoners. Not succeeding, they fired volley,
which was responded to by Crozier's men,
The firing lasted some time, when Crozier,
finding his men far outnumbered, retreated
in good order to Fort Carleton. The result
Of the firing was the death Of twelve of
Crozier's force-two constables and ten vol
unteers-and the wounding of eleven 1t is
not known how many were lost on the half
breed side
The half-breeds showed great skill with
the rifle, as shown by the proportion killed
to the wounded. 1t is further stated that
lrvine's forces reached Carleton shortly
after Crozer left, and the two forces are
now occupying the fort, which is menaced by
the rebels. 1t is believed no Indians joined
in the fight. The news of the skirmish
caused preparations to be hurried for the
advance of the remainder of the forces, and
they finally left at o'clock Friday evening.
Rumors of further fighting are mot con
firmed. Immense quantities of stores are
being sent forward, and $40 teams are en-
gagged as transports from the railway to the
scene of action
OTTAWA, March 30.--There was a great
sensation in parliament when the dispatch
announcing the defeat of Maj Crozier's
force was read, and the government officials
were busy until late at night giving orders
for troops to move.
The government is un ierstool to have in
formation connecting the Fenian brotaer-
hood with the northwe { rebellion, and will
make it a subject of international corre -
pondence with the United States authorities.
A rumor is current that they supplied tho
Metis with arms and ammunition anl none )
to carry on warlike operations Twenty
two private detectives have been dispatched
| to various American cities and points on the
| American border in the immediate vicinity
of the trouble.
Many kilograms have been received from
Canadians in the United States offering their
service in the event OF any further trouble,
and militia organizations in various prov
inces have telegraphed their willingness to
proceed to Carleton on a moments notice.
| The feeling is general that the Metis should
be wiped out They have been treated with
every consideratioi by the government in
| the past, and by their action have destroyed
| all sympathy. A message was received from
the imperial war authorities Friday evening
inquiring about the extent of the rebellion.
| TORONTO, March, 80 0-Excitsment here
continues unabatel From an early Satur-
day morning the approaches to the drill
shed was crowded with people waiting in ex'
pectation of seeing the departure of the
| troops. The Royal Grenadiers mustered al
= O'Clock, and, notwithstanding the early
hour, and the fact that the sergeants could
not find time Friday night to notify
all all members of their companies
they turned out 800 strong. After they
were dismissed the Queens Own mustered
and showed a creditable turnout of 543
There is the widest excitement among them
and many who had left the regiment, wheI
they heard Col, Otter was to take command
begged to be enrolled. Both regiments ar
now in the drill-shed and anxiously awaiting
orders when to start The selection of 25t
men from each regiment won't be made til
definite orders have arrived. The city viii
lock after the wives and families of am
married men who go TO the 'front.'
The Mail government organ,) in an ar
ticls on the northwest troubles, says: Fri
days encounter, more particularly since i
resulted in victory for the half-breedS, i
no doubt the beginning of a serious cam
paign Reil is reported to have 1900 ad
herents armed with Remington rifles, oh
tanned from American traders, with siI
American field guns, The graver danger
however, is to be feared from the Indians
1t is evident that Beaudry's band, who ar
Piegans, must have sided with the rebel
against Maj Crozier, and shoul
the disaffection spread to the other Indian
in the Carleton agency, and to the larg
bands in the Battlefurd and Edmonton di
tricts, the task Of stamping it out will b
formidable one. The government la
taken vigorous means TO meet the emeI
gency. The Winnipeg battalion Of mihtis
800 strong, with half battery Of artillery
is now ON its way to Qu'appelle Station. 81
miles west of Winnipeg, where sewers
trails run north to the scene Of the insul
rection, Carleton being 205 miles froI
Qu'appele."
much depends upon the Indians If the
remain true, short work will be made Of Il
half-5reeds, but should any considerab
number of them go over to Riel, an
there are about 10000 of thei
in the whole Saskatchewan country, the r,
sources of Canada will lie taxed in earnes
There is good ground, for saying that up
the present moment none OF the bands, e.
cept perhaps Beardy's, have shown signs
wavering"
ST. PAUL, March 80 The Dispatch
Winnipeg special says: Further excitn
rumors come from Fort Carleton, stain
there was another skirmish, and eleve
more men were killed, but this is not col
firmed.
Gen. Middleton, Col Houghton al
twenty-five officers and $50 men Of the Mini
bait alion left here, Friday night, al
reached Qn' appelle Saturday mornin
where they were joined by the first detac
ment of field battery of fifty and flfte'
: cavalry They left this morning for Il
west. 1t is understood in military circl
that Middleton will not advance immet
ately with troops, but will await furth
developments He was heard to remar
that il the rebels mean to fight he wou
not advance without stronger force.
THE AFGHAN BOUNDARY.