Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-05-01

xhirty whites Probably 1utohsfsd at Tho
xort-A skir1nish at Battleford. and an
EARLY Attack Expected

thirty whites Probably 1utchsrsd IS ths
xort-A skir1nish at Battleford. and an
EARLY Attack Expscted.
Winnipeg, Special Telegram, April %
At Battleford, yesterday, five mounted
policemen arrived from Fort Pitt, bearing
intelligence that IN an attack by the Indians
one Of the policemen was killed and one
wounded All ths other occupants Of the
fort, including the Hudson Bay factor, Nc
Lean, and family, have taken refuge in
camp Of friendly Indians near the post The
police, who escaped upon raft tel the story
Of the fight and give details Of the position.
For two weeks the fort was surrounded by In
dams, who constantly menaced the place, and
an attack was constantly expected The In
dams demanded the surrender Of the fort, but
Inspector Dickens, OF the police, resolutely ro-
fused There were about ifty men IL nth, the bar,
well armed they could have kept the Indians
away, but Chief Big Bear sent to have parley
with Mclean, the chief factor The chief told
him II the civilians and police would lay down
their arms and surrender he would protect
them. Mclean is timid, and accepted the offer
Dickens even after the civilians had left him,
refused to surrender; and, with his men, he
was embarking on raft for Batteford when
band Of hundred Indians under Big Bear
attached him. The police fought desperately
and killed considerable number Of redskins.
The band was finally forced to retreat and the
police escaped William Cowan, one Of the
number, was killed, and another, named Ions
by, fatally wounded. Others we're wounded,
but not seriously. The timidity of Mclean
embarrassed the police and proved IA
M In oVa hal
to have fallen victims to the treach-
cry of the Indians before this. The police who
escaped brought intelligence regarding the
Frog Lake massacre, which was reported few
days ago to have been canard. The Indians
about Frog Lake had been acting in strange
invited the whites to attend church. The
frightened people complied There in the sane
tuary for hours sat the trembling women and
children and much scared men, side by side
with their dusky enemies When the service
was over the Indians retired first, and as the
whites left the eaitice ten of them were shot
Instantly. The two priests, Fathers Fafard
and Marchaud, who had. oficiated at the
service, we're then seized BY the bloodthirsty
Indians. and sitter being beaten to death, the
bodies were burned The redskins subse-
quently raided houses in the vicinity and
committed many depredations. Battleford
dispatches states that Frank Smart, store
keeper there, while on duty at the barracks,
was killed by bullet from rifle in the hands
of an Indian sharpshooter. The guards then
fired upon band Of Indians at Battle river
crossing with what result is not known.
Moosinin's band is in communication with
Poundmaker's, and tronble is feared An early
attack on Battleford is expected The gar
rison is thoroughly alarmed. Word has been
sent to COL Otter to make all haste with his
column to the relief Of the besieged. 1t is
now expected that he will reach there Satur-
day. There seems little doubt he will have
some fighting to do, as the entire country
about Battlefordis supposed to be swarming
with hostile Indians. A sufficient amount Of
supplies has at last reached Middleton to en-
able him to proceed forward. a dispatch re-
ceived this morning said:
MIDDLETON WOULD ADVANCE DAY.
Melgund and LIS scouts encountered several
OF Riels scouts yesterday and exchanged shots
with them, but as Riel's men retired into am
bush, where it was probable that half breed
reinforcements lay. Melgund retired. Middleton
telegraphed Instructions to have the stea mer
Northcotte bring on supplies with all haste. The
steamer Is now on the way to Prince Albert, heav-
lily freighted with provisions. Middleton says he
will meet her in Prince Albert in three days,
by which time he expects to have cleaned out
the rebels Arrangements have been made for
Irvine to meet him near Batoche's Crossing,
where it is expected fight will take place
Irvine will prevent the escape Of the rebels in
the event Of IN engagement It is quite evl-
dent that the military authorities are
In possession Of facts not known to
ns gess tor SSfSs%pt9ry hs Srdsss
troops stationed here to 60 to the front atonce.
The London fusileers and French battalion,
each 800 strong, left in two special trains
Tor Swift Current from which point
they, will be forwarded by river to join
guard, the Winnipeg troop Of cavalry and
Quebec school OF caralry 60 to Fort Qu'Ap-
pelle. The objectls to reinforce Middleton from
The rear should it be necessary for him to fall
back. They will also be used to guard supply
depe.s along the Line; It is believed here thst
intention and his forces which led him to ask
reinforcements. A late dispatch from Middle
ton tonight announces that he has postponed
his forward movement till to morrow morn
ing. Prince Albert Intelligence indicates all
Tsl but ut, anxously exciting .1 reli9f Charles
is alive. Nolln, one of Riels councillors, is q
prisoner at Prince Albert
AS telegraphed, Riel is at Batoche's, the
greater part Of his force being in rifle pits and
Gt is alleged) lntrenched on the south side of
the gf1 "A A'9S cora to the best form ,s
chief has $50 half-breeds armed with forty
Winchesters, twenty Snider's Captured at the
Crozier fight. together with 400 to 500 rounds
of ammunitiou) and $50 to 200 shot guns, the
latter enecuVe at lOO YARDS Wnen loaded with
slugs and buckshot It is now positively as
serted that he has two brass iield pieces (seven-
pounders) with few rounds of solid
shot for each If he has, the guns are relics
of those formerly owned by the Hudson Bay
company and not regarded as very dangerous
in these modern days. Estimates OF RieEs In
dian allies vary from three hundred to five
hundred, and the former is likely to be nearer
the truth The Indians have arms o. all sorts
very similar in effectiveness and condition to
lose of our own Sioux and with tue same lack
tirst-class ammunition Reils men have
.,ade up their minds that if caught they will
be hanged-ergo, "1'is better to have fought
and died than never to have fought at all, and
die anyhow. They will fight on the Indian
STYLE each man Oh his own hook, and using
every tree trunk and inequality of ground as
coign of vantage. 4
ALittle More Dynamite.
NM