The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-15
RIEL'S REBELLION.
Rumor That There Will be No Con
fict with the Half Breeds.
$5O0,OOO WANTED FOR EXPENSES
HN THE NORTHwEsT.

WINNIPEG, April 14.-Troops are moving
rapidly towards the scene of the trouble in the
Northwest. This morning Col. Otter's COM
aand, 800 strong, started from Swift Current
station across the Saskatchewan river. Thence
il steamers have not been able to get down the
river, they will start to cross thee prairie to
BAttlefcrd By teams. The river IS very low
and one OF Galt's steamers was, at last ad-
vices, fast on sand bar below Medicine Hat
Ihe steamer Northcote is somewhere between
Medicine Hat and Swift Current. It will re-
duire several days, however, to arrange mat
ters ant. IN the meantime, the boats may turn
up. 1t will take ten days to cross the prairie
to Battleford and preparations are we'll under
wsy for the despatch of Gen. StrsDge's expe-
dition for the relief of Emonton He will have
shout 600 men mounted and in wagons
He will probably start Wednesday. The trail
from Colgarry TO Red Deer river is reported to
be good, and from Red Deer to Edmonton
rather dlf1cnlt. The whole distance, it is
thought. can be covered in four or five days
Edmonton freighters have been notified that
il is not advisable at present to move with
freight. Inquiries show that there is nothing
TO be feared from the Indians inside the prov
ince OF Manitoba, The report that the chief
OF the Manitobans at Rainy Lake was giving
trouble was hoax.
Gen. Lawrle is to have command OF the
western division Of the expedition and will be
stationed at Swift Current, from which point
ne Will direct the movements of the troops. 1t
is probable that the battalions under Coils.
Smith, Scott, O'Brien and Williams will be
under his direction.
Some excitement was caused around Col
garry BY the operations Of horss and cattle
thieves, and an attempt was made Sunday
night to steal Major Walkers horse. Yester-
day the Sarcee Indians killed COW belonging
to settler aud cut 1t up for food. Gen. Strange
has instructed the commanding officers Of
his corps to issue orders to their guards
to fire on all persons attempting to steal horses
or commit other depradations The inhabit-
ants are advised not to wander about after
nightfall for fear of accidents. Soldiers ana
ranehmen in the vicinity Of Cogarry and
. Fort Mcleod are also threatening to shoot cat
tie thieves on sight. The neighborhood of
Colgarry is patrolled nightly by Capt Stew
arts mounted rifles.
Capt. Cotton arrived at Colgarry from Fort
Mcleod today and reports all quiet. Gen.
Denny, Father Lacome and Chaplain Denny
held council with Grow Foot, chief of the
Black Feet Indians, yesterday, ana the chief
promised loyalty aud also to pse his influence
with the Bloods aud Pigeons in favor az peace,
Some details OF the recent tragedy at Frog
LAKE have just come to hand. An Indian
entered GowanlOck's, and without saving g
word shot him dead. Another Indian raised
his rife and shot at W. G. N. Gilchrisf.
when Mrs. Gowanock, rushing forward, PIN
ioned his arms kby ciasping him around the
body. he shook her eff and fired, killing her
instantly, and immediately afterwards shot
Gilchrist
Capt. Howard, of :the United States army,
with two Gatlipg guns, is attached to ''B' bat-
terry, under Otter's command.
OTTAWA, April 14.-Mr. ROYAL returned
here yesterday and simultaneously with his
arrival tho rumor was set stioat that an ar
rangement had been made by which conflict
with the half-breeds under Risl will bs avoid
ed. 1t ia reported today that negotiations
looking to peace were opened yesterday by
telegraph between Gen. Middleton and Louis
Riel and that eueb negotiations are still pro-
ceding,
In the House of Commons this afternoon a
message from the Governor General was read,
asking Parliament TO grant Immediately
S7OO,0 towards deErsying the expenses en-
tailed in putting down the Northwest rebellion.