Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-06-18
A TAME FIGHT.
Capt. Steele's Mounted Scouts
Give Battle to Big Bears
Braves.
Large Quantities OF Powder Con.
sumed. but Few Casualties
Reported.

winnipeg dispatches give particulars OF
an engagement between the Indian CHIEF
Big Bear and Capt. Steele's mounted force
OF Canadians: Capt Steele and his force
seventy In number, were scouting south OF
fort Fit. as 1t was reported that Big Beal
had taken the trail for Sounding Lake.
Middleton has given Capt. Steele instruc-
uons to watch closely and cut off the re-
so so abat aee naH HdafP %Ps Ss and snss With
their forces would watch the north. Steeles
force suddenly came upon Big Bears In
dams at Two Lakes, fifty miles south of
Fort Pitt. The Indians were striking camp
when Steele discovered them. Their force
seemed to number between $50 and 800.
SO suddenly had the scouts come upon the
redskins, and so near were they to the latter
before seeing them, that there was no chance
of retreat, SO Steele at once ordered charge.
His men were well mounted and armed.
and as they galloped forward they
were met by shower of bullets, which
checked them. Still they rode on, how
ever, seemingly determined not to be
driven back, but when another volley was
fired at them, and when Steele perceived
that the Indians outnumbered his forces.
he ordered the men to fall back. It was
well he did SO, for at that moment the In
dams were joined by endorsements who
poured out of the bluffs in the rear. They
were well armed, and when they saw the
scouts riding off fred heavy volley.
Steele was, however, determined not to
be beaten 80 easily, so he hastily laid plans
s9E enPther GieSE i maS maeS sd ddioar SO az 10
close in on the Indians. The other half
went q short distance east. and at o given
signal the two forces closed in upon the In
dians from the rear, taking them completely
by surprise. So quickly was the movement
planned, and so quickly was it executed,
that before the redskins were aware of
it the scouts we're within fifty yards of
their rear and pouring their bullets into
the camp, doing considerable havoc. The
Indians were so much alarmed that they
ran pell-mell down the ravine and across a
creek four feet deep. Many Of them left
their firearms behind, and most of the
camp outfit was also abandoned.
The Indians took refuge in bush on the
other side of the creek, from which they
kept up a desultory fire upon the scouts,
who for some time debated the feasibility
Of following them over the creek.
AS the Indians did not appear to have
my prisoners with them, and as there was
little hope of accomplishing anything by
pursuit and attack. Capt. Steele decided to
retreat Before going away he thought tit il
prisoners, so he sent an interpreter named
Mckee to the bank of the creek with flag
Of truce.
AS Mckee stepped forward, several bull
cts whizzed past him, but he went on, and
when he reached the bank firing ceased.
He then called out in Indian
as Big Bear there2"
Tbe ~sswor came from Dig Dear nImseIr:
Yes"
Mckee said: "If you will deliver eur
people. we will cease firing on YOU"
Big Bear in O loud voice replied: "We
intend to clear you out yet; so beware.
Another bullet which whizzed danger
,usly near McKees head after the last an
apprised him that further par
ey would be useless, so he beat hasty
'etreat:
Capt. Steeles loss was as follows:
Sergt. Maj. Fury, shot in the breast,
atal.
William West, scout, shot through the
eg.
j. Fisk, shot in the arm.
The Indian loss was considerable, several
bodies being found this side of the ravine.
Mid1latan has announced that he will pur-
'ue Big Bear until he catches him.