Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-25
SKIRMRHING SCOUTS,
rHE NORTHWEST TR0UBLEs.

rers speisapdss Men Esehssse shots with
che fssss.Brssss- : mere ef she fors.Riu
Massacre.
A Winnipeg MANI special Of Thurs
day says Fuller details Of Fort Pitts
capture have reached here. The police
who escaped upon rafe have reached
Battlcford. They tell the story Of the
fight and give details Of positions.
For two weeks the fort was sur
rounded by Indians, who persistently
menaced the place, and an attack was
constantly expected. The Indians de-
mandcd the surrender Of the fort, but
Inspector Dickens, OF the police force,
resolutely refused. There were about
fly men in the barracks, including the
police, and rs they were well armed they
could have kept the Indians away, but
Chief Big Bear sent 70 have parley
with Mclean, the chief factor. Big
Bear told him il the civilians and police
would lay down their arms and surren-
der he would protect them. Mclean
is a timid man and accepted for himself
and the civilians.
A GALLANT FIGHT.
Inspector Dickens, even after the
civilians had left him, refused to sur
render, and, with his men, he was en-
barking on raft for Battleford when
band of one hundred Indians, under
RIG Rear. attacked him. The police
fought desperately and killed consid-
cradle number Of redskins. The band
was finally forced to retreat, and the
police escaped. William Cowan, one
Of the number. was killed, andanother,
named Lonsby, fatally wounded.
Others were wounded, but not serious
". The timidity Of Mclean embar-
rassed the police and proved fatal to
the liberty OF thirty whites-men,
women, and children, who are believed
TO have fallen victims TO the treachery
of the Indians.
THE FRoG-LAKE MASSACRE.
The police who escaped brought new
intelligence regarding the Frog-Lake
massacre. The Indians about Frog
lake had been acting in strange man
ner for some time, and on Sunday they
invited the whites TO attend church.
Not suspecting any danger. the people
complied. There in the sanctuary for
an hour sat the trembling women and
children and much-scarcd men side by
side with their dusky enemies. When
the service was over the Indians retired
first. As the whites left the church
ten of them were shot instantly. The
two priests, Fathers Fsfard and La
Marchand, who had ofiiciated at the
services, were then seized by blood
thirsty Indians, and, after being beaten
to death, their bodies were burned.
The redskins subsequently raided the
houses in the vicinity and committed
many depredations.
BATTLEFoRD's HARD STRAITS.
Battleford dispatches to-day state
that Frank Smart, the storekeeper there,
while on guard at the barracks, was
killed by bullet from rifle in the
hands Of an Indian sharpshooter. The
guards then fired upon band Of In
dams at Battle-River crossing, but with
what result is not known. Moosimen's
band is in communication with Pound
makers, and trouble is expected. An
early attack on Battleford is anticipated.
The garrison is thoroughly alarmed.
Word has been sent TO Colonel Otter
to make all haste with his column to
the relief Of the besieged. 1t is now
expected he will reach there on Satur-
day. There seems little doubt he will
have some fighting to do, as the entire
country about Battleford is said to be
swarming with hostile Indians. A
sufficient amount of supplies has at last
reached General Middleton TO enable
him to resume his advance. A dispatch
received this morning said General Mid
dleton would advance to-day in the
order telegraphed the Herald yester-
day.
SCOUTS EXCHANGE SHOTS.
Lord Melgund and his scouts en-
countered several of Riel's scouts yes
terday and exchanged shots with them,
but as Riel's men retired into ambush,
where it was probable halfbreed re-
Inducements lay, Lord Melgund retired.
General Middleton telegraphed instruc-
tons to have the steamer Northcote
bring on supplies with all haste. The
steamer is now on her way to Prince
Albert heavily freighted with pro-
visions. General 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 Colonel Irvine to
meet him near Batoche's Crossing,
where it is expected the fight will take
place. Colonel Irvine will prevent the
escape Of the rebels in the event Of an
engagement.
MORE TROOPS TO START.
II is quite evident that the military
authorities are in possession of facts
not known TO the public, for peremptory
orders were received to-day from Gen
eral Middleton TO have all the troops
stationed here to go to the front at once.
The London Fusileers and the French
battalion, each 200 strong, left in two
special trains tonight for Swift Cur
rent, from which point they will be
forwarded by the river to join
Middleton. The Govenor-General's
body-guard, the Winnipeg troop
OF cavalry, and the Quebec school of
cavalry 20 to Fort Qu'Appelle in the
morning. The object is to reinforce
General Middleton from the rear should
il he necessary to fall back. They will
also be used to guard supply depots
along the line. II is believed here that
General Middleton has information re-
gardipg Riel's intentions and his forces,
With lead him TO ask relnforcements.
A late dispatch from General Middle
ton tonight announces that he has post
poned his forward movement till to-
morrow morning.
THE LATEST.
BATrLEFoRp, n. W. T., April a.
l:25 A. N.-Anothcr Hudson 's-Bay
warehouse was burned tonight. A