St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-20
NO FIGHTING AS YET,
And the Prospects are Better for Peac,
than War in the Northwest
Territories.
Riel and Middleton Still Confront Each
Other Menaoingly at Safe
Distance.
Interesting Recitals by the Kerr
Brothers of Their Captivity by
the Rebels and the Indians.
Mountain Howitzers Sent to the Seat
of War via Bismarck--RieI,s
Reported dReinforcements.
Special to the Globe,

Special to the Globe.
| WINNIPEG, April ia Clarke's Cross
ing dispatch gives an account of the
capture OF three Indians some distance
north OF that point. One of them turned
out to be a cousin to White Cap. a chief of
the Sioux Indians now with Riel They
explained that White Caps band were in,
duced to visit Riel by promises of plenty of
provisions and had been forced to remain
with him. The three captives had been sent
up to the reserve for horses and were on
their way back when taken. They said
Rlel was at his house at Batoche.
He had $50 half breeds with him and still
retained seven prisoners. Middleton let
one OF the Indians go and report to White
Cap on what he had seen, with directions
to tell him to return to his reserve He
promised to reward him if he brought Riers
prisoners with him.
Two more of Rieps scouts were seen to
pass near the camp at Clarke's Crossing
yesterday morning, on their way north. A
Calgary dispatch of Saturday says Rev.
John MacDougall, with five Stony Indians
and ten of Maj. Steele's scouts, left this
morning to escort the men of Red Deer
settlement back to their houses, after which
they will proceed to Edmonton.
CONSIDERABLE ANXIETY IS FELT
for Edmonton and the north country. The
stage due here Wednesday has not arrived
here yet. Major Steele, with fifty scouts,
mostly cowboys, twenty-six police and
twenty-five other mounted men. start for
Edmonton ON Monday morning. 1t is ex-
pected that the SiXty-ffth and Smiths bat
talon will follow shortly, except one COM
pany Of Smiths, which will go to Fort
Macleod. Col. Macleod has arrived here
from Fort Macleod and reports Bloods and
PieganS quiet. Arms, saddles and ammu-
milton for the scouts arrived on Thursday.
A Swift Current dispatch, dated April IS,
says orders have been received there for the
immediate advance of the Midland bat
TALON to the South Saskatchewan cross
ing. They will start this after
noon and reach the crossing Sunday
night. The right wing of the battalion,
under Col. Williams, NJ. P, will form an
escort to steamers carrying provisions, am
munition and Gatling gun on the dangerous
trip down the Saskatchewan to Clarke's
Crossing. Stores and Calling are for Mid
dleton. 1t is said that three steamers from
Medicine Hat will be down to meet Will
liams, but this is doubtful as they are now
stuck on sandbar. The Simcoe battalion
has been ordered back to Qu'Appelle. Col.
1
at the ferry by high winds. His whole
column, including the Queens Own, started
at p. m. from the Saskatchewan crossing
to march over the prairie to Battleford.
This looks as if the dash across the prairie
had been abandoned.
INSIDE FACTS.
Talks with all the old-t timers here indi-
cate that soldiers sent west are only for
effect, and showing that Canada cannot af-
| ford to kill Riel or the French half-breeds,
as all of Montreal and Quebec, who have
seventy-five votes at Ottawa, will not stand
| it. Besides, Riel being a Catholic, has the
sympathy of half the people here. The
commission sent west by Sir John are is
suing script as fast as they can write it.
! The Ninetieth battalion has done nobly,
capturing three Indians.
John Kerr, of Kerr Bros, whose store at
Batoche was captured by rebels, has ar
rived in the city. His story is that the half
breeds commenced holding revolutionary
meetings about New Year. On the 18th Of
March, having learned that the rebels in
tended to attack Fort Carlton, Kerr went to
Duck Lake and warned the police. He also
sent dispatch to Qu'Appelle to the same
effect. On his way back the rebels took
him prisoner, having then formally
declared themselves in revolt against
the government. He was conveyed
to Batoche when he found that his brother
George Kerr Nash, Indian agent, Tomp-
kins, interpreter, and Ness, justice of the
peace, had also been taken prisoners and
that the rebels had taken Kerr's store. The
prisoners were left free of restraint on con-
dition of remaining quiet. The rebels then
went across and took Walters & Bakers
store at Stobart. The Kerrs asked permis-
sion to go down the river for their cattle
and were informed that they could not, and
had
BETTER REMAIN AT BAToCHE
for safety. Caswell, telegraph lineman,
came from Clarke's crossing to repair the
wires which had been cut and was advised
by the Kerrs to go back, which he did. For
this the Kerrs were rearrested and taken
before the council. At Riel's request they
were allowed to go with caution. The
council is composed of twelve members of
whom Kerr knew only George Fisher,
Charles Nolin, r. N. Delorme James
Lalange, Philip Gertupins, David Trureau,
Joseph Parenteau and Jackson. All are
half-breeds but Jackson who formerly lived
in Wingham, Ont. The council held their
meetings in the house Of Garnot, secretary
of the council, at Batoche. The Kerrs re-
turned to the crossing and in obedience to
the warning of friendly half-breeds shortly
after left for safer quarters They aftef-
wards found that sentence Of death had
been passed on them for warning Caswell.
They were pursued by mounted rebels and
only escaped by assistance of Ed DumOnt,
i'm whose house they were concealed for
time. This was about three miles from
SCENE OF THE DUCK LAKE FIGHT
and they could plainly hear the firing that
morning. They got an account Of the fight
from half-breed who was in it, which
differs from all previous reports. He said
there were fifty whites, eight Of whom were
police. Gabriel Dumont was in command
of the advance guard of thirty rebels On the
wayto take Carlton, Riel behind with250 men.
Kerr's informant said Crozier was not in the
fight and if present must have remained in
concealment. Mckay, justice OF the peace,
acted as the leader Of the whites DuInont
called ON him TO surrender and when he re-
fused struck at him with the butt-end OF
rife but missed him. Both parties then
took shelter in the bushes and the firing
commenced, the whites shooting first. The
rebels had no cannon. Firing had little
effect until the whites commenced to re-
treat to Carlton, when they left themselves
exposed. Five half-breeds and one Indian
were killed on the rebel side. A wounded
volunteer who begged for mercy was
killed in cold blood Riel sent word TO
Crozier to come and take the bodies OF the
dead. but these remained ON the field for
two days when half-breed conveyed them
to Carlton. The KerTs left Dumont's the
day after the battle ane reached Clarke's in
safety.
RieI's Contingents from the State.
Special to the Globe.
BISMARCK, April 19.-Six mountain
howitzers passed west tonight via North
ern Pacific railroad, for Helena, Mont,