The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-04-30

Thirty Whites Probably Dutohered 1t the
FsrA-A Hkirnish at Dattlefcrd, and an
Ealiy Attack Expected.

Thirty Whites Probably 1utohered 1t tho
Far&-A Ekirmish at Dettlsfcrd, and an
Ea1iy Attack Expected.
Winnipeg, Special Telegram, April o.
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
woandsd Ali the other occupants of the
fort, including the Hudson Bay factor, Nc
Lean, and family, have taken refigc In a
camp OF friendly Indians near the post The
police, who escaped upon raft, tell the story
of the fight and give details of the position.
For two weeks the fortwas surrounded by In
dians, 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 re-
fused. There were about fifty iieii 10 the bar
r ~e rmss ss eSu s ssa my Sd s1s
away but Chief Big Bear sent to have d patley
with Mclean, the chief factor. The chief told
him if the civilians and police would lay down
their arms and surrender he would protect
them. Mclean is timid, and accepted the offer
for himself and tie cisJiana Insp ector
Dickens even after the civilians had lsft him,
refused to surrender and, with his men, he
was embarking on raft for Battleford when
band of q hundred Indians under Big Bear
attacked him. The police fought desperately
and killed 9 considerable number Of fed=skias.
The band Vas tinally forced tss retreat and the
police escaped William Cowanj dhe st the
number, was killed, and another, named Ions
by, fatally wounded Others were wounded,
but not seriously. The timidity of Mclean
efnbafrassed the; peliee and proved ia
men, wsTootnen and ehildren-who are believed
to have fallor 7ietipis to-: ,the treach-
cry of the Indians before this. TIE police Who
escaped brought intelligence regarding tie
Frog Lake massacre, which was reported few
days agp to have been canard. The Indians
manner for some ,i;ie, std ars SUNDAY they
invited the whites to attend church. The
frightened people complied There in the sane
tuary for hours sat the trembling women and
shildreh and much scared men, side by side
9Th ttteir .dusky enemies When the service
was over the Indifhs retired first, and as the
whites left the edifice ten Of fheftf Aene shot
instantly. The two priests, Fathers Fafara
and Marchaud, who had officlated at the
SERVICE were then seized by the bloodthirsty
Indians, and after being beaten to DEATH, the
bodies were burned The redskins subse-
auenls raidal houses in the vicinity and
committed many dtfredatidns. Battleford
dispatches states that Frank Star 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.
Moosimin'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 ID
now expected that he will reach there Satur-
aay. There seems little doubt hs will have
sumo fighting to do, as the Entire country
about Battlefield is. Surprised to be swarming
with hostile Indians. shfficient amount OF
supplies has at la1s reached Mlddleto" to En-
able him to proceed forward A dispatch re-
ceived this morning said:
MIDDLETON WOULD ADVANCE TO-DAY.
Melgund and his scouts encountered several
of Riers scouts yesterday and exchanged shots
with them, but as Riels men retired into am
bush, Where + vas prgbabls that half "a, breed
telegraphed instructions t. have the stea met
Northcotte bring on supplies with I'll haste. 1he
steamer is now on the way to Prince AL ert heev-
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 If the rebels IN
the event of an engagement. 1t is quite hV1-
dent that the military authorities are
Ill pOSSOSSlOu VI IaCUS uou huonh w
were received from Middleton to have all
troops stationed here to go to the fr'nt at once
The London fusileers and French basfafft'n,
each 800 strong, left in two special trains
for Swift Current from which point
Middleton. The governor generals body
guard, the Winnipeg troop Of cavalry and
! Quebec school Of cavalry so 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
depots along the line: It is believed here that
Middleton has informatio regarding hiei's
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
well, but anxiously awaiting relief Charles
! hewitt who was reported killed at Duck Lake,
is alive. Nolln, one of Riers councillors, is a
prisoner at Prince Albert
AS telegraphed, Riel Is at Batoche's, the
greater part Of his force being in rifle pits and
| lit is alleged lntrenched on the south side OF
the river. According 10 the best information
attainable by Gen. Middleton, the insurgent
chief has $50 half-breeds armed with forty
Winchesters, twenty Sniders captured at the
Crozier fight, together with 400 to 800 rounds
Of ammunition) and $50 to 200 shot guns, the
latter effective at 100 yards when loaded with
slugs and buckshot It is now positively as
serted that he has two brass field pieces seven
pounders) with a few rounds of solid
shot for each. If he has, the guns are relies
of those formerly owned by the Hudson Bay
company and not regarded as very dangerous
in these modern days. Estimates of Riel's 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 te
those of our own Sioux and with the same lack
of first-class ammunition. Reils men have
made up their minds that if caught they will
be hanged-ergo "'Tis 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 on his own hook, and using
every tree trunk and inequality of ground as
coign of vantage.
ALdttle More Dynamite.