St. Paul daily globe., 1885-04-15
The Indians Laying Waste the Whole
Country About Battleford on
Both Sides of the River.
Hundreds of Homes Destroyed and
Signal Fires Burning on Hills
and Prairies.
Inc Harrison Can but Remain in the Bar
racks and Depend on the Settlers
There for Protection.
Gen. Middleton Expects to Strike Rieps
Camp on Sunday-The Duck Lake
Battle Again.
Special to the Globe.

l
dispatch received late last night saws the
country north of there was burned yesterday
for miles by the Indians travelling westward.
All OF the farms on both sides of the river
are raided and the horses and cattle driven
away. Signal fires are seen all around, but
the garrison is powerless to do ANYTHING but
keep itself in readiness in the event of an
attack. Col. Morris has done everything pos
sible to make the settlers comfortable. They
are all patiently waiting the arrival of the
| troops. 1t is rumored that the Indians are
to be treated with for peace before punish
ment, but public sentiment will revolt. There
is no time for temporizing when 1000 farms
are desolated and fifty people killed.
Gen. :Middletons Movements.
Special to the Globe.
WINNIPEG, April IA "A dispatch from the
Hudson Bay officials at Battleford, received
this morning, states that no definite news
has been received from Ft. Pitt. A messen-
ger, dispatched from Battleford to Ft Pitt to
bring in intelligence from the latter point,
was captured by the Indians, in whose hands
ne now Is. No Indians are in sight about
Battleford, and it is supposed that they have
gone to Ft. Pitt. Col. Irvine sent a dispatch
to this city last night stating that Riel's force
was very considerable one, and conse-
quently he did not deem it wise to leave Prince
Albert, as the garrison and citizens needed
protection. Gen. Middletons force reached
Humboldt last night, and will camp at that
point till tomorrow morning, waiting to
gather supplies. The Toronto Grenadiers
and Maj. Boulton, with sixty mounted rifles,
are about two days behind him. 1t is un-
derstood that when the latter come up Mid
dleton will advance to Batoche Crossing.
Riel's scouts are securing the country in
every direction, and Middleton's troops report
seeing them on the hills near them yesterday.
Troops will probably
MEET THE REBELS,
who are encamped on both sides of the river,
either on Saturday or Sunday. Col. Irvine
will probably make a sortie from
Prince Albert with 300 men and
will attack the rebels on the north side,
while Middleton's command will fight
larger force on this side. Lieut.. Forrest of
Quebec, who was with Gen. Middleton for
the past week or so returned to the city last
| night to make arrangements with the banks
Qu'Appelle for the purpose of paying the
troops, as he is paymaster of the forces. Col
Forrest reports that Gen. Middleton is in the
best spirits and, to use his words,
sis just dying for a fight" He
fears that he may not be able to
meet the rebels and may have to return with
out accomplishing the object of his mission.
| If the general once gets his eyes on the rebels
there will be big fight, for the general is de-
| termined to strike a blow that will be felt for
| all time to come. The Midland battalion,
| under command of Lieut.. Col. Williams, NJ
| P, arrived this morning about o'clock
| The battalion musters 366 men and 35 Off
GERS. They received rather sudden orders to
start west and left by
SPECIAL TRAIN FOR QU'APPELLE.
| IL is supposed they are to be sent to join
| MiddIeton's command. Col. Scott's battalion
received orders to proceed to join Middleton
and will probably leave Thursday. Col. Smith
has instructions to start at once for Calgary
and his battalion is expected to leave to-
| morrow morning. The Ninth battalion is
still in camp here. Toronto body-guard
of cavalry will arrive through tonight and
the London battalion tomorrow night. 1t
| is not known when Gen. Strange's force
will be ordered to start from Calgary to
Edmonton. 1t is believed that preparations
are not makingsmuch advance at Calgary,
both teams and supplies wanting. Strange
| is very unpopular and men will not
volunteer to serve under him.
| Col. Quimett of the Sixty-ffth battalion
| returned from Calgary tonight. His men
| are not properly equipped to march north,
| and there are no scouts ready to go with
| him, and it will be some days before Strange
is in a position to undertake the journey.
Swift Current dispatch says Col. Otter re-
ceived instructions to abandon the river ex-
pedition and form a flying column for the
relief of Battleford, which he promptly did.
| The column marched fifteen miles yesterday
and to-day reached Saskatchewan ferry,
twenty-eight miles distant. At this point
there is a scow capable of taking over the
whole expedition in day. From the river
| to Battleford is about one hundred and sew
enty miles, nearly all through open country.
| Otter's force should reach Battleford
THE DUCK LAKE FIGHT AGAIN.
A Clarke's Crossing dispatch says: The
| following particulars Of the fight at Duck
| Lake are furnished by volunteer who took
part: The rebels, numbering 300, were
concealed in house and in the woods and
were not discovered By the police until they
were within fifty yards. During parley an
| Indian attempted to wrest rife from po-
| liceman and was shot. This was the open
| ing of the fight, which lasted forty minutes.
| The house where the rebels were concealed
was not discovered until after the fight COM
menced. Cannon were Immediately brought
| TO bear, but unfortunately In loading
the police put in the shell without powder,
thus rendering the guns useless. The vol
unteers remained standing while the police
fought lying down, hence so mnch slaughter
| among the former. The Prince Albert dead
remained on the field for seven
days. Riel sent a messenger to
the police to come for them,
but the latter refusing, the messenger him
self removed them. The rebels captured
fifteen rifles and about 500 rounds Of am
munition. The Indians robbed the dead OF
two gold watches, but Riel has promised to
have them returned.
Peace PaIaver.
OTTAWA, April 14.-Mr. Royal returned
yesterday and simultaneously with his arrival
a rumor was set afoat that an arrangementhas
been m ade by which conflict With the half
breeds under Riel can be avoided. 1t Is re-
ported to-day the negotiations looking TO
peace were opened by telegraph yesterday
between Gen. Middleton and Louis Riel and
that such negotiations are still proceeding.
Vote of Money Asked.
OTTAWA, April 14.-ln the house Of COM
mons this afternoon a message from the gov
eruor general was read, asking parliament TO
grant Immediately 500, 900 towards defray-
ing the expenses entailed in putting down