The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-10-12
REGULARS battle WITH |ND|ANS.
A MASSACRE REPORTED.


A report difficult to verify reached
et. Paul last Thursday that Gen. Ba-
con and his soldiers have been mas
sacred by Indians at Leech lake. MINI
Gen. Bacon, with his Santiago We
terans from the Third infantry, left
Walker. Mimi. for Bear island, deter
mined to bring the recalcitrant pillager
Indians to terms by force IL necessary
He chartered two steamboats, and @
barge and had a gatling gun and q
the island OF possible ambushes. The
men are under the immediate CON-
mand Of Capt. Wilkinson.
"A terrific battle was fought at ii
O'Clock Wednesday morning Thirdly
miles from Walker at Bog All Me-Ge-
shirks point, close to Bear island. The
detachment of 100 men under Gen
Bacon was landed on the point shortly
after o'clock. The soldiers went
through the thick underground very
carefully and with every precaution
taken against ambush. The men were
then ordered TO line up in an open
space near the shore of the lake. Char
ges We're drawn and preparations made
for dinner.
The order to make coffee had been
given and the soldiers were standing
in column formation when the first
shot was fired. 1t came from Bog-Ah-
Me-Ge-Shirks house. The ball struck
half-breed. His arm was broken. This
was the signal.
Immediately the firing became gen.
eral from all directions. 1t seemed
that a shot came from every bush.
Three of Gen. Bacon's men dropped.
They were at once carried to the rear.
On the very instant that the first shot
was fired every man in the command
eprang for cover without waiting for
orders. Like a flash the blue column
had vanished and not q sign was to be
seen of the eighty men who had stood
erect but an instant before. except here
and there a little patch where a gray
hat might be made out.
STEADY, men," Gen. Bacon called.
keep cool now. keep COOL" Again
there came a volley from the Indians
and that was what the troops had been
waiting for. The Krag -Jorgensens
opened UP with a frightful rattle Just
as the Pillagers made a terrific rush.
Half dozen of them dropped and the
rest fell back, yelling like fends incar-
Eate.
There must have been $50 or 200 In
dians. Lieut. Morrison with a squad
OF twenty men. made a rush to prevent
the recapture of old Ma-Quod. very
choice scoundrel, and Bap Dway We
Dung.
The marshals had these men under
arrest and a rescue would certainly
have been effected, but Lieut.. Morri-
son yelled, Charge" and his squad
scattered the copper-colored gang. By
this time the troops were under cover
The Indians were firing in a desultory
way and the order was given to
charge.
The soldiers rose, ducking and drip
ping like grasshoppers. They made the
most of their opportunity. Suddenly a
volley was fired by the Indians at the
steam tug Flora, which lay off shore
score of bullets tore through the
frail woodwork of the boat and every
man except the pilot sought cover.
Some blazed away In return with re-
yolvers, but the range was too long.
ward was sent back to Gen. Hum
phreys who Immediately sent REIN
forcements to Gen. Bacon. A later re-
killed and nine wounded.
An attempt was made to land on
Bear Island Thursday afternoon and
rescue the wounded soldiers and get
the bodies Of the unfortunate blue
coats who were killed. The attempt
was SO far successful that four bodies
were recovered and nine soldiers who
citizens were driven to the boat and
the boat driven from the shores by
skulking redskins.
A special to the Minneapolis Jour-
nal from Walker, Mimi, says: have
Just met an Indian named Mah-Ge-
Guh-Bo; who came over from Bear
Island In canoe. He says the loss of
the whites is ten killed and fifteen
wounded. He denies that the troops
have been wiped out, but says the In
qtans have had the best of 1t. Their
loss, he claims, does not exceed five
kiiied and wounded. The force with
Bacon are probably safe and more en-
couragement Is felt about 1t. have
other Information that there are fifty
dead Indians within q mile of the
landing.
Maj. Wilkinson, FIVE prlvates and
two indian policeman are dead. Col.
Sheehan Is killed. Thirty Indians are
dead. There has been desperate fight
ing all the morning.
through the leg. had his leg dressed,
took the field again, and was shortly
afterward shot through the body. Ly-
ing in pool Of blood, he raised HIM
self to one elbow and shouted to Gen.
Bacon: Give them HI, general: new
er mind mel" These were his last
words.
General Bacon ssys that while the
Indians retreated to Bear island after
the fight he Is not at all satisfied that
they have enough. In case Of a gen.
eral uprising he viii inaugurate WIN
ter campaign against them. He says
It may take 1000 men to subdue the
Sayages during the cold weather