Evening star., 1898-10-07

the men had stacked arms and the order
was given 10 unload their equipments. As
they Gid so shot was fired and firing
almost immediate became general. The
soiGiers formed in line in a semi-circle
facing the Indians, and the twelve men
who were with me rushed up TO protect
The right flank and drove the Indians back
securing a more favorable position ono
OF these men was shot in the face. one In
the arm and third in the leg. | do not
Know how the other men were wounded.
Secured Good Position.
After our first ruch We had the best of
the position. The log house was inside our
lines, and it was used as a hospital and
the men sought the cover of logs and trees
and settled down for a long fight. II con-
tinued during the day and evening and was
renewed Thursday morning. although it
was never so hot again as it was during
the first hour or So
Thursday morning a boat made a land
ing with some provisions, and General Ra-
con wanted to send the wounded back He
sent me down to make arrangements, and
l went to The steamer in canoe. They
DrcuSnt down one wounded man, and the
captain of the boat brought him off shore.
Before the others could be moved the In
dians opened a hot fire on the boat and we
had 10 leave. About six miles out We met
the Flora, going in with thirty more
armed men and everything the soldiers
needed. When / left there had been five
killed and eight wounded besides the In
dian policemen. Three men were sick.
General Bacon handled his men magnili-
Gently and was on the firing line during
the whole of the engagement, encouraging
his men and directing the operations. He
was ably seconded by Major Wilkinson
until the latter was killed. and Lieut.. Ross.
under fire for the first time. showed him
self a born fighter. He rallied the men at
the opening volley and stayed right with
oil f1oa 1r iS irrof,n IN 1.il
how many Indians are in the attacking
party. but l should say not less than $50
or 200, and we do not know how many more
are Joining them. They evidently had the
thing all planned out and Were ready to
begin firing at the signal. They concen-
trated part Of their fire on the boats TO
drive them away and leave the soldiers no
means of retreat evidently thinking they
could overpower the whole force. The
newspaper men, Brill, Beaton and knaD-
pen, were all in good shane when | left.
doing their share OF duty on the line. No
one of them had been injured"
Effort to Land Supplies.
Several of the small beats and the steam
er Flora went out during the night and
early this morning to endeavor to land pre-
visions for Gen. Bacons beleaguered COM
mand and bri ~ away the dead and wound
ed The Flola had thirty Brainerd fighters
and a few other armed citizens. The Vera
the trip Harris McCabe, with the Vera,
made a landing off the north end If Bear
Island. where the troops are intrencted,
landing sufficient quantities of provisions
to relieve immediate necessities of the men.
Ar attempt was made to bring down some
of the wounded. The steamer could not
approach close 10 the shore. and II was
necessary to use small boat. OTe man
was brought across the open, but the In
dians concentrated their fire on this point
and on the beat. The place was too not.
and McCabe forced to leave. During
the engagement Col. Sheehan received I
slight flesh wound across the abdomen. n
bullet through his coat sleeve and another
through his trousers leg
How Maj. Wilkinson Was Killed.
Maj. Wilkinson was killed yesterday af-
ternoon. He received a flesh wound III the
leg, and retired to have it dressed by DR..
Harris, the surgeon with the party. He
then reported to Gen Bacon on the firing
line ready for duty, and while talking
with Gen. Bacon an Indian sharpshooter
picked him out. Maj. Wilkinson was shot
through the body from side to side, and
died almost Instantly.
The agency Indians have been disposed to
be peaceful, but last night one of the In
| dian police was killed by the troops by
n:istake and the Indians are now disposed
! to be hostile. The occurrence IVES most
blame can be attached to the troops. The
Indian policeman Rusln, who said %
be one Of rhe best of the agency Indians,
had accomoarled the troops and had fought
N&iidntly, but toward night he thought lie
had had enough of it. and started, with an
other Indian policeman, for the agency along
the shore. without notifying Gen. Bacon. He
was seen in the darkness by the troops and
taken for a hostile. He was riddled with
bullets, but his companion ESCAPED unin-
jrred. This incident has made the agency
Indians very angry. and a council was SAID
to have been held last night.