Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-10-13
FIGHT WITH INDIANS.
Maj. Wilkinson and Five Other Sol
diers KilleA at Leech Lake.
Red Men Entrenched Themselves and Could
Not He DlslodGed, but Our Troops Held
Them in CheOk-Ample Reinforce
menta Sent to Gen. Bacon.

Walker, Mimi, Oct. TN Wednes-
days battle with Indians at the south
west corner of Leech lake company
of the Third infantry put up gallant
fight While the 80 soldiers Gen. Ba-
con had were unable to dislodge the
300 and odd Indians from their strong
position, they made it very hot for
them and are holding them pending
the arrival of reinforcements. Maj.
Wilkinson, five soldiers and two In
dian police have been killed. The loss
of the Indians is not known, but
number have been killed and many
wounded.
The Indians are concealed in shrub
berry on hills short distance inland
from the lake. Reinforcements should
have reached Gen. Bacon before this,
and the next news should be that the
hostiles have been convinced of the
errors of their ways and are ready to
be good Indians" again.
Maj. Wilkinson met death like a
hero. He was shot at the very outset
of the fighting through the leg. He
had this wound rudely dressed, direct
ing and assisting in the operation him
self. Then he took the field again. A
few minutes later he was down again,
this time with an ugly, gaping bullet
wound in his body. 1t went hard with
the red men after that, They were
quickly driven into cover and kept
there, The troops were not strong
enough to beat the bush. 1t was
enough for them to hold the savage
foe in check.
The reports of massacre that were
current were groundless. They arose
from the fact that steamboat that
went to the landing near which the
| fight occurred could find no soldiers
there. They were inland watching
the enemy. 1t must be remembered
that the scene of the fgh ting is 30
miles from here, in a rough, wild coun-
try. The only feasible means of com
munication is the lake, which is very
rough just now.
Three expeditions to relieve Gen.
Bacon have set out from here. The
last expedition carried food and am
munition. The troops under Gen. Ba-
con have had nothing to eat since
Wednesday at noon. They have not
even had drink of whisky TO sustain
vitality. The night was fearfully cold.
Men without blankets must have suf-
fered fearfully.
1t is said that the Indians from the
Mine Laos reservation have started,
800 strong, to join the Leech lake In
dians, and if this is the case it will
require 500 additional troops to quell
the disturbance. They are reported
to be we'll armed and going north at
rapid rate. They will probably reach
Leech lake and Bear island to-day at
daylight
The inhabitants at Walker, Lothrup
and Hackensack, Mimi, are terrified
beyond measure, and are armed as far as
arms and ammunition are procurable.
Little sleep is taken by the majority
of the citizens. Since the uprising of
the Bear island Indians the Indians at
Leech lake agency have been quiet up
till yesterday, but word arrived last
night from the agency that the In
dians have broken out and the author
tiles have no control over them and
fe ar there will be more bloodshed
President Orders ReinHorcements.
Washington, Oct. THE telegram
from the Twin City editors was the
subject of conference at the white
house last evening between the presi-
dent, Secretary Alger and Adjt Gen.
Corbin. 1t resulted in the president
giving instructions that ample rein
forcements be sent Gen. Bacon at once.
1t is understood that orders in accord
ance with these instructions were sent
to st. Paul last night.