The Portland daily press., 1898-10-08

were said to want a council. remained
behind with my interpreter and arrested
an Indian wanted near at hand ana
sent him to the boat. While / was talE-
ing to some old Indians. saw SIX BUCKS
armed with Winchesters come out OF gne
house and go away inland. They dio
not speak to me, although I was their
agent for five years, and feared trouble
and called in 10 soldiers, who were scat
tered along the shore.
About that time Gen. Bacon returned
with tro ops. Hall of the men had stacked
arms nd the order was given to unload
their equipments. AS they did SO shot
was fired and almost Immediately the
firing became general
"Ihe soldiers formed in line in a
semi circle, facing the Indians and the 10
men who were with me, rushed up to
protect the right flank and drove the In
dams back, securing more favorable
position. One of these men was shot in
the face, one In the arm and third in
the leg. I don't know how the other men
were wounded.
AFTER our first rush we had the best
position. The log house was inside our
lines and it was used as hospital and
the men sought the cover of logs and trees
and settled down for long fight 1t
continued through the day and evening
and was renewed Thursday morning,
although it was not 30 hot as during the
first hour. Thursday morning boat
made a landing with some provisions and
Clen. Bacon wanted to send the wounded
back He sent me down to make arrange
ments and went out to the steamer in
| canoe. They brought down one wound
| ed man and the captain OF the boat
brought him OH shore. Before the others
could be moved the Indians opened a hot
| tira on the boat anu we had to leave.
About six miles out we met the Flora
| going In with 80 OF more armed men and
| every thing the soldiers needed. When /
left there had been five killed and eight
wounded besides the Indian policemen
"Three men were sick. / don't know
| the names Of any of the killed or wounds
ed except Major Wilkinson.
"Gen. Bacon handled his men magnifi-
GENTLY and was on the firing line during
the whole of the engagement encourag.
ing his men and directing the operations.
He was ably seconded by Major Wilkin-
son until the latter was killed, and Lieut.
Ross under fire for the first time,
| the men at the opening volley and stayed
right with them all the time. 1t is i'm.
possible to tell how many Indians are In
the attacking party, but I should say not
less than $50 or 900, 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 concentrated part of their
fire ON the bpats to drive them away and
leave the soldiers no means Of relief, pro-
vidlng they could ovsrpower the whole
force.
'The newspaper men, Brill, Beaton
and koppen were all in good shape when
left, doing their share Of duty on the
line. No one Of thom had been injured"
tSeveral Of the small boats and the
steamer Flora, went out during the night
and early Thursday morning to endeavor
to land provisions for Gen. Baoon's
| bsleagured command and bring away the
Brainered fighters and few armed citi-
| gems. The Vera alone succeeded in effect
ing the purpose Of the trip. Harris Nc
Uabe, with the Vera, went to the north
end of the island, where the troops are
entrenched, landing sufficient quantities of
provisions to relieve the immediate neces-
| stiles of the men. An attempt was made
to bring down some of the wounded.
The steamer did not approach close to the
shore and it was necessary to use small
| boat. One was brought across the open
| ing, but the Indians concentrated their
| fire on this point and on the boat. The
pace was too hot and McCabe WAS forced
to leave. During the engagement Col.
| Sheehan received a slight fash wound
across the abdomen, u bullet through his
coat sleeve and another through his
trousers leg.
"Major Wilkinson was killed Wednesday
| afternoon. He received flesh wound in
the leg and retired to have 1t dressed by
| DR.. Harris. the surgeon of the party. He
then reported to Con. Bacon on the firing
line as ready for duty, and while talking
with Gen. Bacon AN Indian sharpshooter
picked him out Major Wilkinson was
shot through the body from side to side
and died almost instantly.
1.-THE agency Indians have been disposed
| to be peaceful, but Thursday night one of
| the Indian police was killed by the troops
| by mistake, and the Indians are now dis
| posed to be hostile.
''The occurrence was most unfortunate
| and 1t is hard to see how any blame can
attach to the troops. The Indian police
| man, Ruslin, who was said to be one Of
| the best of the agency Indians, had ac-
companied the troops and had fought
valiantly, but towards night he thought
he had had enough of 1t and started
with another Indian policeman for the
agencyfalonga he shore without notifying
| Gen. Eac0n.
| "He was riddled with bullets, but his
companion escaped uninjuied. This in
cdent has made the agr ncy Indians very
angry and council is said to have been
b, ld last night"