The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-06
ACTION AT WASHINGTON.
Prompt Measures Taken For Relief
of General Bacon.

! Washington, Oct 5.-Oficial dis
patches received here tonight brought
! to the authorities the sudden realiza-
ton of an Indian uprising of more than
ordinary dimensions. The dispatches
began coming about 6 p. M, two of
them coming to Secretary Bliss, who,
as head of the interior department, has
charge of Indian affairs. and a third
to Attorney General Gfiggs from one
of the United States marshals at the
seat of the uprising. The first dispatch
( to Secretary Bliss was as follows:
Nv alker, Mimi. Oct. 5-The Indians
% miles from here, on the mainland of
North Bear island, opened fire on the
troops under command of General Ba-
con, without warning, this morning at
11:30. 1 fear the army in the field is
not strong enough to subdue the Bear
island Indians. How many are hurt on
their side cannot now tell. A large
force should be sent here at once.
have a slight scratch on arm and left
leg. Please wire me Instructions
TINKER, Inspector"
Another dispatch from Inspector Tin
ker followed soon afterwards, as fol-
lows:
Trouble was caused by Indians fir
ing upon troops first; situation as bad
as can be; feeling among Indians hos
tile, and mean to fight to end. More
troops needed at once. They cannot
get here too quick
Immediately upon receipt of these
dispatches Secretary Bliss went to the
residence of Secretary Alger and had a
talk with the head of the war depart
ment as to the military steps which
should be taken. While they were to-
gether a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press called and handed them
the press dispatch, giving more ex-
tended details of the sanguinary en-
gagement between the troops and the
Indians this noon. General Alger read
the dispatch aloud, punctuating it with
his own observations on the gallantry
of the men and the efficacy of the Red
Cross, the latter being mentioned in
the press dispatch as caring for some
of the wounded.
REINFORCEMENTS ORDERED.
The two secretaries agreed tn the
situation had reached a stage when en-
ergetic steps were needed. Turning to
his military aide, Major Hopkins, Sec
rotary Alger said:
Take those dispatches to Adjutant
General Corbin and tell him to have
ample reinforcements sent immediate
ly. If need be, have a special train Sc
cured and the reinforcements sent for
ward without delay. If it seems de-
sirable TO send along a Calling gun,
let that be done also"
Major Hopkins went to the war de-
partment and delivered the message to
Adjutant General Corbin. The latter,
in the meantime, had received from
the attorney general a dispatch re-
ceived from the United States marshal,
as follows:
Walker, Mimi, Oct. 5.-Have more
troops sent here Immediately. Battle
begun at Bear island. Look for gen.
eral uprising of Indians. General Ba-
con in the field. O'CONNOR,
Marshal"
The war department had received no
dispatches from General Bacon or from
any of the military authorities in the
department where the uprising had &C
CURED. This caused some surprise and
doubt, and it left entirely open the
question as to the. list of casualties.
General Corbin was inclined to believe
that the reports were magni6ed.
GENERAL BACON'S FORCE.
General Bacon is the commanding
officer of the department of the Da-
kotas, with headquarters at st. Paul,
and the Third infantry is stationed at
Fort Smelling, just outside of st. Paul,
so that If need be this large force could
be called to General Bacon's assist
ance. As commanding officer of the
department it was pointed out that
General Bacon has full authority TO
move all the forces within his depart
ment if he deems such action neces-
sary to meet the emergency. Aside
from the Third infantry there are cav
airy troops within easy reach of st.
Paul and the seat of the trouble, al
though it was the view at the war de-
partment late tonight that General Ba-
con would not have any need for any
cavalry, if, indeed. he needed any in
fantry beyond the hundred men now at
the front. General Corbin inclined to
the view that hundred regulars were
more than a match for all the Indians
which could be assembled at the place
of the present trouble. General Bacon
will be given a free hand, however, and
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