Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-07

tack q over one thousand Indians. Final
~. he repuIsed the redskins and saved
the lived OF his command. For twenty
years after the close OF the war between
the states he was Sheriff at Courusna'
MINI. and lately was deputy marsnaI
He was about 80 years DID, ana marI'e''
RuMORED LOSS CONFIRMED.
I'D to 10 o'clock tonight there had been
no Information received by the war De-
partment officials from General Bacon.
During the evening, however. the depart
ment received from the Generals adtu-
tant, now at St. Paul. the following teie-
gram, giving a summary OF conditions,
as far as that officer was able to obtain
them:
est. Paul, Mimi, October 6.-Adjutant-
General, Washington: In answer to teie-
gram to the United States Marshal at
Walker, Mimi. have received reply giving
location of General Bacon on mainland,
southwest corner Leech Lake. and saying:
Commenced fighting at 80 yesterday.
Indians seem 10 have best position: not
moving. Major wilkinson. five soldiers
and two Indian police killed. Awaiting
reinforcements.'
REINFORCEMENT AT WALKER.
press dispatches and private Western
Union dispatches seem to support these
statements about the killed. Reinforce
ments will doubtless reach the command
this evening. Reliable information indi-
Gates Indians quiet In vicinity OF engineer
dams to northeast. No report yet from
General Bacon. Only one officer-Captain
Gerlach. for duty at Fort Smelling, ana
150 men. Apprehend no need or further
reinforcements, unless to send to vi
cinity CT Leech Lake dam, to cut OF es-
cape of Indians. Would suggest authority
be given to utilize one battalion Minnesota
volunteers, in case of need. Report just
received of arrival Of Colonel Horbach's
command at Walker, about 4 o'clock.
(Signed) "STURGlS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, in the Abb
sence OF Department Commander"
The request TO use a battalion OF the
Minnesota volunteers was promptly
granted. and the department commander
can have his pick from either the Twelfth
or the Fourteenth State Regiment. One
Is at New Ulm and the other at ST.
Paul awaiting their muster-out
During the evening Secretary Bliss re-
ceived the following telegram from In
spector Tinker. which indicates that re-
Inducements have reached Walker. which
is thirty miles or less from the scene OF
the fighting:
walker. Mimi, october 6, via Brai-
nerd.--Two hundred and fifteen officers
and men have just arrived. with one Cat
ling gun. Have heard nothing from bat
tle-ground since morning. Two boats left
to go to General Bacons assistance, and
have not returned. VIII wire full particu-
lars later.
(Signed) TINKER, Inspector"
TROUBLE CONFINED TO PILLAGERS.
The Secretary feels gratified at the con-
ciliary attitude of the Indians surround
ing the Pillagers.
In this connection tonight he made pub
lie the following telegram from Chief
Land-Inspector William Selley. now at
Duluth, which had been received by Com
missioner Herman:
Just come from field near Cass Lake
and Winnebogashish Lake. Indians all
quiet there. Shall return to the field to-
day. DO not anticipate any trouble out
side OF the Pillagers. There has been
some shooting between them and the
soldiers. All other Indians will keep hands
off, I believe"
THE REDS PROGRESSED FRIENDSHIP
WALKER, MINI, october 6.-Indian-
Agent Sutherland, who was with Gene
raj Bacon at Sugar Point. gives the fol-
lowing account of the conflict up TO the
time Of his leaving for supplies:
when the arrest of the two fugitives
had been accomplished, the Indians, with
a profession of friendship, showed the
soldiers their tepees, and called atten-
ton 10 their neatness, and all the time
stating. Me good Indian General Ba-
con. who has great experience with the
Sioux and other savages, did not take
much stock In these professions OF
friendship, and ordered a party Of his
command to search the adjoining tim
Der for any lurking savages, but none
were to be seen. The Indians must have
been hidden In the thick underbrush,
and those unaccustomed to searching
bush could have easily been deceived.
because Ii was not ten minutes after this
when the firing commenced.
NO GENERAL MASSACRE PLANNED.
'If the Indians had contemplated a
general massacre they would have fired
upon the men who were searching the
timber.
"These Pillagers are we'll armed, and
are good marksmen. Therefore, 1t Is
easy to see why they had the best of
the situation at the start. II our men
are not killed it is surmised that they
have gone some distance into the woods,
where they would be safe from night
attack from another band of Indians.
who could have come upon them on the
lake shore. II 1t is true that the Cass
Lake Indians have gone to assist the
Bear Island Indians. the retreat OF Gen
eral Bacon into the interior can be I'M
derstood"
ADDITIONAL TROOPS READY.
ST. PAUL, October Ono orders had
been received or issued at army head
quarters in this city late this evening,
although all arrangements were being
completed to rush sucn additional troops
nfoh he ha
200 men who went up on a special train
to-day were unable to take much with
them in the way OF supplies, but these
followed later in the day. The govern
ment officials are somewhat alarmed
over the possible injury to government
dams in the neighborhood of Leech and
Winnebogoshish lakes.
BACON STILL FIGHTING.
LATHROP. MINI, October 6.-This af-
ternoon at $3.50 o'clock 1t was learned that
General Bacon and his small band OF
seventy or seventy-five men were still
fighting on Bear Island, but 1t is not
known what the outcome of the fighting
has been up to this hour, p. NJ.
An attempt was made TO land on the
island this afternoon and rescue the
wounded soldiers and get the bodies OF
the unfortunate soldiers who were killed.
This attempt was so far successful that
four bodies were recovered and nine who
were wounded were rescued. but the citi-
zens were driven TO the boat and the
boat was driven from the shore by skulk-
ing redskins.
special train with 225 of the Third
Infantry, from Fort Smelling, under COM
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Harbach. OF
the Department OF Dakota, arrived at