Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-10-08
One Report Is That General Bacon and His Entire Force Have
 Been Massacyed.
SOME OF HIS MEN
 KNOWN TO BE DEAD.
As General Bacon Has Nor Sent Daek Any Word. the Worst Is Feared. Achievements Are Going
 to the Scene.

Walker, Minn., Oct. "A hard fight with the Indians has occurred and the reports from the scene of tho battle on the other side of Leach lake are some. what conflicting, though all reports agree that as q result tIter9 has been considerable shedding of blood and loss Of life on both sides No word has come from the front for several hours, which fact is considered somewhat ou1inous. The most serious report is that the des taohment Of troops with General Baoon was massacred, the general himself be- ing among the dead. Three newspaper correspondents, Brill of the St. Paul Pi- oneer Press, Heaton of the Minneapolis Tribune and Bnappen of the Minpeapo- lis Times are known to have been In the fight, and one report is that they were killed, while another says they are pris- oners in the hands of the Indians.
 This little town is full of excitement, and as the reports from the other side of the lake come in people become frantic, and efforts were made to get up 9 force to go to the hid oR the troops Rein. foreements are coming on a special traip from Brainard. However, additional soldiers are more needed and the feeling Is general that they cannot come too soon.
 Tbe fight occurred 80 miles from Walker on point jutting out into the lake near Bear island. The soldiers, 100 atfong, under command of General Ba- con and Major Wilkinson were landed with considerable difficulty, gale of wind having stirred 1p a lively seq Scouts were hustled through the bush in every direction, and for thyee hours no trace of the Indians could be found. Every preoautioh against ambush has beep taken. Finally, at about Il o'clock the soldiers were drawn up in 60 open space near the shore of the lake, and preparations were about to begin for dinner The soldiers were still in line, though coffse making had commenced. Suddenly shot was fired from the house of Bog An Mah. Ge-Shig, the Indian wbQ has been ths head and center of this whole dificult& Ex.Marshal Ed Harris, 8 Walker half breed, was struck, his arm being broken This shot seemed to be a signal, fox ip- mediately shots came from every diree- tion, and three men dropped aud were carried to the rear. The soldiers, who were veterans, not alone of the Santiago battle, but Q, many an Indian skirmish, knew what to do, and at the first shot all found shelter and awaited apother volley to tell them where to shoot. Gen. Bacon and MajoE Wilkinson steadied their men with encouraging words, and with second volley, the Indians st- tempted to rush on the soldiegs The rattling volley from the regulars that met tpe oncoming reds stopp&a the rush and drove back the Indians, although half dozen of them were dropped by the soldiers fire The fire from tbe pll. Iagers then became more scattering, and the soldiers made charge.
 An Indian who arrived from Bear is- land late last night stated that eight men out of uniform had been killed, but he could not tell how many soldiers had been shot. No direct word has come from either of the newspaper correspon- dents who were with the troops or from the soldiers. This is looked on as addi- tioual cause for apprehension, as it is believed that General Bacon would have sent back some official commupication had it been possible to do so. No word whatever has come from him. Neither has 1t been possible to confirm the re- port that the entire detachment has been wiped out.