Evening journal., 1898-10-06
AN INDIAN WAR.
Fierce Battle With Troops
on Bear Island,
Minnesota.
RUMORS OF A MASSACRE
General Bacon Said to Have Been
Killed.
A GENERAL UPRISING FEARED.
General AIger Orders Re-cnforce-
mcnts TO BE sent-The story of
the Bnttle--The Cause OF
the Outbreak.

In South Dakota, four years ago. oc-
CURED yesterday is miles west Of here,
on Bear island, Leech lake. One hum
dred men Of the Third United States
infantry, who fought the Spaniards at
Santiago. were in battle for three hours
with band Of Pillager Indians, num-
bering 250
Ten men are known to have been kill
ed, six OF them being Pillager Indians.
One was a half breed timber Inspector,
one a deputy marshal and two United
States soldiers--Privates Cole and Har-
dy. The names Of the other dead are
not yet known. II Is said the wounded
number 10.
When Marshal O'Connor returned
Tuesday night with word that he had
not been able to arrest Chief Bush Ear
and the other Indians accused Of vlo-
lating the law, he and General Bacon
sat up till after midnight planning the
campaign. They chartered the steam
ers Flora and Chief and issued orders
all round for a start at daybreak yes
terday.
The steamers, bearing so United
States regulars, armed with Krag-Jor-
gensen rifles; General Bacon, Colonel
Wilkinson, Marshal OConnor, nine dep
uty marshals and 80 friendly Indians,
started at half past o'clock and arriv-
ed at Bear island a little after o'clock.
Seeing hostile demonstrations on the
shore. however, they remained on board
until after 10 o'clock when the soldiers
were disembarSed and lined up for or
ders.
While General Bacon was giving his
men their orders Marshal O'Connor en-
dRQaynrnn 10 hu a aeta xtrffl r1tl
layers, stipulating that Bush Ear
should be present. Bush Ear refused
to come out OF his house, declaring he
was too old-he is 62-to appear In the
chill October air.
A shot rang out from the house OF
Bog -ah-me- gees -shlrk (Bush Ear) at 10
minutes after IL O'clock and a soldier
fell, shot in the groin. Soon the ping,
pang OF the Springfield rifles, in the
hands Of the Indians In the bushes
rang out from the east and nortk
Twenty-Five shots had been fired be-
fore the regulars were able to recover
from the surprise
General Bacon and Colonel Wilkinson
stood unmoved among the soldiers who
had seen service before the Spaniards
at Santiago, and General Bacon was
heard saying: Steady boysl Lie close
20 the grassl Don't shoot until YOU see
something to shoot at!'
minute later Krag-Jorgensan bull
letstwere crashing into tho bushes and
tepees, and Indians were jumping out
with knives and rifles in their hands.
Several Of the Plliagers fell dead under
the first fire, and the others were soon
in full retreat. The regulars halted to
send the dead and wounded aboard the
steamers, and then started after the
Indians whom they supposed to be
about ready to surrender.
The Indians, however, had made a
stand in the heavy timber and as soon
as the Third regiment men came within
range they began firing away again
with their Springfield rifles. The infan-
try replied sparingly, shooting only
when the Indians were in sight. Both
sides being pretty well sheltered. the
casualties were smaN and firing ceased
entirely about half past o'clock.
General Bacon's men are still on the
island and win intrench and remain
there. They have three days rations
with them, and ten days rations arc
here at Walker. Inspector Tinker and
Marshal O'Connor both telegraphed
Washington last evening as to the Sc
riousness Of the situation Another de-
tachment Of 20 men arrived here from
Fort Smelling last night. and two fun
companies are ordered to report here
tonight
The men behaved superbly in the
hight, there being no ninching at any
point on the line. Conspicuous in the
work We're both Marshal O'Connor and
Deputy Marshal Sheehan. The latter. a
hero Of Fort Ridgeley, although more
than go years old. yelled to the deputies
and regulars to keep pclose 70 the ground.
while he himself stood erect and bare
headed throughout the heaviest firing.
The belief Is general here that the PHI
layers Will seek TO reach the mainland
by small boats. They are expected to
retreat by the Big and Little Fork riv-
ers. Should they do this there Is dam
ger Of their destroying the Winnlbi-
goshish dam, which would be directly
In their path. II they should retreat in
TO the interior and are in a murderous
mood they could do a great deal OF
harm' Tor the road they would take
through Cass and Itasca counties is
thickly settled with farmers. This Ia the
season Of the year when logging camps
are preparing for operations. and many
men are scattered through them.
IL is reported that Governor Clonah
anticipating a retreat through the
woods. viii send a company OF the
Fourteenth regiment, Minnesota nation
al guard, over the Great Northern ana
Duluth, and they viii disembark some-
where between Deer river and Cass
lake, thus iRtercepting the Indians and
cutting Off their retreat.
The steamer Flora. from Bear island.
reports that so far as known none az
the officers Of the Third regiment We're
wounded. Owing to the confusion. no
names OF the dead, with the exception
Of the two soldiers. have been obtained
The number of wounded is unofHcialiv
reported at l9. Whether these include
Indians the captain Of the Flora does
not know.
Among the wounded brought banl,
here is George Helmuth. city marshal
OF Walker. He win recover. he says