The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-06

Walker, Mimi. Oct. 5.-A hard fight
with the Indians occurred to-day and
the reports from the scene of the bat
tie. on the other side of Leech lake, are
somewhat conflicting. although all re-
ports agree that the result has been
considerable shedding of blood and
some loss of life on both sides. No
word has come from the front for sew
eral hours. which fact is considered
somewhat ominous.
The most serious report is that the
detachment of troops with General Ba-
con was massacred, the general himself
being said to be among the dead
Three newspaper correspondents, Brill,
of the st. Paul Pioneer Press: Beaton.
of the Minneapolis Tribune. and KNAPP
| pen Of the Minneapolis Times, are
known to have been in the fight, and
one report is that they were killed.
while another says they are now pris-
oners in the hands of the Indians
This little town has been full Of ex-
citement all day, and as the reports
from the other side of the lake came
in, the people became frantic and ef-
forts were made to get up a force to
go to the relief of the troops. This
will be sent in a few hours, with REIN
forcements coming on a special train
from Brainerd. However. additional
soldiers are most needed, and the feel
ing is general that they cannot come
too soon.
To-day's fight occurred 30 miles from
Walker. on a point putting out into the
lake near Bear Island. The soldiers.
100 strong, under command of General
John M. Bacon and Major wilkins, ar
rived here last evening. and at half past
O'Clock this morning they went on
board boats and were carried to the.
point named. where a landing was made
with considerable difficulty. a gale of
wind having stirred up a lively sea- The
landing was effected at about o'clock.
Scouts were hustled through the bush
in every direction. and for three
hours no trace of the Indians could
ambush had been taken. Finally, at
half past IL o'clock, the soldiers were
drawn UP in an open space near the
shore of the lake and preparations were
about to begin for dinner. The soldiers
were still in line. though the coffee maxi
ing had commenced. Suddenly a shot
was fired from the house of Bog-Ah-
Mah-Ge-Shig, the Indian who has been
the head and center of this whole diff
Guilty. Ex-Marshal Ed Harris. a Walker
half-breed. was struck, his arm being
broken. This shot seemed to be a sig
nal, for Immediately shots came from
every direction, and three men dropped
and were carried to the rear. The SOL
diers. who are veterans. not alone of the
Santiago battle. but of many an Indian
skirmish. knew what to do and at the
first shot all found shelter and waited
for another volIey to tell them where
to shoot
General Bacon and Major Wilkinson
steadied their men with encouraging
words, and with a second volley the
Indians attempted to rush on the SOL
diers. The rafting volley from the reg
ulars that met the oncoming reds
stopped the rush and drove back the
Indians, although half a dozen of them
were dropped by the soldiers fire. The |
fire from the Pillagers then became |
more scattered and the soldiers made |
a fine charge and drove them back, |
though the firing continued. The |
come. as we'll as those used by the |
newspaper correspondents, were fired |
on by the Indians with effect. Inspec- |
tor Tinker received a shot in the leg |
and had his sleeve riddled.
Brill Of the Pioneer-Press. Beaton OF |
the Tribune and the Times correspond |
ent had landed prior to the arrival of |
the soldiers. a previous experience hav- |
ing made them believe that the danger
was slight. They were thus brought /
into the thick OF the fight and fought |
with the soldiers. The men on the
steamer saw them in the fight, taking
vigorous part with their revolvers until
they were compelled to fly. closely pur-
sued by the painted savages. Tonight
an Indian who arrived from Bear ISL
and stated that all the men out OF uni
form had been killed, but that he could
not tell how many soldiers had been
shot.
No direct word has come from either
the correspondents who were with the
troops or from the soldiers. This is
looked on as an additional cause Cor
apprehension. as IL is believed General
Bacon would have sent back home some
DfYicial communication had IL been pos
sible to to do so. No word whatever
mas come from him. Neither has IL been
possible to confirm the report that the
entire detachment had been wiped out
The outlook at this hour is that the
agency Indians may go on the war path
II any moment. They have been hold
ng councils all night and receiving re-