The Princeton union., 1898-10-13

walker, Minn., Oct. 12.-Matters at
the agency assumed a rather better
appearance yesterday afternoon. Flat
Mouth, the chief whose absence Sun
day caused considerable speculation
and uneasiness, came in yesterday and
Joined in q council with the authori-
ties, at which definite understanding
as to the policy Of the government
toward the hostiles was reached. Gen.
Bacon assured the Indians that if the
.hostiles would come in and surrender
the score Of men for whom warrants
had been issued, and whose arrest was
the original object of the expedition
which resulted in s.the battle, the rest
of them would be allowed to return to
their homes in peace. On the other
hand, Gen. Bacon was very emphatic
in his statements that if the hostiles
did not come in they would be hunted
down and killed or captured. At the
conclusion Of the council Gen. Bacon
was asked to put the substance of his
statements in writing, so that runners
might be sent at once to the hostile
camp with a definite proposal. Ac-
scordingly the following statement was
reduced to writing by Gen. Bacon:
"Tell the Indians that the govern
ment makes laws for all the Indians,
as we'll as for the whites, and Furnishes
all alike who disobey these laws. The
Bear islanders must come in and sur
render the Indians whose names are
written on the list, and the others can
return to their homes and be good. If
they do not come in and surrender
without delay they will be hunted and
killed and captured by soldiers both
winter and summer and not permitted
to return to Bear island. The govern
ment, has many soldiers here and
around the lake and will have many
more if needed"
This statement was signed by Ar
thur w. Tinker, United States Indian
Inspector. To it was attached a list Of
the Indians for whom Marshal O'Con-
nor holds warrants, and runners left
the agency yesterday afternoon to-
carry it to the hostile camp. They
will probably return ansanswer to-day.
Were Well Represented
S." The various governmental depart-
ments were represented at the council
by Indian Inspector, Tinker, Dr.. Hart,
Gen. Bason, Col. Harbach and Mar
shal O'Connor. Owing to the large
number of correspondents here and
the limited space in the agency head
quarters, it had been agreed among
the newspaper men that one of their
number should attend as the repre-
sentative Of all, and the choice fell
Cpon the Pioneer Press correspondent,
who thus acted as recorder for the
council William Bellanger was in
terpreter from English to Chippewa,
aid Gus Beauleau from Chippewa to
English. There was a representative
attendance of Indians from the imme-
diate vicinity Of the agency.
Flat Mouth was the first speaker.
He said that he had not Intentionally
absented himself the day before, but
was not feeling very we'll. I'm our
meeting" he said, 1--WE want you to
state what you wish us to do in regard
to the existing difficulties
d" Col. Tinker replied. He referred to
the cause for the presence of the au-
thorities in the first instance. No
trouble had been desired, and the hos
tiles themselves were to blame for
what had happened, for they ad,fred
first. He had sought a council with
them, and if they had been willing to
come in no trouble would have en-
sued. He did no know what the hos.
tiles wanted. He had come for peace
and not for war. He asked Flat
Mouth what he thought would happen
now. The chief replied that both Sides
should try and stop the trouble
Gen. BacOn's statements were re-
ceived with evident satisfaction by the
Indians, and Kay-gway- -ge- -way-be-
nung replied. He said they We're now
working on the very matter the gen
eral proposed and were awaiting an
answer from the hostiles by mes
sengers who had been sent out. He
pledged himself to stand by what was
right and answered the general that
that was the purpose of all the Indians
present. He stood neutral, between
= the Indians and whites, endeavoring
to settle the matter. > -
ATTACKED BY INDIANS.