The Portland daily press., 1898-10-07
NOTHING FROM BACON.
Fate of officer and His Command NIys

| MOI fING fhOM 6HCON.
Fate of officer and His Command Mys-
tory Yet.
Washington, October 6.-Secretary Bliss
telephoned from the war department. that
he had just received a dispatch from
| Agent Tinker in which he stated a boat
has just arrived from the scene of battle
sergeant and four privates were killed;
also that the deputy marshal was wound
ed and an Indian policeman killed; that
the 200 troops on the way to the battlefield
are not enough. The war department.
has ordered additional troops to start inn
mediately.
! Up to 10 o'clock tonight there had besn
no Information received by the war de-
partment officials from Gen Bacon. Dur
| ing the evening, however, the department
received from the generals adjutant,
now at ST. Paul. a telegram, giving a
summary Of conditions as far as that Off
Ger was able to obtain them. The de-
spatch mentions the loss of life in the bat
tie of Leech lake and says:
| Reinforcements will doubtless reach
| the command this evening. Reliable in
formation indicates Indians quiet in vi
cinity of Engineer dams to the northeast.
No report yet from Gen. Bacon. Only
one officer, Capt. Gerlach, for duty at Fort
| Smelling and 150 men. Apprehend need of
no further reinforcements unless to send
7 to vicinity of Leech lake dam to cut off
escape of Indians Would suggest authori-
| ty be given to utilize one battalion of
Minnesota volunteers in case of need.
Report just received of arrival of Col.
Horbachs command at Walker, about 4
O'Clock"
The request to use battalion of the
Minnesota volunteers was promptly
granted.
During the evening Secretary Bliss re-
ceived the following telegram from In.
spector Tinker:
dred and fifty officers and men have just
arrived with one Calling gun. Have
heard nothing from the battle ground
since morning. Two boats left to go to
Gen. Bacon's assistance and have not
returned.
The Secretary feels gratified at the con-
ciliatory attitude of the Indians surround-
ing the Pillagers.
BACON's COMMAND ANNlHILATED.
Come.
Minneapolis, October 6-The Journals
special from Walker, Mimi. says
Capt. Wilkinson was shot through the
leg and had his leg dressed, took the field
again and was shortly afterwards shot
through the body, lying in pool OF blood.
He raised himself to one elbow and
shouted to Gen. Bacon: "Give them hell,
general; never mind about me-. /"
These were his last words. Lieut.. Nor
rison has won his spurs. / never saw
more splendid bravery in my life.9
,"Aim straight" he shouted. 81" Don't
get ratified, boys, those devils can't get
us. Try again." he said, laughing as a
ball knocked his hat off, The men
cheered him right in the thick of it.
There was big conference at the
agency last night Lieut.. Humphrey OF
the agency detachment, and DR.. Hart, the
agency surgeon, were invited, with half
dozen bad characters who had stirred up
sentiment in favor of joining the pillag-
ers. Dr. Hart told them that if they
went on the war path there would not be
n live Indian on Leech lake in a week.
| Lieut.. Humphrey backed the statement.
| After several hours talk the Indians de-
| cided to be good Indians, at least for the
present, Ths assurance may not be worth
much
INSPECTOR Tinker has wired the sccre-
tary of the interior that 300 men will
not be enough He repeats his belief that
Bacon's commands is annihilated
Lieut. Humphrey made most of the
agency chiefs sign promises OF good be-
havior. They did not like to do 1t, but
| decided to aocede.
Gay Wa -Chi-Wy, o Bear island chief,
swears that the majority of the Bear ISL
| anders are not hostile.
81 am going to stay by the whites. !"
he said, "and many Of my braves will do
so''