The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-06
IN WASHINGTON.
Secretary AIgcr Order Reinforcemeuts
sent Immediate

4
| Washington. Oct 5-Oficial dispatch-
es received here tonight brought to the
authorities the sudden realization of an
Indian uprising Of more than ordinary
dimensions. The dispatches began COM
ing about p. m, two OF them coming TO
/ Secretary Bliss. who as the head of the
interior department has charge of the
Indian affairs, and a third to Attorney
General Griggs from one of the United
states marshals at the seat OF the up
rising. The first dispatch to Secretary
Bliss was as follows:
Walker. Mimi. Oct. 5.-Secretary OF
the Interior, Washington: The Indians.
20 miles from here on the mainland OF
North Bear Island. opened fire on the
troops under command of General Ba-
con without warning this morning at
1850. 1 fear the army in the field IL
not strong enough TO subdue the Bear
Island Indians. How many are hurt on
their side cannot now tell. A large
force should be sent here at once. 1t Is
now war and the government must pro-
tect the people. l have a slight scratch
on arm and left leg. Please wire me
instruction.
TINKER, Inspector"
Another dispatch from Inspector Tin
ker followed soon afterwards as follows:
ITO Secretary of Interior. Washing
ltn. 1TOuDle was caused Dy lnuldnS
firing upon troops first: situation as bad
as can be; feeling among Indians hos
tile and mean to fight to end. More
troops needed at once. They cannot get
here too quick. TINKER"
Immediately upon receipt OF these dis
patches Secretary Bliss went 10 the res
idence of Secretary Alger and had a
talk with the head of the war depart
ment as to the military steps which
Shnnld ha talxan Whfla N
gether. a representative of the associat-
ed press called and handed them the
press dispatch. giving more extended
details of the sanguinary engagement
between the troops and the Indians this
noon. General Alger read the dispatch
aloud, punctuating II with his own OBJ
servations on the gallantry of the men
and the efficacy OF the Red Cross, the
latter being mentioned in the press dis
patches as caring for some of the
wounded The two secretaries agreed
that the situation had reached a stage
when energetic steps were needed. Turn
ing to his military aide, Major Hopkins,
Secretary Alger said:
Take those dispatches to Adjutant
General Corbin and tell him to have am
pie reinforcements sent Immediately.
IL need be, have a special train secured
and the reinforcements sent forward
without delay. II IL seems desirable to
send along Calling gun, let that be
done also"
The Pnlager and other neighboring
Indians of the White Earth reserva-
tion claim to have many reasons for
their present outbreak, although the
direct trouble with the Pillagers comes
over attempts to bring in some of the
Indians to the United States court at
Duluth in connection with liquor sell
ing cases.
THAR griayapcas 90 bacL tbrouob
many years, and there have been leg !
islative and other attempts to settle |
them. one of the latest being the Mel |
son law, regarding the sale OF timber |
on the Indian lands. However. the In |
dians claimed that the method of dis |
posing of this was both cumbersome |
and expensive and that they were the |
sufferers. In regard TO serving as wit
nesses in illegal liquor selling cases, |
they claimed that the deputy marshals |
left them to find their own way home |
from Duluth without having paid them |
the proper mileage. This is denied by /
the deputies. The trouble with the Pill |
layers is an old warrior. Liog -Ah- Nah
Ge-Shig. not a chief. who recently re- |
turned from court and was soon after
words sought again by the deputies. |
He alleged i'll treatment in being turned /
adrift penniless in Duluth and aroused |
the other Indians to protest against the \
way he claimed to have been treated
The United States marshal insists that
the old mans story Is unfounded, but /
the reds had been stirred up TO such a
pitch that trouble apparently became
in view Of the deeply seat
ed feeling of general III treatment in
regard to their timber lands and their
land rights in general.
Major Hopkins went to the war de-
partment and delivered the message TO
Adjutant General Corbin. The latter.
i'm the meantime, had received from the
attorney general a dispatch received
lows:
Walker. Mimi. oct. 5.-To the at
torney general. Washington: Have
more troops sent here Immediately. |
Battle begun at Bear Island. Look for
general uprising OF Indians. General
Bacon in the field.
"o'coNNoR. Marshal"
The war department had received no
from General Bacon or any
of the military authorities in the de-
partment where the uprising had oc-
Cured. This caused some surprise and
doubt. and IL left entirely open the
question as to the list OF casualties.
General Corbin was inclined TO be-
ieve that the reports We're magnifed.
General Bacon is the commanding ofi-
rer OF the department OF the Dakotas.
with headquarters at St Paul and the
Sd infantry is stationed at Fort SMELL
Ing, just outside OF ST. Paul so that IL
need be, this large force could be called
10 General Bacon's assistance. As com
officer of the department. Il
was pointed out that General Bacon
has full authority to move all the
forces within his department n ne
ieems such action necessary TO meet
The emergency.
Indian Commissioner Jones read the
~ he N
interest. but up to a late hour tonight
had not received any advices from In
Han Agent Sullivan. in charge 81 the
White Earth agency. where the upris-