The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-14
INDIANS IN CHECK.
Gen. Bacon's Troops Holding the
Reds Pending Reinforcement.
RUMORED MASSACRE is UNFOUNDED.
Nal. wtNtnson, Five Soldiers and Two In
dian Police fave Been Killed The Loss
OF tire Indians NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MCKINLEY Appealed 60.

west corner of Leech lake company +
OF the Third infantry put up gallant
fight. While the SO soldiers Gen. Ba-
con had were unable to dislodge the
900 and odd Indians from their strong
position, they made it very hot for
them and are holding them pending
the arrival of reinforcements. Maj.
Wilkinson, five soldiers and two In
dian police have been killed. The loss
of the Indians is not known, but a
number have been killed and many
wounded.
The Indians are concealed in shrub
berry on hills n short distance inland
from the lake. Reinforcementss should
have reached Gen. Bacon before this,
and the next news should be that the
hostiles have been convinced of the
errors of their ways and are ready to
be good Indians" again.
Maj Wilkinson met death like a
hero. He was shot at the very outset
of the fighting through the leg. He
had this wound rudely dressed, direct
ing and assisting in the operation him
self Then he took the field again. A
few minutes later he was down again,
wound in his oody. 1t went hard with
the red men after that They were
quickly driven into cover and kept
there The troops were not strong
enough to beat the bush. 1t was
enough for them to hold the savage
foe in check
The reports OF a massacre that were
current were groundless. They arose
from the fact that a steamboat that
went to the landing near which the
fight occurred could find no soldiers
there They were inland watching
the enemy. 1t must be remembered
that the scene of the figh ting is 80
miles from here, in a rough, wild coun-
try. The only feasible means of com
munication is the lake, which is very
rough just now.
Three expeditions to relieve Gen.
Bacon have set out from here. The
last expedition carried food and am
munition. The troops under Gen. Ba-
con have had nothing to eat since
Wednesday at noon. They have not
even had a drink of whisky to sustain
vitality The night was fearfully cold.
Men without blankets must have suf.
fered fearfully.
A special train with 2t5 of the Third
infantry from Fort Smelling. under
command of Lieut. Col. Harbach, of
the department of Dakota, arrived at
three o'clock yesterday afternoon.
They left at once for Bear island.
Another special train left Brauerd
last night with 200 or $50 more soldiers.
Inspector Tinker expresses the opinion
that with 800 soldiers the Indians will
be subdued, but thinks there will be
bloodshed and may be lots of il.
II is said that the Indians from the
Mine Laos reservation have started.
800 strong, To join the Leech lake In
dams, and If this is the case il will
require 500 additional troops to qucll
the disturbance. They are reported
to be well armed and going north AT
rapid rate. They will probably reach
Leech lake and Bear island today at
daylight.
The inhabitants at Walker, Lothrup
and Hackensack, Mimi, are terrified
beyond measure, and are armed as far as
arms and ammunition are procurable
Little sleep is taken by the majority
of the citizens. Since the uprising of
the Bear island Indians the Indians at
Leech lake agency have been quiet up
till Yesterday, but word arrived last
night from the agency that the In
dams have broken out and the author
tiles have no control over them and |
fear there will be more bloodshed
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY APPEALED TO.
Minneapolis. Mimi, Oct. THE fol- !
lowing telegram, which speaks for
itself, was sent to President Mckinley |
last evening:
TO William Mckinley executive mansion. |
Washington:
Advices from conservative sources lead us to |
believe that force Of not less than coo sol |
diers, preferably 500, should be Mt once avalla- |
bic at Leech lake and vicinity We believe |
such force is needed, not only TO rescue Gen.
Bacon and the survivors of his command, but |
to properly overawe the agency Indians. in
whose professions Of friendship and neutrality |
no one acquainted with them puts credence A
general outbreak at or around Walker would |
probably result in the massacre OF many clti-
zens. In country so heavily wooded the pres
ent force, In our judgment, is wholly made
quate. The gravity OF the situation is not
overestimated in the above suggestions
j. S, MCLEAN, Editor Journal
IL r. JOHNSON, Managing Editor Times
G. II. HAMLIN, Managing Editor Tribune
This dispatch was sent upon receipt
of advices that an uprising among the
Red lake and Cass lake as well as
the Leech lake Indians was regarded
as imminent.
ORDERS FOR AMPLE REINFoRCEMENTs
Washington, Oct. THE telegram
from the Twin City editors was the
subject of conference at the white
house last evening between the presi-
dent, Secretary Alger and Adjt. Gen.
Corbin. 1t resulted in the president
giving instructions that ample rein
be sent Gen. Bacon at once.
1t is understood that orders in accord
ance with these instructions were sent
TO St Paul last night.