The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-06
Report That General Bacon and Eighty Soldiers
Have Been MaSSaCred.
THREE BRAVE CORRESPONDENTS
REPORTED KILLED WHILE FIGHTING
Detachment CT the Third Infantry Attacked From Ambush
and General Uprising Is Predicted.

Walker, Mimi, Oct. 5.-A hard fight
with the Indians occurred today, and
the reports from the scene Of the bat
tie, on the other side of Leech lake,
are somewhat conflicting. although all
reports 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 him
self being said to be among the dead.
Three newspaper correspondents, Erill
OF the st. Paul Pioneer Press, Beatt n
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 come in
the people became frantic and efforts
were made to get up a force to go to
the relief of the troops This will be
sent in 2 few hours, with reinforce
ments coming on a special train from
Brainerd. However, additional soldiers
are most needed, and the feeling is
general that they cannot come too
SOON
Today's fight occurred 80 miles from
Walker. on a point jutting out into the
lake near Bear island. The soldiers, 100
strong, under command CT General
John NJ Bacon ana Major wilkins, ar
rived here last evening and at 4:30
o'clock this morning they went on
board boats and were carried to the
point named, where landing was
made with considerable difficulty, a
gale of wind having stirred up d lively
sea. The landing was effected at about
8 O'Clock. Scouts were hustled through
the bush in every direction, and for
three hours no trace Of the Indians
could be found. Every precaution
against ambush had been taken.
y INDIANS OPENED FIRE.
Finally, at about 1880 o'clock. the
soldiers were drawn up in an open
space near the shore of the lake, and
preF rationS were about to begin for
dinner. The soldiers were still in line,
thoU gh the coffee-making had COM
menceG. Suddenly a shot was fired
froIn the house of Bog-Ah-M -Mah-Ge-
Shis,, the Indian who has been the head
and certer Of this whole difficulty. EX-
Marshal Edward Harris, a Walker
haie-treeu. was struck, his arm being
broken. This shot seemed to be sig
nal, fer Immediately shots came from
every direction, and three men dropped
and were carried to the rear.
The soldiers. 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 volley
to tell them where to shoot. General
Bacon and Major Wilkinson steadied
their men with encouraging words, and
with a second volley, the Indians at
tempted a rush on the soldiers. The
rattlirg volley from the regulars that
met the oncoming reds stopped the
rush and drove back the Indians, al
though half d 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 steamers on
which the soldiers had come, as well
as those used by the newspaper cor
respondents, were fired upon by the IN
dians with effect. Inspector Tinker re-
ceived shot in the leg and had his
sleeve riddled-
CORRESPONDENTS KILLED.
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 nav
ing zuade them believe that the danger
was slight. They We're thus brought
with the soldiers. The men on the
steamer saw them IN the tight, taking
vigorous part with their revolvers un-
til they were compelled 70 liy, closely
pursued by the painted savages. To-
night an Indian, who arrived from Bear
island. stated that all the men out of
uniform had been killed, but that he
could not tell how many soldiers had
been shot.
No direct word has come from either
of the correspondents who were With
the troops or from the soldiers. This is
looked on as an additional cause tor
apprehension, as ii is believed General
Bacon would have sent back sVne Of
fetal communication had it been pcs
sibIe to do so. No word whatever has
come from him. Neither has II been
possible to confirm the report Inat the
entire detachment had been wiped out.
The outlook at this hour is that the
agency Indians may go on the warpath
at any moment. They have been hold
ing council all night and receiving Ie-
ports every half hour by runners ce-
scribing the condition of affairs.
Two of the old chiefs want war. but
there are others who are trying oes-
perately to stem the tide of discomfort
and to prevent any conflict with the
troops. The two correspondents who
are still in Walker started for the
island tonight and hope to get back in
time to give some idea of the situation
and as 10 whether the other newspaper
men and the soldiers still live.
EOPCE TOO SNAIL
A statement has been secured from
United States Marshal O'Connor. He
SAYS that General Bacon told him he
thought it likely that they would have
TO remain several days. and O'Connor
thereupon said he would return here for
tents and supplies. O'Connor started in
a skiff for his steam launch, which was
some distance from the shore, and just
then the battle cOmenced. The troops
did not return the fire for same time.