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| Ojibway women in canoe on Leech Lake. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, October 7, 1898.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
The Indian Trouble.
The full details of the conflict in northern Minnesota between soldiers from Fort Snelling and some Chippewa Indians are not at hand at this writing, but it appears to have been more serious than any similar trouble for some time. The red men who attacked the troops live on Bear Island in Leech lake, which body of water is situated in the reservation of the same name. On the western shore of the lake is Walker. Bear Island is thirty miles northeast of this place, and is situated near the eastern shore, being only a short distance from Bogcahmegeshings Point on the mainland. The Indians living on the island belong to what is known as the pillager tribe of Chippewas. There are some 300 of them and they are about as lawless a lot as any in Minnesota.
The grievances of the Indians go back many years, and there have been legislative and other attempts to settle them, one of the latest being the Nelson law regarding the sale of timber. The red men objected to the law, claiming that it was both cumbersome and expensive, and that they were the sufferers. The present trouble with them, however, originated about eight months ago. Several pillagers were charged with the illicit sale of liquor, and others were wanted as witnesses against them. The Indians became ugly and uttered threats against the white men of the neighborhood. They claimed that, when they had previously gone to Duluth as witnesses in liquor cases, the deputy marshals left them to find their own way home without having paid the proper mileage. The deputies deny this. Matters began to look serious, but a band of peaceable Indians went to Bear Island and argued with the pillagers. As a result of this coaxing all of them wanted to surrender except Chief Bush Ear. Those charged with liquor selling were tried at Duluth and sentenced to various terms in jail. Bush Ear not only kept out of the way, but boasted of his prowess, and threatened Marshal O'Connor and his deputies with death should they approach within 500 yards of him. Young bucks encouraged him and promised to follow his lead.
The officers schemed to get bold of Bush Ear without shedding blood. They thought their opportunity would come on the regular government pay day. This was two weeks ago, and Bush Ear was among the first to apply for money. He and a companion who had stirred up strife were seized. The prisoners were informed that they were charged with violating the liquor laws and with resisting officers, but that the penalty would not be severe. Bush Ear, however, was suspicious, and believed that he would be shot as the chief offender. He was allowed to confer with some of his tribe before he was taken to the reservation jail. The result was that the pillagers overpowered the marshal and released the chief. All escaped to Bear Island. Here they stirred up the remainder of the tribe to resistance, held war dances, secured arms and prepared to fight. Furthermore they engaged in thievery and other depredations on the mainland until the authorities determined to arrest and punish them.
On Tuesday Marshal O'Connor and Indian Agent Tinker went to Bear Island and had an all day conference with the pillagers. It proved fruitless, the Indians declaring that none of those wanted would be surrendered while one of the tribe remained alive. The two officers returned to Walker, and reported the situation to Colonel Bacon, who had just arrived with a detachment of eighty men from Fort Snelling. These soldiers took boats for Bear Island the next morning. A landing was effected on the eastern shore. A sortie through the bush showing no Indians the soldiers began to prepare dinner. While thus engaged the Indians suddenly fired on them. A fierce encounter followed, and the Indians were finally repulsed. The fighting appears to have been resumed later. Eight of the soldiers and thirty Indians are reported killed. Reinforcements are being sent forward by the authorities.
◘ The growing interest in forestry is indicated in the recent appointments of professors to newly created departments in half a dozen of our big colleges and universities. By the time we have pretty much devastated our forest resources the people will have learned that restoration is more profitable than ruin.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.
DEPUTY MARSHAL SHEEHAN TELLS HOW IT HAPPENED.
The Indians Driven Back and the Soldiers Settled Down for a Long Fight—Re-enforcements and Supplies on the Way to Them—Indians Ugly and Disposed to be Hostile.
WALKER, Minn., Oct. 7.—Col. T. J. Sheehan, deputy marshal, who was wounded in Wednesday's fight, arrived here early to-day and gives a graphic account of the action up to the time he started back. He says:
"We landed about 10 o'clock Wednesday morning on the southeast aide of the point on the mainland directly north of Bear Island. Near the shore is the loghouse of Bog-Ah-Mah-Ge-Shirk. General Bacon left twelve soldiers along the shore to protect the landing place and the remainder of the troops marched across the point to the west side, along the shore for a couple of miles, looking for some Indians who were said to want a council. I remained behind with my interpreter and arrested an Indian I wanted near the house and sent him to the boat. While I was talking with some other Indians I saw six bucks armed with Winchesters come out of the house and go away inland. They did not speak to me although I was their agent for five years and I feared trouble and called in the twelve soldiers who were scattered along the shore. About that time General Bacon returned with the troops. Half the men had stacked arms and the order was given to unload their equipments. As they did so a shot was fired and firing almost immediately became general. The soldiers formed in line in a semicircle facing the Indians and the twelve men who were with me rushed up to protect the flank and drove the Indians back, securing a more favorable position. One of these men was shot in the face, one in the arm and a third in the leg. I do not know how the other men were wounded. After our first rush we had the best of the position. The log house was inside our lines and it was used as a hospital and the men sought the cover of logs and trees and settled down for a long fight. It continued during the day and evening and was renewed this morning, although it was never so hot as during the first hour or so.
"This morning a boat made a landing with some provisions and General Bacon wanted to send the wounded back. He sent me down to make arrangements and I went out to the steamer in a canoe. They brought down one wounded man and the captain of the boat brought him off shore. Before the others could be moved the Indians opened a hot fire on the boat and we had to leave. About six miles out we met the Flora going in with thirty or more armed men and everything the soldiers needed. When I left there had been five killed and eight wounded, besides the Indian policeman. Three men were sick. I do not know the names of any of the killed or wounded except Major Wilkinson. General Bacon handled his men magnificently and was on the firing line during the whole of the engagement encouraging his men and directing the operations. He was ably seconded by Major Wilkinson until the latter was killed and Lieutenant Ross, under fire for the first time, showed himself a born fighter. He rallied the men at the opening volley and stayed right with them all the time. It is impossible to tell how many Indians are in the attacking party, but I should say not less than 150 or 200 and we do not know how many more are joining them. They evidently had the thing all planned out and were ready to begin firing at the signal. They concentrated part of their fire on the boats to drive them away and leave the soldiers no means of retreat, evidently thinking they could overpower the whole force. The newspaper men, Brill, Beaton and Knappen, were all in good shape when I left, doing their share of duty on the line. No one of them had been injured."
Several of the small boats and the steamer Flora went out during the night and early this morning to endeavor to land provisions for General Bacon's beleaguered command and bring away the dead and wounded. The Flora had thirty Brainerd fighters and a few other armed citizens. The Flora alone succeeded in effecting the purpose of the trip. Harris McCabe, with the Vera, made a landing off the north end of Bear Island where the troops are entrenched, landing sufficient quantities of provisions to relieve immediate necessities of the men. An attempt was made to bring down some of the wounded. The steamer could not approach close to the shore and it was necessary to use a small boat. One man was brought across the open but the Indiana concentrated their fire on this point and on the boat. The place was too hot and McCabe was forced to leave. During the engagement Col. Sheehan received a slight flesh wound across the abdomen, a bullet through the coat sleeve and another through his trousers leg.
Major Wilkinson was killed yesterday afternoon. He received a flesh wound in the leg and retired to have it dressed by Dr. Harris, the surgeon with the party. He then reported to General Bacon on the firing line as ready for duty and while talking with General Bacon an Indian sharpshooter picked him out. Major Wilkinson was shot through the body from side to side and died almost instantly.
The agency Indians have been disposed to be peaceful, but last night one of the Indian police was killed by the troops by mistake and the Indians are now disposed to be hostile. The occurrence was most unfortunate, but it is hard to see how any blame can attach to the troops. The Indian policeman, Ruslin, who was said to be one of the best of the agency Indians, had accompanied the troops and had fought valiantly, but towards night he though he had had enough of it and started with another Indian policeman for the agency along the shore without notifying General Bacon. He was seen in the darkness by the troops and taken for a hostile. He was riddled with bullets, but his companion escaped uninjured. This accident made the agency Indians very angry and a council is said to be in progress to-night.
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| General Fitzhugh Lee. |
GENERAL LEE TESTIFIES.
Evidence Produced by the War Investigators.
HAD NO COMPLAINT TO MAKE.
The General Says That He Was Well Treated by the War Department and so Was His Command—Our Troops Reach Manzanillo and Take Possession of That City.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 7.—The war investigating commission held two sessions. General H. V. Boynton concluded his testimony and General Fitzhugh Lee was then heard. General Boynton dwelt upon the causes of disease at Camp Thomas, charging the increase toward the close of the camp to the lack of sufficient care on the part of the regimental and brigade commanders in covering the sinks.
General Lee detailed the conditions prevailing at the camp at Jacksonville. He said the site was a good one, the supplies were plentiful, the men well taken care of and that he had no complaint to make of the war department treatment of his command. He also took occasion in reply to a question put by Captain Howell to say that he did not consider that he had been slighted in the war. He had not expected to be ordered to Santiago or to Porto Rico, but had wanted to go to Havana and the president had recently told him that in case it had been necessary to take Havana by assault he had intended to ask him, (General Lee,) to lead the assaulting army.
TROOPS REACH CUBA.
Colonel Ray Ready to Take Possession of Manzanillo.
HAVANA, Oct. 7.—A dispatch received from Manzanillo announces the arrival there of the steamer Reina de los Angeles, flying the stars and stripes, with Colonel Henry Ray and 400 United States troops. Colonel Ray will receive possession of the city at once.
Owing to the vast amount of red tape required to obtain burial permits, many bodies of the poor, picked up in huts and the streets, are left for days unburied even after they are taken to the cemetery. Two nights ago an old woman died in the middle of the Calzada del Gerre, a street in Havana, about 9 o'clock. At her head sat her little daughter in the last stages of consumption, her haggard eyes red swollen with tears. Horse cars run along that thoroughfare, and many persons stopped before the sad picture of death. A purse was made up for the little orphan. Next morning the body was removed—12 hours after death. This sad and disgraceful incident happened in the principal suburb of the city, where apparently no distress or want exists.
Mrs. Sampson, wife of Admiral Sampson, was visited at her cottage at El Vidado by a deputation of ladies representing the best Havana society, who welcomed her to Havana.
CORTLAND SOLDIER KILLED.
FRED N. BROWN OF TROOP F, FIFTH CAVALRY.
No Particulars Given in the Dispatch Received by His Mother at Noon Today—Enlisted at Philadelphia and Had Been to Porto Rico—Was Home in September on a Furlough.
Mrs. Oliver F. Allen of 31 Union-st. was nearly prostrated with grief just before noon to-day when she read the following dispatch which is self-explanatory:
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 7.
Mr. Brown, care of O. F. Allen, No. 40 Railway-ave., Cortland, N. Y.:
Fred N. Brown, troop F, Fifth cavalry, killed last night. Do his relatives wish him buried here or to have his remains shipped home?
WHITESIDE, LT. COL., Fifth Cavalry.
Trooper Brown was a son of Mrs. Allen, and nothing more is known of his death than is stated in the above dispatch, but Mrs. Allen has telegraphed for full particulars, and also given instructions that the remains be shipped home at once. It is not thought that the body can reach Cortland before Monday.
Trooper Brown went to New York in May and attempted to get into the navy, but falling in this he went to Philadelphia and enlisted for three years in the regular army in Troop F, Fifth cavalry. He was 18 years of age Dec. 1, 1897, and when war was declared was among the first to offer his services.
Immediately after enlistment he went with his troop to Tampa, Fla., where he was in camp until ordered to Porto Rico the latter part of July. While in camp at Tampa, he contracted the fever, but did not complain, because of his great anxiety to remain in the service. On arriving at Porto Rico he was taken worse, and after two days was sent back to Tampa in a transport and placed in a hospital. He remained in the hospital three weeks, and on Sept. 22 started for home on a thirty days' furlough. The northern air invigorated him, and he fully recovered his former strength. He left Cortland Sept. 19 for Sackett's Harbor to report for duty and was sent to join his troop, then located at Huntsville, Ala. His mother received a letter from him only ten days ago, and then he was feeling perfectly well.
Of course the arrangements for the funeral cannot be made until it is known when the remains will reach Cortland.
The dispatch was addressed to "Mr. Brown," doubtless on the supposition that the father of the young man was living.
Higginsville Tavern, W. S. Freer, proprietor.
NEW ROAD OPENED
And a Fine Supper at W. S. Freer's Celebrated the Event.
The Cortlandville part of the New Freetown highway is completed. Contractor W. S. Freer has finished the grading, bridges and ditches to the town line as nearly in accordance with the specifications as the conditions would permit, the work has been accepted, and in every respect the entire job is a credit to the town, to Highway Commissioner John Kane, under whose supervision the work has been done, to Contractor Freer and to town officials who have been more or less interested in the undertaking from the beginning.
To properly celebrate the completion of the work Mr. Freer invited the members of the town board, a number of others who are more or less interested in the opening of the new road, and those who had assisted him in putting through the work, to an oyster supper at his home in Higginsville last evening. Mrs. Freer's suppers are famous for miles around, and justly so, consequently no one favored with an invitation to last evening's spread stayed away except for most urgent reasons.
At 5:30 o'clock the guests were ushered into the diningroom which was brilliantly lighted and where the long tables, literally loaded with luscious fruits and all the good things of the season, and decorated with autumnal flowers, sweet peas and autumn leaves, presented a most inviting and attractive appearance. About half of the company did not arrive until later in the evening. Those who were present and sat down at the first table were Supervisor D. F. Wallace, ex- Supervisor R. Bruce Smith, Justices W. R. Biggar, E. C. Parker and T. Harry Dowd, Highway Commissioner and Mrs. John Kane, Mr. and Mrs. Dorr C. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Crane, Mr. and Mrs. DePuy Mallery and daughter Grace, B. B. Morehouse, who made the specifications for laying out the new road, W. D. Tuttle, Dr. M. R. Smith and C. H. White. Later in the evening came Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Dana Metzgar, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Somerville and son Robert, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burt and their son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Freer, Messrs. Emmett and Charles Kane, sons of the highway commissioner, and Messrs. Clayton Jacobs, James Lahey, Fred Brown, Harry Dodd and Henry Foster, who had assisted Mr. Freer in the work. Messrs. Dan Barry, Will Russell and Melvin Goodell, who had also assisted on the road were detained and were not able to be present. Some of those at the second table missed the rice which had been promised for the occasion, but even this in no way interfered with the pleasure of the evening.
After the supper Mr. Emmet Kane and Miss Grace Mallery entertained the company with some excellent violin selections and some time was spent in social visiting. The music of the violins doubtless called to mind the fact that there was a fine spring floor for dancing in the hall above and it was not long before the floor was filled with merry dancers, even the older ones who "had not danced before in years" joining in.
The opening up of the new road will be a convenience and improvement not only for those who have been most anxious to have the work go through, but will be a great benefit to Cortland as well, by opening up a more accessible route to Freetown and a large section of country adjoining. The men who worked with Mr. Freer upon the contract, even to Ernie Burt the water boy, were made happy last night by receiving their pay in full and, taken altogether, the evening was a most enjoyable one.
A NEW DEPARTMENT.
The Gillette Skirt Company Branching Out and Enlarging Its Force.
The STANDARD's Job department has just turned out a handsome and comprehensive catalogue for the Gillette Skirt Co., in the Wells block, 13 and I5 Clinton-ave.
With the rapidly increasing trade which the company has built up in the famous Paris skirts, there has developed an increasing demand for dress skirts, shirt waists, jackets and ladies' tailor made suits, because the company's customers have come to recognize its work as only of the very first class.
To meet this demand, a new department has been added to the works, and been placed under the personal charge of Mrs. Charles Allsopp, who has just returned from an extended stay in New York City, where she has been making a special study of all the latest styles. An ample force of employees is engaged in this department, and will be increased as the demand warrants. This department has been located on the second floor of the block adjoining the offices and is very convenient and well lighted.
The company aims to carry a variety of material to suit all. All garments will be made to order. The wool skirts will be lined with percaline and stiffened with shrunk canvas; the silk skirts with silket and stiffened with French hair cloth. Among the materials for silk dress skirts may be mentioned Duchesse, Peau de Sole, moiré velours and taffeta in black. Plaided velvets and silk s for shirt waists will always be in stock in a nice variety, and no lady need hesitate about picking out material for a tailor made suit, for there will always be on hand a full line of suitings in green, blue and brown, or in any of the shades desired. Flannel shirt waists, both plaid and plain will also be manufactured in the same superior manner as the other garments. The company's many agents about the country will receive orders for goods in any of these lines, and especial attention will be paid to home trade. Ladies of Cortland and vicinity are especially invited to call at the manufactory and examine the goods and workmanship. The rooms devoted especially to this part of the work will prove very convenient for local customers, because all the fitting can be done there.
Administrators' Sale.
The undersigned will sell at auction on the farm of George P. Dana, deceased, at Frank's Corners, 1 1/2 miles south of Virgil, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 1898, commencing at 10 o'clock, A. M., sharp, thirty cows, mostly grade Durhams, some of them are springers or nearby; one 2-year-old heifer and two heifer calves, one 2-year-old Bull, one pair bay mares, one sorrel and one brown mare, one brood sow, six shoates, twenty-five ewes, twenty lambs, one Shropshire buck, one buck lamb, one lumber wagon, one platform wagon, one buggy, one pair bobs, one two-horse double seated cutter, one Portland cutter, two double harnesses, one nearly new, one single harness, one buffalo robe, one plow, one spring tooth harrow, one cultivator, one McCormick mowing machine, nearly new, one Champion grain drill, one Champion wheel rake, one hay fork, pulleys, car and new rope, one fanning mill, one set of Fairbanks scales, two milk cans, one 40 gallons and one 40 quarts, forty sap buckets, one sugar pan, one boiling pan, one cauldron kettle, one nearly new dog power, one sewing machine and some household goods, and other things too numerous to mention. Terms: A credit of nine months will be given for all sums over $10, on approved, interest-bearing notes payable at the Cortland Savings bank, Cortland, N. Y. Sums under $10 cash down. Property to be settled for before being removed from the premises. Two per cent off for cash or all sums over $10.
M. L. DANN, ALICE P. DANN, Administrators.
A. T. Niver, Dryden, N. Y., auctioneer.
BREVITIES.
—Mail Carrier I. Dan Lester has rose bushes on his lawn that have been in bloom three times this summer.
—In Justice Dowd's court yesterday, the case of Winter against Winter, an action in summary proceedings, was dismissed.
—New display advertisements to-day are—The Model store, men's suits and overcoats, page 8; Palmer Bros., underwear, page 6.
—In police court this morning the case of The People against George Rood was adjourned to Oct. 24. The charge is assault in the third degree.
—James W. Robinson of Sennett, aged 82 years, yesterday secured a bride of 65 years, Mrs. Adeline Young. This was the groom's third marriage and the bride's fourth.
—The frost last night will probably put an end to the further ripening of strawberries, raspberries and other unseasonable fruit, and to the second blooming of spring flowers.
—Keep track of the registration days. In Cortland village they are Oct. 14 and 15, and 21 and 22. In all parts of the county outside of Cortland village they are Oct. 15 and 22.
—There was a fatal case of sunstroke at Akron, O., on Monday, the victim being a woman. An occurrence of this kind is extraordinary in northern latitudes at this time of year.
—Two of Groton's pastors have resigned, Rev. D. F. Croft of the Baptist church, and Rev. W. A. Smith of the Congregational church. The resignation of the former will take effect the first of next month and that of the latter May 1, 1899.
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