The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-02-27
A Thrilling Story.

n
On Saturday morning the western train
brought to this city man and woman, who
related a story that, il tru., (lni there is no
reason to douot it, has few equals even in
romance. The persons were man AMI wife
their name Kimblll, ani they fornally re-
sided in the neighborhooi OF Syracuse, New
York. Their story was substantially as
follows
In 1913, in company with party orsixsy
! three the Kimb ,lls start,d for California ny
the overland route. In the party there was
their father, an old man, AID their three sis.
ters. They passed on westward in the usual
manner, without accident until the 18th day
ofJuly. They were then on the plains, far
from any settlement, and as they were pur-
suing their way, were suddenly surprised by
a party of Indians. The little party were
Immediately put in as good condition for
defense as the time would permit the fe-
males being placed in the center. Down
came the Indians like whirlwind, but they
met resistance as obstinate as desperation
could produce The white men fought for
their wives and foT5'lt n1''y--o wc,', n
deed, that when th2 cOat4s. Hss ca!Al, ii .re
were Of the party of sixty three but thirteen
left, including men and women. The Indi-
ans took what plunder they wanted, tied the
,p h,
ton. The next day they halted and pre-
pared to dispose of their prisoners. 2
! The old man Kin.ball was made to ''run
the gauntlet for his life He was too feeble
for escape, and wounded and completely ex-
hausted, was tied to stake and burned
| The younger kimball was then brought Il,
the desperate trial. He was strong and ac.
tive, and successfully underwent the ordeal.
The Indians, pleased with his prowess, al.
lowed him to make a second trial for the life
Of any female he might choos, The poor
man was almost in despair; his wife and
three sisters were sitting on the ground, and
he was called upon to choose the one he
would save with the certainty that death by
torture would be the fate of the Others. He
chose his wife and saved her. The Indians
murdered his sisters in his presence. I. was
a poor privilege he had so dearly bought
They were obliged to perform menial duties
for their captors, and the women was often
treated with brutality. Following the Indi.
ans from place to place without an opportu.
nifty to escape. they lived till 1859, when
their party met United Surveying compa-
pany. Kimball told his story to the whites
and one of them, an old resident in the coun-
/ try, offered his aid in efccting their escape
The offer was gladly accepted, and the at.
tempt, after many months ofintense suffering
/ was successful.
| Kimball and his wife reached this city on
! Saturday without money. The railroad an
thoritics had passed. them thus far on their
journey. Depot officer Clark Warren, took
them in charge, cared for them during the
day, and the officers of the G. & r. r. r.,
passed them over the road on the after
noon train. A large number visited them in
the sitting room at the depot, and listened
to their story. Mrs. Kimball exhibited a
mark on her forehead, made by blow from
an Indian war club. One Of her arms was
broken in the same manner. Her feet were
calloused, and the soles were as hard as the
sole of a shoe. There were various other
indications that their story was strictly true
and none who heard them doubted it. They
have friends in New York who doubtless
long supposed them dead Cleveland Herald.