The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-02-15
A Thrllllns stsry--Eie,cn weave

\ 'hhrtittnY stgry --Eietom Years
Cnptivcs Among lhe Snn lSc Ia
dians--Tcrrihic Experiences.
On Saturday morning, (says the Glove
land HeraldO the Western train brc ught
% this city a man and woman who rcla-
ted a story that Il true, Cand there is no
reason TO doubt it) has few equals even
in romance, Tho persons were husband
andwifc, their names Kimbsll, and they
formerly resided in tho ncighborhood Of
Syrucuse, NY. Their story was sub
s,aatially as follows:
In 1918, IN company with party Of
siXtythrao, the kimballs started ior Cal.
iiornia by the overland route Ia the
party were their father. an old man, anj
three sisters. They passed on westward
in tho usual manner, without accident,
Until the 18th day OF July. They were
then on the plains, far from any settle.
mont, and as they we're pursuing their
way, were suddenly surprised by a large
party OF Indians Tho little party was
Immediately put Ia as good condition for
defense as the time would permit, the f.
males being placed in tho center. Own
came the Indians Ikea whirlwind. bu,
they met a resistance as obstinate as dcs-
pcration could produce. The white men
fought for their wives, and fought nobiy
$50 well, indeed, that when the contest
was ended, there wero Of the party OF
sixly-thrce, but thirteen lch, including
mcn aud women Tho Indians took what
pmnder they wanted tied the prisoners ia
pairs. and continued their rambling expr.
dition. The next day they halted and
prepared 10 dispose Of their nrisoners
The old man kimhall was made 10 "rur
the gauntlet" for HE life. lie was 10,
feeble for escape, and wounded and com,
plctely exhausted, was tied to stak,
and burned.
Tho younger Kimball was then brought
TO the desperate trial. He was stront
and active, and successfully underwear
the ordeal. Tho Indians pleased will
his prowess allowed him to make a sec
ond trial for tho lifc Of uny female h,
might choose.
The poor man was almost in despair
his wife and throo sisters were sitting OF
the ground, and he was called upon I,
choose the one no would save, with IN,
certainty that death by torture would b,
the fate Of tho others. Ho chose hi
wife, aud saved her. The Indians mur
derod his sisters in his presence. Il wa
q poor privilege he hadso dearly bought
They were Obliged to perform menin
duties for their captors, and the womai
was otlen treated with brutality.
Following tho Indians from place L
place, without an opportunity to escape
they lived till 1889, when their part
met United States surveying company
kimbnll told his story to the whites All
one Of them, an old resident in the eouu
try, offered his aid In Cilcctinr their q
cape. The o0or was gladly aooeptc,
aud the attempt. after many months {
intense suffering, was successful.
Kin ball and his wife reached this CT
on Saturday, vi Mi.hout RsggSyt,uIAsU Ufai
Warren took them in charge, cared f
them during the day, and the officers
tho G. & r. r. r. "passed" them oyt
the road on the afternoon train. A lurp
number of persons visited thom in ii
sitting room at tho depot, and listened
their story. Mrs. Kimball exhibited
mark on her forehead, made by bio,
from an Indian war club. Ono Of he
arms was broken IN tho same manner.-
Her feet wcro eHlousCd, and the sole
were as hard as the solo of a shoo.-
Thore were various other indications thu
their story was strictly true. and non
who heard them doubted il. They huv
friends in New York, who have doubtlo.
long supposed them dead.