The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-02-08
A Thrilling story.

AdJourre1.
A Thrilling story.
On Saturday morning the West
ern train brought to this city mar
and woman who related story tha
If true, (and there is no reason I,
doubt iD has few equals even in ro
nance. The persons were husban,
and wife, their name kimball, an
they formerly resided in the neigh
borhood Of Syracuse, New York
Their story was substantially as fol
lows:
In 1s4s, in company with part,
Of sixty-three. the kimbalIs starte,
for California 10y the overland route
In tho party wore their father, al
old man, aud three sisters. Tue,
passed on Westward in the uoua
manner without accident, until the
17sh day OF July. They we're then
on the plains, lar from any settle
ment, and as they were pursuing
their way, were suddenly surprised
by q large party of Indians. The
little party were soon put in as good
condition !or defense rs tho time
would permit; the females being
placed in the centre. Down came
the Indians like a whirlwind, but
they met resistance as obstinate
as desperation could produce. The
white men fought for their wives,
and fought nobly--so well indeed
that when the contest was ended
there were Of the party Of sixty
three, but thirteen LETT. including
men and women. The Indians took
what plundcr they wanted, tied the
prisoners in pairs and continued
their rambling expedition. The
next day they halted and prepared
to dispose OF their prisoners. The
old man KimbAll was made to "run
the gauntlet" tor his life. He was
too feeble for escape, aud wounded
and completely exhausted, was tied
to a stake and burned.
The younger Kimball was then
brought to the desperate trial. lie
was strong AMI active. and success.
fully underwent the ordeal. The
Indians. pleased with his rrowess,
allowed him TO make second trial
for the lie OF any female he might
choose. The poor man was almost
in despair. His aiie and three
sisters were sitting on the ground,
aud he was called upon to choose
the one he would save, with the
certainty that death by torture
would be the fate oftlc others. lie
chose his wife. and saved Ter. The
Indians murdered his sisters in hi.
pr scnc1. it was a poor pr 'clcGc
hr TINS dearly bought. Tucy were
obliged to perform menial duties ioi
their captUrs, and the woman was
often treated with brutality. Fol
lowing tho Indians from place t.
place, withnnt an opportunity to es.
cape, they lived till 1859, wher
their band met a United States sur
vcying company. KimbalI told hi1
story to the whites, and one OF them
an old resident in the country, Of
ferci his aid in clltcting their escape
The oii.r WAS gladly accepted, and
the attempt, after many months o.
intense suffering, was successful. -
kimbAll and his wife reached
this city on Saturday, without mo-
ncy. The railroad authorities had
passed. them TINS far on theiI
journey. Depot officer Clark War
roa took them in charge, cared TO
them during the day, and the officer
of the Cleveland & Erie Railroao
passed them over the road on til,
afternoon train. A large numbc
OF persons visited them in the sit
ting room at the depot, and listened
20 their story. Mrs. Kimball eXhib
tied mark on her forehead, made
by a blow from an Indian war-club
One o! her arms were broken in thu
same manner. Her feet were cal
loused, and the soles were AS hare
as the sole of II shoe. There wer,
various other indications that thei
story was strictly true, and mons
who heard them doubted it, The,
have friends in New York, wh'
have doubtless long supposed then
dead. - CieUeIand Ue'ald.