The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-17
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AMONG THE INDIANS
Fifteen Years Captive Curious Adj
ventures Of Man and " ife.

Fifteen Years Captfve-Curfou Adj
ventures Of Man and W ffe
lFrom the Elmra IN. W Advertiser, Jan. 30
In the spring Of lsisa pleasant party, with
higf, wrongh. visions about the then virgin
land OF gold. California. leit East Meadway,
Massachusetts. for an overland journev across
the plains. Among the party was James p
kimball then only nineteen, and just mar.
ried to Jane Mcneil, and half sister of the
famous Kit Carson. The father and mother
Of the bride accompanied them. Everything
prospered with them, the company having
been augmented to sixsy-three, when they
set out upon the overland journey. They
reached the foot Of Chilieothe mountain June
is, 1913, having crossed the plans of Utah.
Here they were suddenly attacked by war
party of the Snakes and Shoshonees, and the
entire company captured or killed. Kinlbail
was successful in saving his own life and that
of his wife by fortunately running the gaunt>
let twice for her and himself. lie was then
exalted into favor among the Indians, and
soon became great medicine man. His
father in law had been previously burned at
the stake. When the Indians had satiated
their barbsrity, then the remaining captives
were hurried away towards the mouth Of the
Columbia river IN Washington Territory, the
headquarters Of the tribe Starting out on
bia, and met a hostile tribe in their path, the
Enoyas, and were badly defeated, and the
wife of kimbail was captared. and remained
in slavery for two years and = half, when
another war terminated in the defeat of the
enemy and the restoration Of Mrs. kinball to
her husband again. The Snakes and Shes
honees acted as one tribe. although with diff
ferent head men or chiefs. For the re
naming fifteen years Of their captivity,
the Kimbals followed the fortunes of the
tribe, wandering here and there over . vast
region of country, ct some seasons well sup
piled with provisions, at others compelled to
subsist on insects, roots anu herbs, vags-
bond life, here to day and there Tomorrow.
During the whole period, they kept an accu-
rate account of the years by the passage Of
the seasons. The reputation of kimball
waxed greater and greater, as the great med
icine man of the tribe. In last April or
March, the tribe in one of the raids approach
ed the frontiers of civilization, and took part
in the Fort Laramie massacre. During the
progress Of the fight, kimball made signals
TO the United States soldiers, which gave
them to understand that he was white man
He was soon recaptured by Lieut.. Wyman of
the 18th United States infantry. With the
assistance of the boys in blue he was for
innate in fighting his way to his wife's tent,
and rescuing her They both received the
kindest attention from Gen. Darlington, com
manding at Fort Kearney, Kansas, who help
ed them well on their way toward friends in
the East. Two daughters, aged 16 and II,
they left behind. being wives Of the Indian
chiefs, Peter Fulsom and John Hawkeye.
After reaching this State. Kimball was fortu-
nate in finding that his father had left East
Midway. Massachusetts, aud had settled be-
tween Corning aud Painted Post, as farmer
and merchant His name is Newell Kimball.
He left here yesterday forenoon by the mail
train, with his wife. Their appearance to his
father family was ike those having risen
from the grave, as, years ago, they had been
given up As lost or killed on the vast western
plains. At the time Of hisrecapture kimball
received a ball through the left wrist, which
paralyzed that arm. and an Indian arrow
passed through his left groin. As yet. he has
not much taste for the arts of civilization.
His foods exceedingly primtive-raw beef
steak. aud but little gratifying his
appetite better than all the most elaborate eff
forts of cookery.