The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-03-11
Fifteen Years with the Indi-

pectod Return.
From the Belleville, (Ill.) Advocate.
Mr.James Gull, an old resident of
this city, who left here some fifteen |
years ago for California by the over
land route, returned last Saturday.
To those who knew him, as all did
who lived in Bellevilie in 1854, we
need not say his appearance created
a good deal of surprise. 1t will be
remembered that the company with
whom he left was attacked by Indi-
ans and several of them killed, among
others, as was supposed, Mr.. Gull
His body was subsequently, found
pierced with over twenty arrows, and
fully identified by other members of
the party. More positive evidence
of death, perhaps, Lever existed than
in this case, and of course he was at
once taken as an imposter. We are
glad to say, however, that he has
been fully able to prove his identity.
He now finds that time has wrought
many sad changes during his alb
sence. The young wife, formerly Miss
Mary Andrew, daughter Of the now
venerable Mr.. Andrew, after mourn
ing the death of her husband three
years, married Mr.. Simeon Dunfor,
Of East Second street, who now finds
himself the husband of another mans
wife, thus furnishing another Enoch
Arden case to the many already re-
corded. Mrs. Gull--Dunfor-is the
mother of eight children, only one of
whom belongs to Gull, who finds his
domestic affairs in very unfortunate
condition. Happily, all tho parties
interested are disposed to make the
best oft, and it IS understood taat
matters will be as satisfactorily ar
ranged as can possibly be done under
the circumstances.
Of course, Mr.. Gull, who was the
son of one of our oldest, wealthiest
and most respectable citizens, re-
ceived many callers, and has strange
encounters to relate, some Of which
would be almost impossible to telieve
were it not that he has remarkable
vouchers for his statements. 1t seems
that when the attack was made by
the Indians, he fought with the Zero
city of lion, but was finally over
come and made captive. Hewas ther
carried away, suffering for weeks al
that Indian prisoners can be made te
suffer. The destination of the party
was beyond the mountains in the
southwestern part of Colorado, be
yond the reach of civilization. Tt
his utter establishment he there founG
the ruins of large city, evidently O
Indian origin, and supposed to have
been built by the Aztecs, before the
discovery of America, as they more
nearly resemble the ruins found ir
Mexico than any other Here, too
he saw many relics Of modern civil
cation, such as he knew could never
have been obtained from traveller
over the PLAINS. He afterwards
learned that these came from hug,
caves two or three hundred miles
away in the sides of the mountains
Mr.. Gull frequented these caves some
Ave years ago, which he describes Al
being very remarkable, and still fill
ed with old, rusty guns, pistols, skel
etons, whole pots Of gold and silver
coin, specimens of which he has, ane
which can be seen at Baker & Bay
ley's drug store. He now wears {
large antique-looking ring which hi
found there, on which is rudely car
we'd the name of Captain Kydd. But
perhaps, the most interesting of hi
relics are the manuscripts, which hi
preserved, and which throw a flooo
of light upon the career Of this mystic
rious Captain Kydd. These consis
of over twenty pages of fine, but dis
tinct writing, carefully preserved be
tween oiled silk. Upon discovering
this, Mr.. Gull contrived to fasten i
to his person in such manner thai
it has never been noticed by the In
dams, and SO that it has been llttlt
subject to wear. OF the contents O
these manuscripts we have no room
to speak. They will no doubt b.
printed in full in the large city pa
pers. Mr.. Gull called upon us las,
Wednesday. He says there are un
told riches yet in the caves referred
TO, and we learn that several of oul
citizens are anxious to form a com
pany and go for them. We have
only to add that Mr.. Gull years age
adopted the habits of the Indians
has hunted and fought with them
but not until the late attack by Gus
tar upon Black Kettle has he met q
white man. Although in the habit
of an Indian warrior, he was recog.
nized as white man, narrowly es
capped being shot by calling out in
English to soldier who had bis
piece raised almost ready to fire.