The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-05
GOT WEALTH, LOST WIFE.
Missourian Stays in the kiondike Too
Lone

st. Louis. Jan Gain of gold. but loss
of his wife's love, is the bitter-sweet
reward that came to Samuel Kimmel
formerly of Belleville, after years OF
work, hardship and exposure in the Klon-
dixie country, whittier he went at the
time of the gold strike in 1897.
He finally won wealth. to the extent OF
500, 600, but in the circuit court his wife
Josephine was granted a divorce from
him Monday, says the Post-Dispatch.
His object in going to the Klondike
was to gain wealth for her. Before he
returned with it she had filed suit for
divorce.
Now that he has time to rest from his
labor and enjoy his life. his life partner,
for whom he labored, is his no longer
Mr. and Mrs Kimmel were living in
Belleville at the time of the discovery
Of gold in the Klondike. She was an
ambitious. handsome woman of much
talent. He was in business in small
way. Their home was comfortable. but
it had ne luxuries.
Mrs Kimmel loved society more than
did her husband who was more than
ten years her senior. He wished often
that he was able to give her all the
things that she desired. but the returns
of his business were not such that he
could.
The gold waiting to be claimed in
Alaska seemed to offer him an oportu-
nifty. With five other men he made plans
TO go. His wife, although she loved her
husband much at the time, did not place
uncomfortable obstacles in his way He
sold out his business, and, with that cap
ital, started for Alaska
His experiences were not happv ones
He worked hard, but the exposure was
10 great that he became ill. Far away
from home in that strange country if
seemed as if he could not live. He re-
membered his wife waiting for his home
coming and struggled for health. When
he became better his expenses had been
such that he had no more money with
which to continue his search for gold
he went hungry for a time but knowing
that starvation would only bring hack
ms illness he found work in a coal
NINE He worked there and saved his
money until he had enough TO fry AGAIN
lie Went TO Dawson City, to Fort Cud-
any TO Nome and even to the copper
region. Letters from home were NO,
frequent. Mails were few and sometimes
ne was one place when they were di-
rected to another.
hatner than write accounts of failures
ne sometimes remained silent. Often no
nad no money with which to buv stamns
or paper. He waited, hoping that in a
snort time luck might come to him and
ne would be able to send back money 10
his wife.
meanwhile she was not merely waiting
she had left Belleville and gone to ST
Louis. where her relatives lived. Re
cause or her education she was able to
OBTAIN a good position and thus provide
for herself.
Whether weary with waiting or bac.uso
her affection diminished. or for other
reasons, she made application
for a divorce last February.
One month before, success had finally
come to the hard-working prospector
IN Alaska Three hundred miles from
Dawson City he and his partner made
a strike.
1t was good rich vein and returns
were large. AS he had waited before
sending bad news. he waited again before
telling of his good fortune He wanted
to be the bearer of the good tidings
himself
When returns We're such that he could
do so he journeyed home Not until he
reached Bellevilie did he know that his
wife had asked for a divorce.
In her application she stated that he
had deserted her in February, 1902
He did not contest the suit for divorce.
which blighted his homecoming and took
away the joy of his success
He went to Belleville and remained for
some time at the house where he and his
wife had known happiness.
When talking to friends he seemed to 4
AXE delight in displaying large amounts (
If money. 1t was all he had to show for /
MS hard labor.
He returned to Dawson City last week.
He is the possessor of 500 600 and has in
erests in claims that are not yet worked
,ut.
Before leaving BeileviIle he told his
friends that he would straighten his af-
airs in the Klondike and then go to Los
Angeles to spend the remainder Of his
ife
PErEIpTC AMI CXnrAccc