Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-13
ATLANTANL LOST
INMARSH TELLS
TALBOT HORROR
O. W. Kimble Spends Night in
Savannah Swamp Surrounded
by Snakes and Animals,

SAVANNAH, July 12.-Ill from the
physical torture of a night in the Sa-
vannah River swamps, and the lack
OF medical attention for three DAYS
after being rescued. Ovid w. Kimble.
a printer, is confined to his room at
a boarding house.
Kimble, according to his own story,
after falling from a Coast Line train
spent all of one night and a part Of
the following morning in the swamp.
most of the time in water and mire
up to his neck, with snakes uncom-
fortably close to him, and MOSQUITOES
all but devouring him. Wildcats and
bears were also in evidence, and the
horror of the darkness in such sur
roundings caused him to lose his
mind for hours.
Wanders Deeper Into Swamp.
Fear-stricken, he endeavored to ex-
tricate himself from the swamp, but
his efforts succeeded only in taking
him deeper into the tangle Repeat
ed calls for help were unanswered,
and he finally became so exhausted
that he sank into the mire, where he
remained for hours in a semi con-
sCious state.
Kimble fell from the train while il
was crossing the trestle across the
swamp and the Savannah River He
was rescued the following morning
by three negroes, who formed a hui
man chain and pulled him onto the
trestle. They carried him to a rough
cabin where they lived on the edge
of the swamp, where they endeav-
ored to make him as comfortable as
they could.
They had no food other than corn
bread, and on this the man subsisted
for three days, when, after repeated
appeals, the negroes succeeded in
stopping a train bound for Savannah
and placed him aboard.
Kimble was on his way to Charles
ton. He lost his balance and fell from
the step of the coach on the trestle,
landing in water twenty feet below.
No one saw the mishap. Kimble
found that the lower supports of the
trestle were beyond his reach. Not
being aware of the danger that await
ed him, he waded to what he thought
was firm ground, but found himself
imbedded in the swamp. Believing
that he would soon find a road he
started in the opposite direction,
where he thought he saw higher
ground, his hopes leading him on
deeper and deeper into the mire and
water.
Climbs Into Tree.
Stumbling along slowly and pain
fully, every movement stirring up
strange creatures that swished about
in the mire, he finally gained the de-
sired elevation, only to find it bunch
of bushes and small trees. With
snakes and other horrible things all
about him, and the darkness creeping
on. he climbed into the tallest tree
he could find Aware that he had but
little chance of finding his way out
he began to call for help. He shouted
until his throat became so dry that
he could utter nothing more than
whispers.
Becoming exhausted. and fearing
that he would fall from the tree in
his efforts to keep away the mos
uuitoes. which he says were bigger
than any he ever. saw, he descended,
and started again in his search for
firm ground.
DAYLIGHT found him almost unable
to move. With an effort he managed
ia work his way back to the highest
tree he could find. He climbed to its
top. From it's branches he could see
the trestIe, but there was no sign of
life there.
Kimble had almost given up hope of
rescue when the three negroes APP
peared on the trestle and saw him.
Kimhle is a native of Atlanta and has
relatives there.