Chapter LXX: Appendix

A GLIMPSE OF THE GREAT BEYOND--THRILLING EXPERIENCE OF DAVID PATTEN KIMBALL--LOST IN THE DESERT--COMMUNING WITH THE SPIRITS OF THE DEPARTED--DAVID PREDICTS HIS OWN DEATH AND THE DEATH OF FOUR OTHERS--THE FULFILLMENT.

The following narrative, under the caption of "A Terrible Ordeal," was originally published in a little volume called "Helpful Visions," the fourteenth book of the Faith-Promoting Series, issued from the office of the _Juvenile Instructor_, in 1887. It was edited then, as now, by the author of this work. Its relevancy to the present volume will be apparent as we proceed.

On the 22nd of November, 1883, David Patten Kimball, fourth son of Heber Chase and Vilate Murray Kimball, departed this life. Nearly two years before his death, he wrote to his sister Helen, in Salt Lake City, the letter from which the appended extract is taken. This letter was dated January 8th, 1882. David was then a resident of Jonesville, or Lehi, Arizona, three miles from Mesa, where the letter was written.

The experience related was of so remarkable a character as to meet with dubiety on the part of some, especially those inclined to be skeptical regarding spiritual manifestations. Some went so far as to ascribe the sights and scenes through which the narrator claimed to have passed, to the fevered fancy of a mind disordered by strong drink. Nor is this surprising, when it is remembered that even the Apostles of Jesus, on the day of Pentecost, were accused of being "drunken with new wine," when the power of the Spirit fell upon them and they "spake with tongues and prophesied." Skepticism is the same in all ages. What is here presented is the plain and simple testimony of an honest man, who firmly adhered to it till the day of his death, which occurred in literal fulfillment of things told him "while in the spirit."

Here is the excerpt from David's letter. The events described took place while he was returning home from a trip to Prescott, the capital of Arizona, in the early part of November, 1881:

"On the 4th of November, I took a very severe cold in a snow storm
at Prescott, being clad in light clothing, which brought on
pneumonia or lung fever. I resorted to Jamaica ginger and pepper
tea to obtain relief and keep up my strength till I could reach
home and receive proper care. On the 13th I camped in a canyon ten
miles west of Prescott, my son Patten being with me. We had a team
of eight horses and two wagons. That night I suffered more than
death. The next night we camped at Mr. McIntyre's, about twenty
miles farther on. I stopped there two nights and one day, during
which time I took nothing to drink but pepper tea. On the 16th we
drove to Black's ranch, twenty-eight miles nearer home, and were
very comfortably located in Mr. Black's house.

"About 11 p. m. I awoke and to my surprise saw some six or eight
men standing around my bed. I had no dread of them but felt that
they were my friends. At the same time I heard a voice which
seemed to come from an eight square (octagon) clock on the
opposite side of the house. It commenced talking and
blackguarding, which drew my attention, when I was told to pay no
attention to it. At this point I heard the most beautiful singing
I ever listened to in all my life. These were the words, repeated
three times by a choir: 'God bless Brother David Kimball.' I at
once distinguished among them the voice of my second wife, Julia
Merrill, who in life was a good singer. This, of course,
astonished me. Just then my father commenced talking to me, the
voice seeming to come from a long distance. He commenced by
telling me of his associations with President Young, the Prophet
Joseph and others in the spirit world, then inquired about his
children, and seemed to regret that his family were so scattered,
and said there would be a great reformation in his family inside
of two years. He also told me where I should live, also yourself
and others, and a great many other things. I conversed freely with
father, and my words were repeated three times by as many
different persons, exactly as I spoke them, until they reached
him, and then his words to me were handed down in a like manner.

"After all this I gave way to doubt, thinking it might be only a
dream, and to convince myself that I was awake, I got up and
walked out-doors into the open air.

"I returned and still the spirit of doubt was upon me. To test it
further I asked my wife Julia to sing me a verse of one of her old
songs. At that, the choir, which had continued singing, stopped
and she sang the song through, every word being distinct and
beautiful. The name of the song was, 'Does He Ever Think of Me.'

"My eyes were now turned toward the south, and there, as in a
large parquette, I beheld hundreds, even thousands, of friends and
relatives. I was then given the privilege of asking questions and
did so. This lasted for some time, after which the singing
commenced again, directly above me. I now wrapped myself in a pair
of blankets and went out-doors, determined to see the singers, but
could see nothing, though I could hear the voices just the same. I
returned to my couch and the singing, which was all communicative
and instructive, continued until the day dawned. All this time the
clock I have mentioned continued its cursing and blackguarding.

"Mr. and Mrs. Black were up in due time and got breakfast. I arose
and made my toilet, plain as it was, and took breakfast with my
host and hostess. When my boy got ready to start, I went to pay my
bill, and to my surprise heard a voice say or communicate: 'David
Kimball has paid his bill.' When I got into the wagon, my guards,
or those who were around my bed during the night, were still with
me. My father had told me that he and President Young and others
would visit me the next night.

"We drove on until about 11 a. m., when a host of evil spirits
made their appearance. They were determined to destroy me, but I
had power of mind to pay no attention to them, and let them curse
all day without heeding them any more than possible. Five times
they made a rush _en masse_ to come into the wagon, the last one,
where I was, but were kept off by my friends (spiritual). About 2
p. m. I told my boy to stop and we would water our horses. We
used for this purpose barrels that we had along with us. After
this I walked to the west side of my wagons, and looking to the
east, I saw and heard the evil spirits floating in the air and
chanting curses upon Brigham Young. I saw two other groups of the
same kind, but did not hear them. Then I looked to the south, and
the whole atmosphere was crowded with fallen spirits, or those who
had not obtained bodies. Others who tried to torment me were
spirits who had lived upon the earth. Having seen so many and
being complimented by my guard for seeing so well, I became a
little timid and asked my spiritual friends if they had any help.
The answer was, 'Yes, plenty.' I now told my boy to drive on--he
was entirely oblivious of all that was taking place with me--and
soon after I was so exhausted that I fell into a troubled sleep
and must have slept quite a little while.

"After I awoke I seemed to be left alone, and was lying on my
back, when, all at once, I saw an old man and two young girls.
This vision coming on me so suddenly, I was startled, and finding
my guard gone, I jumped out of the wagon and got up on the spring
seat beside my boy. But I could not get away from them. I was
told in a coarse, gruff voice that the devil was going to kill me,
and that he would follow me night and day until he destroyed me. I
remembered the promise father had made me the night before--that
he intended to visit me the next evening--and I nerved up and
tried to pay no attention to my persecutors, but I must confess I
was frightened.

"We arrived at Wickenburg just at sundown. The old man and the
girls were tormenting and tantalizing me all the way, but never
coming very near to me. We got supper and I took a room at
Peeple's hotel and retired about 10 p. m. When everything was
quiet my spirit friends, eight in number, returned and my
tormentors were required to leave. Soon after, a glorious vision
burst upon me. There were thousands of the Saints presented to
me, many who had died at Nauvoo, in Winter Quarters, on the plains
and in Utah.

"I saw Brother Pugmire and many others whom I did not know were
dead. When my mother came to me it was so real and I was so
overjoyed that I exclaimed aloud. So powerful was this vision that
I asked President Young, who seemed to be directing matters, three
times to relieve me, or I would faint. A great many others passed
in regular order; and I recognized nearly all of them, and was
told the names of all I did not know. My father sat in a chair
with his legs crossed and his hands clasped together, as we have
often seen him. Those who passed along had hidden him from my
view till then.

"This scene vanished, and I was then taken in the vision into a
vast building, which was built on the plan of the Order of Zion. I
entered through a south door and found myself in a part of the
building which was unfinished, though a great many workmen were
busy upon it. My guide showed me all through this half of the
house, and then took me through the other half, which was
finished. The richness, grandeur and beauty of it defied
description. There were many apartments in the house, which was
very spacious, and they differed in size and the fineness of the
workmanship, according to the merits on earth of those who were to
occupy them. I felt most at home in the unfinished part, among the
workmen. The upper part of the house was filled with Saints, but I
could not see them, though some of them conversed with me, my
father and mother, Uncle Joseph Young and others.

"My father told me many things, and I received many reproofs for
my wrong-doings. Yet he was loth to have me leave, and seemed to
feel very badly when the time came for me to go. He told me I
could remain there if I chose to do so, but I plead with him that
I might stay with my family long enough to make them comfortable,
to repent of my sins, and more fully prepare myself for the
change. Had it not been for this, I never should have returned
home, except as a corpse. Father finally told me I could remain
two years, and to do all the good I could during that time, after
which he would come for me; he mentioned four others that he would
come for also, though he did not say it would be at the same time.

"On the 18th of November, about noon, we left Wickenburg (which is
twenty-two miles from Black's Ranch where we stopped the previous
night) on our journey home. I was exhausted from what I had
experienced, and could feel my mind fast giving away, but I had
confidence that I would reach home alive. There were no Elders to
administer to me and no kind friends to look after my wants except
my son, who had all he could do in looking after eight horses and
two wagons. As my mind wandered and grew weaker, I was troubled
and led by influences over which I had no power, and my friends,
the good spirits, had all left me.

"We drove about twenty miles that afternoon, camping about eight
miles from water, on the Salt River desert, which is about fifty
miles across. During the fore part of the night I heard the horses
running as though they were frightened. My son was asleep, but I
got up and put my overcoat across my shoulders and went out where
they were and got them quieted down. I was about to return to the
wagon, when the same old man with gray whiskers, who had tormented
me before, stepped between me and the wagons. He had a long knife
in his hand. I was frightened and fled, he pursuing me and telling
me he was going to kill me. What I passed through I cannot
describe, and no mortal tongue could tell. I wandered two days and
three nights in the Salt River desert, undergoing the torments of
the damned, most of the time, which was beyond anything that
mortal could imagine.

"When my mind was restored, and the fever which had raged within
me had abated, I found myself lying on a bleak hill-top, lost in
the desert, chilled, hungered, thirsty and feeble. I had scarcely
any clothing on, was barefooted, and my body full of cactus from
head to foot. My hands were a perfect mat of thorns and briars.
This, with the knowledge that no one was near me, made me realize
the awful condition I was in. I could not walk. I thought I would
take my life, but had no knife or any thing to do it with. I tried
to cut an artery in my arm with a sharp rock I had picked up,
hoping I might bleed to death, but even this was denied me. The
wolves and ravens were hovering around me, anxiously awaiting my
death. I had a long stick and I thought I would dig a deep hole
and cover myself up the best I could, so the wolves would not
devour my body until I could be found by my friends.

"On the night of the 21st, I could see a fire about twenty-five
miles to the south, and felt satisfied that it was my friends
coming after me. I knew the country where I was; I was about eight
miles from houses where I could have got plenty of water and
something to eat, but my strength was gone and my feet were so
sore I could not stand up. Another long and dreary day passed, but
I could see nothing but wolves and ravens and a barren desert
covered with cactus, and had about made up my mind that the
promise of two years' life, made by my father, was not to be
realized. While in this terrible plight, and when I had just
about given up all hope, my father and mother appeared to me and
gave me a drink of water and comforted me, telling me I would be
found by my friends who were out searching for me and that I
should live two years longer as I had been promised. When night
came I saw another fire a few hundred yards from me and could see
my friends around it, but I was so hoarse I could not make them
hear. By this time my body was almost lifeless and I could hardly
move, but my mind was in a perfect condition and I could realize
everything that happened around me.

"On the morning of the 23rd, at daylight, here they came, about
twenty in all, two of my own sons, my nephew William, Bishop E.
Pomeroy, John Lewis, John Blackburn, Wiley Jones and others, all
friends and relatives from the Mesa, who had tracked me between
seventy-five and one hundred miles. I shook hands with them, and
they were all overjoyed to see me alive, although in such a
pitiable plight. My own feelings I shall not undertake to
describe. I told them to be very careful how they let me have
water, at first. They rolled me up in some blankets and put me on
a buck-board and appointed John Lewis to look after me as doctor
and nurse. After I had taken a few swallows of water, I was almost
frantic for more, but they wisely refused to let me have it except
in small doses every half hour.

"I had about seventy-five miles to ride home. We arrived at my
place in Jonesville on the afternoon of the 24th of November, when
my wife and family took charge of me and I was tenderly and
carefully nourished. In a few days I was around again. I told my
experience to President McDonald, Bishop Pomeroy, C. I. Robson and
others, and most of them believed me, but my word was doubted by
some. The report had gone out that I had been drinking and was
under the influence of liquor. This was an utterly false report. I
told them I had just two years to live, so they could tell whether
it was a true manifestation or not.

"Now, Sister Helen, during the last twelve years I have had doubts
about the truth of 'Mormonism,' because I did not take a course to
keep my testimony alive within me. And the letter I wrote you last
August, I suppose caused you to feel sorrowful, and you prayed for
me and God heard your prayers. And our father and mother plead
with the Lord in my behalf, to whom I will give the credit of this
terrible but useful ordeal through which I have passed and only in
part described, an ordeal which but few men have ever been able to
endure and relate what I have seen and heard.

"Now, my dear sister, you have a little of your brother David's
experience, and let who will think that I have been drinking. I
know these things were shown to me for my own good, and it was no
dream but a glorious and awful reality. My story is believed by my
brethren who have respect for me. I will console myself with the
knowledge I have obtained. Let the world wag on, and let hell and
the devil keep up their warfare against the Saints of God--I know
for myself that 'Mormonism' is true. With God's help, while I live
I shall strive to do good, and I will see you before long and tell
you all, as it never will be blotted out of my memory.

"With kind regards, in which my wife and children join, I remain,
as ever,

"Your affectionate brother,
"DAVID P. KIMBALL."

----

ACCOUNT OF PATTEN KIMBALL AND OTHERS, REGARDING THE SEARCH FOR AND FINDING OF HIS FATHER.

The following is an account furnished by Solomon F. Kimball, brother of David, who was in Mesa at the time of the occurrences described, and thoroughly conversant with the facts:

"On the morning of November 19th when Patten arose and missed his
father, he thought probably he had gone out to hunt for the
horses, and felt no uneasiness concerning him. He made a fire,
prepared breakfast and waited some time, but could not see or hear
him anywhere. The horses came strolling into camp and were tied
up, fed and watered. Patten then ate his meal, saddled a horse and
rode back towards Wickenburg, until he came to a small place
called Seymour on the Hassayampa, but could find out nothing of
his father's whereabouts. He went back to the wagon and hunted the
country close around camp but found nothing but his father's
overcoat, which was a few hundred yards from the wagon. It being
an old camp-ground, it was impossible to find his tracks. He
finally came to the conclusion that he had gone towards home, so
he hitched up his team and drove homeward until he came to Mr.
Calderwood's at Agua Fria (Cold Water). At this place there was a
well dug on the desert about twenty miles from Salt River. Patten
had traveled about twenty-two miles before reaching this point,
but was disappointed in not hearing anything of his father. He had
traveled all night and Mr. Calderwood was up and around when he
arrived. He related his story to him and was advised by him to
leave his team there and take the best pair of horses, and hitch
them to his buckboard and go on to the Mesa. Here he could get
help to come and hunt for the missing man. The distance was forty
miles, which would take all the rest of the day (the 20th). He
acted on the advice, however, and arrived at his destination at 9
p. m. The news was circulated, and in less than two hours, twenty
of the best and most experienced men at Mesa and Jonesville were
on the road, taking Patten back with them. They also took a wagon
to carry water and provisions, but most of them were on the best
of horses. They had sixty miles to ride before beginning the
search, which was accomplished by daylight next morning. After
feeding their horses and eating a lunch they held a consultation
and agreed to abide by the following rule. If any one of the party
found his tracks he was to make a smoke and this would call the
others in that direction. They then started out in different
directions. They scoured the country until about noon, when Sern
Sorenson and Charles Rogers found his tracks. They supposed they
were about twelve miles from where he was lost, and about ten
miles from Agua Fria, close to the main road on the south side.
They soon gathered some brush and started a fire, putting on
plenty of green weeds, etc., to cause a smoke, and soon attracted
the attention of their comrades. His tracks were followed. They
wound round and round, going in no particular direction. Some
places he would cross his tracks eight or ten times in going one
hundred yards, which made it quite difficult to follow.

"After spending a part of the afternoon in trailing him up, the
tracks finally took a direct course leading to the north. By this
time all the searching party were together.

"Another meeting was held and the plan adopted was for eight
horsemen, four on each side of his tracks, to ride at a
considerable distance apart, so as to cut off the track if it
turned to the right or left, and two or three of the best trailers
to keep on the tracks, while the buckboard and wagon followed up.
These were out of sight most of the time, as very good time was
made by the trailers after this plan was adopted. The ground was
quite soft, and those on the trail would gallop their horses for
miles, but darkness soon put an end to their work for this day, a
good thing for both men and animals.

"They had traveled upwards of one hundred miles in about twenty
hours. They were working men and had plenty of strength to carry
them through under all circumstances. They camped on the highest
ground that could be found close by, and made a large fire which
was kept up all night by those on guard.

"As soon as it was light enough to see the tracks, every man was
at his place moving as fast as he could under the circumstances.

"This was the morning of the 22nd. One great drawback they met
with that day was that when they would come to a deep ravine where
water had run during rainy weather, the tracks would follow up
sometimes for miles and then continue in the former direction.
Places would frequently be found in the sand where the lost one
had dug down for water with his hands. Now and then they would
find a piece of his clothing and see places where he had run into
the fox-tail cactus, cat's-claw and other thorny bushes. One place
was found where he had broken off the limb of a tree for a walking
stick. The party followed his tracks all day without stopping,
only as they were obliged to, on account of losing the trail or
from some other cause.

"Darkness overtook them again, but nothing could be seen or heard
of the missing man. They slept on his tracks, keeping up a fire
all night as before. His sons and others could not rest, and
followed his tracks after dark by striking matches and putting
them close to the ground to see if they might possibly find him.
Some thought they could hear a sound, but it was so indistinct
they could not discern the direction from which it came. It was
indeed he who called, for they were then only a few hundred yards
from him, but he was too hoarse to make them hear. On the morning
of the 23rd at daylight his anxious friends were on his tracks,
and had gone but a short distance when Charles Peterson saw him.
He had a long staff in his hand, and had raised up as high as he
could get, being on one knee and the other foot on the ground, and
was stretching himself as far as he could and looking eagerly for
their arrival. The crowd made a rush, and in a few seconds were
with him, Bishop E. Pomeroy being the first. He was in his right
mind and knew all present, and was glad to shake them by the hand,
calling each by name. He was in good spirits and joked the boys
frequently and gave them instructions to be careful in giving him
water, etc. There was no water except in a canteen that had been
reserved for his especial use. The company suffered themselves
for want of water. They had traveled upwards of one hundred and
fifty miles in less than forty-eight hours.

"David had dug a deep hole with his stick and had used his hands
to move the dirt. He said he was digging his own grave. He was
rolled in blankets and put on the buckboard. All drove to the
nearest houses, seven or eight miles distant, on the Hassayampa,
where they refreshed themselves with water and something to eat.
Soon they were on the road homeward. They drove to Mr.
Calderwood's, which was about thirty miles, and stayed all night.
He was very kind to them and told them to help themselves to
anything he had, such as hay, grain and food. He acted the man in
every respect. A large number of men had also left Phoenix in
search of David, among them being the U.S. Marshal, and others.
White men and Indians were riding over the desert in every
direction. Next morning the company drove to Jonesville, forty
miles distant, where they arrived about 3 p.m.

"David was carried into his house where he was surrounded by his
loving wife and children.

"When he recounted his experience, he said that one thing that
kept him from choking to death for want of water, was the damp
pebbles which he dug from low ravines and held in his mouth. The
Indians said that no human being could walk as far as he did and
go without water four days and five nights and live. The party
that found him said he must have walked at least seventy-five
miles, some said one hundred.

"He testified that on the afternoon of the 22nd, his father and
mother came and gave him water and told him that his friends would
find him. His clothing was all gone except his under garments,
which were badly torn.

"Before leaving home on his trip to Prescott, David had worked
several days fixing up his books and accounts and burning up all
useless papers, after which he told his wife that he felt
different in starting on this trip from anything that he had ever
felt before. He said it seemed to him that he should never
return. He told her that if this proved to be the case, he had
fixed his business up in such a shape that she would have no
trouble, and would know as much about it as himself. She
frequently spoke of these curious remarks, and felt considerably
worried. When the news came that he was lost, all was plain to
her, and she never expected to see him come home alive. Nothing
could comfort her, and she watched night and day until he was
brought home."

----

In the fall of 1883, David came to Salt Lake City on a visit to his sister Helen and others, to whom he confirmed with his own lips all that his letter contained, and told other things in relation to his marvelous experience. He declared solemnly that he was perfectly sober when he passed through the trying ordeal related, and bore a powerful testimony to the truth of "Mormonism." He seemed a little reticent to most of his relatives, and talked but little of his strange experience, feeling pained that so many doubted his word, and being unwilling to make himself obstrusive. When he bade his friends farewell before returning south, there was something in his manner which seemed to say that he was taking leave of them for all time. This visit was no doubt made with that prospect in view, for it was almost two years from the time he was lost on the desert. He returned home to St. David, Cochise County, Arizona, and almost the next news that came from there was the tidings of his death.

A letter from his nephew, Charles S. Whitney, who was then living with him, written home on the 22nd of November, 1883, contained this:

"Uncle David died this morning at half-past six, easily, and
apparently without a bit of pain. Shortly before he died, he
looked up and called, 'Father, father!' All night long he had
called for Uncle Heber. You remember hearing him tell how Grand-pa
came to him when he was lost on the desert, and how he plead for
two years more and was given that much longer to stay. Last
Saturday, the day he was so bad, was just two years from the day
he was lost, and to-day is just two years from the day his father
and mother came to him and gave him a drink of water, and told him
that his friends would find him and he should live two years
longer. He knew that he was going to die, and bade Aunt Caroline
good-bye day before yesterday."

During the last two years of his life David revealed to three of his personal friends the names of the four persons whom his father had told him in vision that he should come for, at or near the time when he would return for him. He exacted the promise from these friends (who, it seems, had some doubt regarding the divine nature of his vision, which doubt he was anxious to dispel) that they would not divulge the names of these individuals until after their death. The names, with respective dates of decease, are as follows:

William H. Hooper; died December 30th, 1882. Horace K. Whitney; died November 22nd, 1884. Heber P. Kimball; died February 8th, 1885. William Jennings; died January 15th, 1886.

As will be seen, the longest interval given from the death of David P. Kimball is two years, one month and twenty-three days. William H. Hooper, who was the first of the four to go, preceded David by about eleven months, while Horace K. Whitney, the second to depart, followed him one year later to a day.

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