The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23
COLEMAN'S GIANT FROG.
STRUTHFU TALES THAT ITS
WEIGHT REACHED FIFTY PONDS.

the attention u summer tourists IL directed
there l. none OF more absorbing quality than
Killarney Lake. This IL not because the lake
itself is In any way remarkable. for IL Is small
In extent and the shaggy sccond-growth forest
that surrounds it, rocky shores is devoid OF
scenic clarm. The lake Is well stocked with
smn-mouth bass likewise the thoughtful
sucker aud the insdious eel arc there in force.
But the circumstance that eleVatcs Killarney
above the level of common lakes Is that 1t sthe
home q the biggest frog Of which there Ia any
record. From purely local repute tho animal
has risen to continental fame under the name
OF Coleman's Frog.
Mr.. Coleman was United States Consular
Agent for tho port OF Fredericton under the
first Cleveland Administration. For many
years he has been proprietor Of the Barker
House. and he has fine summer residence at
Killarney Lake. three miles from the city. On
all public holidays the American flag flies from
the dome of the Barker House. 1t also flies
on many historic anniversaries such as the
battle Of Bunker Hill. tho death OF Oliver
Cromwell. the burial of Sir John Moore aud
the discovery Of the Gunpow der Plot.
Mr.. Coleman had known for many years Of
the existence OF frog of remarkable size In
his lake at Killarney. hut never gave much
attention to the matter until the year 1890.
One sunny afternoon In July Of that year. as
he was entertaining at Killarney party OF
men Just returned from the Miramich fishing
grounds consisting Of Gov. W. T.. Russell and
Alexander II Wood Of Boston Joseph Jefferson.
the actor and William MaGec Of st. John. the
guests were startled by a deep. booming sound
that seemed TO arise from the peaceful waters
Of the lake. Mr. Coleman calmly informed the
PARTY that there was no occasion for alarm.
that tho noise proceeded from very large
frog that he was in the habit Of feeding at tho
lpnt lnnIDp twice "a Wnnk Az Mr. Ipffpraon'n
suggestion the party walked down TO the land
ing. where an enormous frog was found float
ing in tho water. At sight OF MIR. Coleman the
frog swan right up to the landing. Mr. Cole
man offered the huge hatrachan French rolls.
pumpkin pie and corn cake. all OF which he
consumed without hesitation. Tho incident
produced n profound impression on the visit
ors At this time the weight Of the frog was
estimated at about twelve pounds.
Mr.. jefferson was confident that by means Of
n scientific course of feeding the weight Of tho
frog could be stl further increased. On his
return to Bu2zard's Bay he forwarded to Mr..
Coleman a translation OF an article in French
periodical. describing the discovery Of frog
of remarkable size in an old vault in Paris 10
appears that some workmen were eGcavatIng
for a foundation for building when they
came upon an ancient stone vault. the floor OF
which was covered with frog skins OF different
than passing notice but for the finding OF q
huge living frog in the vault. The conclusion
reached was that the frog had been confined
u the vault for long period during which he
| had annually shed his skin. How the frog hal
! existed SO many years. and especially how he
| had attained such size. puzzled the workmen
that the hack waIlot the vault was also the side
| wall Of u sewer that led from an abattoir. where
an Immense Hnmnefr OF cattle att were sauEh,
| the frog had Suhslsted during his long imprs-
"nmcnt upon the, blood and other refuse ma
| toriai that came from the abattoir. Mr.. Jcfler-
| son suggested to Mr.. Coleman that n mixture
of blood and H"tnm"al might result in an abb
This was in the autumn OF 1880. Since that
time. except in the winter season when the lake
has been Mr.. rolcman,'s custom to feed the
frog twice week with this mixture. This
day, and is nearly always witnessed by crowd
Of sGht1trer- To tn" IDEAL POPULATION, Of
Gown to the landing and feeding to the frog
apaiiiuI Of the rornmcal mixture has come to
are fascinated at the sight and gaze in amaze.
! mcnt on the frog rs he opens his mouth to res
| ceivc the food from shovel.
| When Mr. Coleman first began to feed the frog
| regularly the animal used to come N his call.
tn, method proved uncertain, cspecially on
| his masters voice. Mr. Coleman then had re-
COURSE to the expedient % educating the frog
Whenever he called the frog he also fired the
gun and the animal soon learned to recognize
| Then Mr.. Coleman ceased to shout and called
t,h". animal by III" report OF. the gun alone.
| plrtr!G" season arrived when there was so
| much firing On III" pnrt OF boys in the woods
false alarms He then became sulky and stayed
! in the bottom OF the lax" Tor five weeks
near the el4i 81 Ortoh"r lie was then greatly
a,trnuatcu. III tnct seemed to be on the point
Of .,orIotion. Mr. GoIcman after ths had re:
! gun and also huwing horn Eventually he
disprnHrd with III" gun altogether. For four
| horn AMI "a come to IN" landing for his feed.
kalp or Shine Nlr. Coleman wa, there every
Wednesday and SATURDAY morning IN the on'n
| season. Al last tn" frog learned 70 d StlnGush
his e2 ',I 1ayo # IN "tGIr dny y FOR The
| tn" horn or not. III" frog has always Appeared
AT the landing on Wednesday and Saturday
Alter Mr. Coleman adopted Mr., Jerrerson's
sag ,stion a. to feeding the frog the latter be-
1kon fhr wa,cr.}de and The frog ?' wsvESi
| frequently. II has nc"n asserted that the frog
w%ighs m|re than MY BOUNDS Nj, IT,. oleman
| has nvcr had any AUTHORITY from him for saw
Ing 50, tn" weight Of The frog has never "x-
| c"rheI tlrjy-two pOnLdS. and at tho present
tTn' dFu T ia" iros ,as BEEN %''H s'nSSdtHt
| N"mhrr, l~'"j The frog lh"m suffered an IN:
| Jury to bis SPINE by ramminx The n"wly formed
| 10" In his Efforts TO roach tn" Tan ing.
| In March, lS,r<. when tn. N"w England
SG"rt@m"n' $ exhibition wa, held in Boston. m
, tn" irnE was then sleeping his winter sleep n
| the mu! t"nr4th IT," ice OF the lake. A big
| h"lr was dug through m" Ice. and hr Coleman
| and his as -taut~ blew horns and fired guns
! all day. but III" frog would not show M Mr..
Coleman hat. h"wrver. during III" rrrriopt
| summer 8 I'ur", rorn" excellent photographs
, of TIA" irrg When thrs" were distributed
among The learned men Of The mOd"rn Athens
! they produced Il S'n-HllOn. For many moons
| ih"rra,t 'r these phi!Os pliers wur' grODy" in
the SanAda mailbag Whiting letters Of inquiry
| to Nd. Coleman.
Mr.. Coleman states that there are sti,l great
! many I"ur.' IN the States who DENY III" uNist-
enc" Of ih" irDg or at least d,~put" the records
| in r"'"T"nyc To- his ste. H. thinks that on" Of
| ia" most skepticai men n ever saw was zen.
| Tracy. cN-N"'lr. airy Of the May. who WAS hero
| in the Summer OF lSG He wa, capable II abs
| surb,ug all the 'a"ts in regard t. The frog "N-
| r"r' that Mr. Coleman was in the habit 81 f""d-
| uL him win ~hoN"!. - "aru"s' aui GispHs-
| -.rualc was his desire for truth thai, at Mr..
| tprmnu- request, t." GENERAL agreed To RAJ
| MAIN IA town nnt,l IN" u"Nt feeding day. when
| II" WAS IriNru To- Killarney To- witness the per-
| i"iman'". NJ. Coleman stood on the VerandA
| ami blew three times on "A dinner horn Thea
| ilp IIlnl with "A tIatullttlS.