New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
FRANKLIN COUNTY STORIES.
NATIVES OF THE WILDERNESS" EN-
GAGE IN FABLE CONTESTS"

The stories that the members OF the Franklin
County Society tell abound in nearly as wonderful
details Go the memoirs of the lamented Baron
MJnchausen- At their reunions these natives OF
the Wilderness. some Of them are wont TO call
themselves. engage in what might be termed fable
contests " and to the man who has told the
wonderful story is accorded the heartiest applause
and the lasting appreciation Of his fellows These
stories naturally deal with feats OF hunting and
hshing with and then yarn which has a
tinge OF city life by the fact that most OF
these native Ninrods are now leading some COM
rnonplace existence such that Of banker
broker or lawyer. in this city
The prize story teller OF the organization. far
as can be learned from a thorough canvass Of its
members is Frederick d Kilburn. State Superin-
tendent OF Banking Although born in Clinton
County, his parents thought that his genius for
story telling would be further developed by the
atmosphere of Franklin County Mr. Kilburn was
accordingly taken Franklin County when he
was nine years old. the same time the per-
sonal effects Of the family were moved 20 Malone
1t is said that Mr.. Kilburn'5 first fishing exploit
was performed when he was an hour old At that
age it Is recorded that he took his tongue for
trout line and pulled hard that. had e not
been for the fortunate interference OF his nurse.
he would never have been able to tell Of some OF
his subsequent achievements
Most OF the stories which Mr. Kilburn tells or
himself deal with sub-aquatic achievements. m
deed Mr. KHburn's ability TO perform feats of
under
fitted him his present office OF State Superin-
tendent Of Banking both for the reason that IL IS
often necessary get under things and also De-
cause some Of the institutions which he does gei
under heavily watered-
one Of the stock amphfbious stories which the
State Superfntendent of Banking delights 20 ten
is an account Of his victory huge salmon
trout which he finally succeeded in catching IN
Lake Meacham. Franklin County. Mr. klourn
tells the yarn as follows;
e. rompanfon and myself happened TO be out
fishing in a rowboat the lake one morning,
when felt a tremendous pull on my line l made
several attempts TO get grip on the line. out 10
no avail 1t hummed over the edg1 OF the ooa'.
and then when I tried 10 pull on the string it cut
into the wood like buzz saw
..'Got a whale at the other end said my part
Must be a whale said l.
III YOU don't let II go IL will swamp US. said
he.
Let GO Of lt?' said 7. Never! Did you ever
hear of a Franklin County man lettlng 20 ol any
thIng2 Well I guess not
..Just then sudden Jolt Of the boat nearly Threw
both OF US into the lake The line had all run ou.'
and the beast at the other end was now to"ihs
the boat along at a sixty knot an hour speed 1o'
had had the foresight 10 Tie the emu ol 'io S'S
to the boat.
.'Better cut the string. or we will De az tne
bottom OF the lake said nv partner. and IN oroeF
70 give me tre idea ne handed me his huntns
knife. . -.
..weu might as we'll say that didn't cut
tho string I simply jumped overheard and summed
down that line. At the other end I found an enor-
nous salmon trout. 1t almost as long as an
ordinary rowboat- 1t wasn't a minute OelOie
had landed square on the top OF his back anu hAa
.urk mar knife into his neck My blow was wen
aimed for the fish gave a final squlrIn' anu '
when l saw that IL dead 1 ciroeu up '-.'
line again hand over hand. TO the boat MY par
ner was somewhat surprised when tea niih W.
had done. Then we each took an oar ai'
the great carcass to the shore
Another sl.b-aauatc story of Nlr h1loulH - "
the effect that at time he was carrSins
barrel of pork across Lower Saranac Ldhe' W.
the boat took lurch and the oarrei went 70 e
bottom Mr. Kil5urn simply dived do"n anu , -
ceeded in rolling the DdIiei 'S"'iV N-
hottom of the lake.
1rdsa Trrax president OF the Sons OF Oneida -
a,uavs present at the annual dinhers OF the FRANK
lin County Society. in the capacity or s1eSI AN.
fellow story teller. The judge has nunnoer OK
hear stories which he repeats with various su
tional scenes and sideghts on each OCCASION anu
it is said that the only story that ne mas 49,
ah1a 10 tell exactly the same each time is taia
=, how he shot a whole flock of geese The seess
-,tcb foil the victims to the judges rifle vers
,vtnp in such symmetrical wedge that his ouAe"
an srrkng the hard bill of the leader, split IN t"'
narts Each half then passed through tne oouc'
~ the remaining geese on either side Inc 1uus'
exnIains the death Of the leader as having re-
sulted from nervous shock
Dickinson. another member of the Frank
u, conntv Society is said to have shot two deer
uttb one bullet, although animal was oehlia
and the other In front of him The bullet 10 Sal.
10 have struck the curving antler OF the Ior~AIs
dssr and after passing through his brain 70 nav
bounded back in boomerang fashion and sefu'-