The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-16

He began to steer RATS down the
pyberry to Honesdale when a lad but
years of age, with the
afts until the close of the Delaware
md Hudson canal in 1898, with the
Exception of four years before the
losing of this canal. During this
ime he acted as pilot at the dam at
.ackaWaXen on the Delaware river.
While employed in this capacity l.
E2S log RATS from up the river were
un over the dam under his guild
nee.
Mr. Kimble was in partnership
With Mr.. Stanton at Dyberry for 80
ears during which time they oper-
ted three saw mills, saving and cut
ing lumber from a tract OF 1000
cres of timber land. The facts and
CURES given in this interview with
HE old steersman are taken from
books in his possession and speak
Tor themselves;
Il ran RATS from Dyberry to
Ionesdale every Saturday, made by
ond freshets, and built all the RATS
ever ran. One Dyberry raft con-
Xained $4,000 feet of lumber and was
0 feet wide and 10 feet long. This
faft was run safely to Lackawaxen
Without touching anything, although
nany said it could not be done. On
bne occasion l steered three RATS
rom Hawley to Lackawaxen without
tipping the far door. The largest
taft ! ever ran from Dyberry to
ionesdale measured 100 feet in
length and was 29 feet and inches
vide. Had it been four inches wider
could not have passed over the
bulkhead OF my mill pond. 1t was
made OF foot square timber for the
Delaware and Hudson Canal company
Ind contained 0,000 feet OF lumber
The Lackawaxen raft contained
from s., 900 to $4,000 feet OF lumber
|lnd the Delaware raft from 100000
10 15U, 900 feet. They were made OF
all kinds OF lumber, both sawed and
ogs.
:" have RATED alone $500 differ
ent RATS, besides having steered o.
90 Lackawaxen RATS. | have made
0 trips from Lackawaxen to Tren-
on, receiving $40 for each trip; and
bave steered 100 RATS from Black 8
Eddy to Trenton while down on my
trip to Trenton, walking the dis
ance up the river to Blacks Eddy.
For each OF those trips ! received
1880. On my return trips ! have
eyeral times walked from Lacka-
waxen to Honesdale.
"A few winters ago measured
ogs for the late John Reifler at
&ranners Falls and in SO days
measured $4,000 feet OF maple
ogs, 100000 feet OF hemlock and
founted GO0.O00 feet OF other lum-
per during that time"
In addition to being a great lum-
berman, Mr.. Kimble has been an ex-
pert hunter in his day. He delights
n narrating his experiences in the
wilds OF Pike. Mr.. Kimble claims to
have shot 70 deer in his day He
BAYS that the last 4 shots he had on
pne occasion. he hit a deer with each
shot, and got - out of the IA. He
plains that two were wounded and
hll were shot while running.
Mr.. Kimble also has love for mu-
pic, having played the fiddle from the
time he commenced to raft. He was
In great demand at balls in his
younger DAYS playing at dances al
over Wayne and Pike counties and
also parts in New York state. He
Received from $40 to $40 night fol-
each performance.
The subject OF our sketch is .
hr"'her of Isaac r. Kimble, whose
picture and writeup also appears or
this page. There is probably no mar
better known in Wayne or Pix,
counties than "Bill" Kimble. He II
now living at Dvberry, and has retlr
ed from active life. II is the wish o
The Citizen that Mr.. Kimble will liv,
20 enjoy many years OF happiness.