The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-09
TRAINING TO FIGHT.
Hints to Athletes by the Great
Bob Fitzsimmons.
MUST RISE WITH THE LARK
strict sobriety, Hard Work and Careful
Diet-Plenty OF Time
for sleep.
Bob Fitssimmons.

WHICH iuust oe done I'M every case, and
am going to sketch these out in as few
words as possible, putting myself in the
position of the trainer.
On first taking charge of any man
would give him an emetic which would
cleanse his system FROM the stomach up,
and physic to cleanse him from the
stomach down.
The next morning after giving the emetic
would have my physic ready and give it
10 my man as soon as ne rose and would
take care to get him out Of bed at sunrise
every morning all through the training.
NOW, OF course, there are many physics
which could be given, but most of them are
gripping in the extreme, and would re-
commend all trainers to try the following,
which have found the best in my ex-
perience: 1t is made by mixing four
ounces of epson salts. two ounces of SIENNA
and twelve ounces of Spanish licorice.
Place the whole in pot with six pints of
water and, keeping the cover on, boil until
all the iicorice is dissolved. Then remove
the pot from the fire and place it in water
to cool. When cold bottle the mixture up
tight. This should be given to your prin-
cipal as follows: A small wineglassful
every morning before dressing. for the
first week. half wineglassful every morn
ing for the second week; take the same
dose three times the third week, and the
fourth week take only one dose Sunday
morning.
The medicine will not weaken man in
the least. but wal cleanse his system
thoroughly. The next thing would look
out for would be my mans hands Il am
supposing that am training man for a
hght). Pugilists, as a rule, have con-
siderable trouble with their hands, as they
are often liable to get broken badly in a
contest. or if blow is not landed in the
way it is intended bad sprain is often the
result Some trainers use sort of pick
ling solution with which they pickle their
hands, face and neck in order that blow
will not cut the skin so readily. If my
man had very tender skin / might use
something to tougher and harden his face,
but as rule don't think that picking
the face and neck does any good. My own
skin is very tender, indeed, but / never
tried to tougher my face by picking, pre-
ferring to use only pure alcohol, which in
a measure answers the same purpose and is
at the same time very refreshing. To
the hands, however, too much attention
cannot be paid, and | have found moth
brine. This does not smell very nice, it is
true, and should be applied three times a
day, after eating. | would never allow
my man to apply it before eating, as it
might affect HIS stomach, which would be
bad. But although the brine does not
smell anywhere near as good as Florida
water, it does the business, and that is all
that is required. After the brine is APP
piled and well rubbed in, the following
1iniment should also be rubbed in. It can
be obtained at any tirst-class drug store,
and the ingredients are as follows: Laud-
anum. three ounces; spirits of hartshorn,
four ounces; alcohol, one quart; iodine,
These, mixed up together with 10 cents
worth of horseradish and 5 cents worth Of
alum, make q liniment which cannot be
equaled for strengthening and hardening
the bone, and when applied and well
rubbed III it has tendency to make q
man feel fresh and strong.
In training man, / should always start
him on his daily exercise at sunrise. Ris-
ing from his bed, he should battle and
carefully brush his teeth, after which
would give him an egg, well beaten, in
small quantity of sherry, this more to stay
his stomach and strengthen him until
breakfast time than anything else. After
take him for short walk, say of about
mile, returning in time for breakfast,
which should be on the table the moment
we got back. Now, when l was training
at Bay st. Louis, usually chopped a lit
tie wood before breakfast, but the walk of
which have spoken will answer fully as
well.
The breakfast for my man would consist
of dry toast, boiled or fried eggs land if
the latter all fat should be carefully
drained off from them), and weak tea.
without milk or sugar would complete the
repast. would then sit down with him
and either read the daily papers to him or
allow him to read them himself until q.
m, when We would start out on the road
for spin. The reading of the papers
would give both of us something to think
and talk about while on the road and
thereby relieve the monotony. For this
spin on the road my man should wear
heavy sweaters or light ones, whichever l
thought best to use, heavy if the weather
was cool and light if the day was warm.
AS to the distance / would change that a
little every day, going perhaps ten miles
five miles out and five back). But /
would take good care not to tire my man
out too much with this morning spin, as
too much running is as bad as not enough.
done on the homestretch, so
that a good pcrspiration might be
gotten up. Getting back to the
training quarters, would set my man
down in warm room out of all draughts
so that he would perSpire freely, and at
this time should give him his beef tea to
drink. Now, there is only one right way
to make beef tea for athletes in training,
and that is as follows: Two preserve jars
should be used, being careful to get them
with tight-titting covers. Then every
evening five pounds of round steak should
be bought. Cut all the fat off and then
cut up the remainder in small bits, say
about an inch square. Place half in each
Jar, never putting in any water, screw the
covers on tightly and place one of the jars
in a kettle filled with cold water. This
kettle should be placed over good fire
and allowed TO boil for five or six hours.
Then when your man comes IN In the
morning take the jar and strain the con-
tents through muslin, giving him the
liquid To drink while it IS yet warm. Then
put on the second jar, and when your man
gets through his work in the afternoon
give him that to drink.
If the day was warm when We got in
from our morning spin, should place my
man under shower bath for about fifteen
seconds while he is still warm and per-
spiring, but if the weather was cold |
would Just wipe him off dry with Turk
ish towel, and then putting on my hand
rubbers, get up good friction. After this
i would rub him thoroughly all over with
alcohol, putting plenty OF it on and rub
get dry. Repeating this, would rub IN
ill the skin got smooth and perfectly dry
all over. After this would give his body,
legs and arms a good dry hand rub, TAX
ing care TO rub with the rim of the mus
cles and pulling them out like massage
doctor.
By this time dinner would be ready and