Evening star., 1897-04-13
Rob FITzsIMMoNs' PATENT.
The Fighter is Also an Inventor and
InterNieMs the ENnminer.

Mr.. Robert Fitzsimmons, of worldwide
reputation, appeared in new role this
morning. Every one knows that he is a
versatile genius-as a prize fighter--but
compa ratively few people are cognizant of
the fact that he Is an inventor of no mean
ability.
Larky Bob is a believer in the old saw
that a shoemaker should stick to his last;
so when he cams to iLventiDg things he
did not go outside the phase of life with
which he is most familiar. He is an expert
bag puncher, but recently he has not been
altogether satisfied with the punching bag
ana platform that he w2s using. He gath
cred his wits together and originated a
punching platform after his own ideas and
submitted the matter to John Wedderburn
d Co., patent attorneys of this CITY and
a claim was presented to the patent office
Bcbs machine embodied a number of clever
points and ii met with little or no question
at the department. His attorneys took adj
vantage of the champions presence in
Washington this morning to take him be
fore the examiner in person to press his
claim.
Notwithstanding the fact that Fitz was
Up pretty late last night, he was out bright
ana early this morning and was at MIR
Wedderburns S office shortly after 5 O'clock
With him was his big dog Yarrum who
viewed the proceedings with scorn while
MS ms ster went into a long discussion Of
the subject of boxing gloves He had a
couple Of pairs of mittens with him, and
putting one glove on his sturdy left fist he
proceeded to point out its defects and de-
scribe in detail what he thought would
make perfect boxing glove. He showed
himself a pretty good talker and in his use
OF words was particularly careful
AT o clock the little party started for
the patent office. Yarrum ran beside the
Carriage. The news that Fitz was in the
neigLborhood had spread RAPIDLY and
crowd OF people followed him to the 1th
street entrance of the patent office. Var
rum, who weighs 1SO pounds and stands as
hlga as an ordinary table, wanted to follow
fitz INTO the building, but the watchman
d tne door objected, and Iarrum much TO
ms disgust, had TO be tied up outside In
side the building the champion was follow
ed about by several hundred people al!
anxious to catch a glimpse of the man who
Knocked out Jim Corbett. He acted as if
he was used to it, however, and apparently
did not even notice the attention that was
paid to him. The female clerks in the office
were greatly excited over his visit and did
everything they could to get close as
possible to the ''undefeated champion of
the world"
Fitz's interview with the examiner lasted
only few minutes. His patent being in
tended for physical exercise, came under
the head of surgical Instruments, and was
passed on by Principal Examiner James b.
give demonstration of the merits of his
machine, and after a few minutes close
conversation the examiner assured the
champion that his claim would be allowed
and would probably go through before the
week was over. Fitz was highly elated
over the success attending his visit and was
in fine feather when he took the carriage
back to his hotel totneet his party prepars-
tory to leaving town on the 10 O'Clock
train. c,E ss