The Washington times., 1902-08-04
PASSING OF LANKY BOB
EVENT WORTHY OF NOTE

clip. On the road he had rubber bel
lows, but in the water he was a COW
10y.
The only time 1 ever knew him t.
Lcry Enough was when he was traininl
7 for his fight with Rubin a. Berger
Beach. One Sunday-he never did worl
on that day. invited Fitz. George
Lawson. his trainer and boxing instruct
or OF the Chicago Athletic Club; JET
Thorne, mis- sparring partner, and Mrs
Fitzsimmons to go sailing with me in Q
Zig catboat
'Fitz went along in the glad rag way
/ when he wasn't workin- and came down
to the float in Prince Albert. raglan
carefully creased pajamas. rail fence
collar. and four STORY silk lid. asked
him where the white kid gloves were,
but he waived the question and called
my attention TO sea serpent which he
raid he saw in the offing.
"As turned to leave felt grapevine
lock around the overflow Of my Jersey
and knew where was going. Now, all
| had on besides the jersey was a pair OF
halfmast duck pants. and | had him
handicapped when We struck the brine.
He didn't intend to accompany me, but
changed his mind when hooked into the
lapels of the raglan. He let go his hold
as the bubbles closed over the lid. and
when he came to the air. he spluttered ::
- The fun's over. Jim. Let's call It a
draw.
His Playful Ways.
But he more than quit even d few
days later. may have been at home in
the water. but there were other things
didn't know.
Il used to accompany him in purely
perfunctory way on his road work. One
morning. at daybreak. he broke into my
boudoir and motioned to me that it was
time to get up. The motion consisted Of
gently hoisting me out of bed and de-
posting me in the bathtub, which con-
tained about ten fingers of the cold thing
you take on the side
II put up a mild kick about not going
with him that day. But Fitz has a per
suasive way. If he does spill an n here
and there, and after assuring me that ii
was very late, and that the sun was burn
ing hole In my aftermath, he sprung
this:
I've got Bluch saddled at the gate.
Come and follow me on horseback
Bluch' was Bluchcr, an uncertain.
quantity, all height, bones. and angles.
/ had seen Bluch at respectful dis
tnnce and had never fattered myself
hat we would become mere intimate.
But here was my opportunity. l had
rover been astIide n horse but | was
like me otter cope who, when asked ii
he could play the violin, said he didn't
know; he never tried.
His Cross Country Run.
"Bluch was a model horse He stood
at the head of his class in obedience
obedience 20 Fitz. Sc when We got into
the road, Steering Bluch at con-
servative walk and trying to look pleas
ant. Fitz took 1t over a rail fence for
his and called Bluch after him. Bluch
cut out the walk at cnce and started
for the fence. l asked him not to in =
loud. commanding voice, but his ears
we're pointed FItzward and perhaps he
admit hear me l jammed the stcerin
gear hard down. Bluch must have car
iied lee helm. for he never altered his
course. On the other side was a corn
field. Cornfields are all right places
in which to grow corn. but they're not
On the level when you're playing for
safety.
"Bluch went over the fence without a
so ineonvenient. II was the coming back
to ths saddle :ssat Jared on my nerves.
Fitz was doing a Highland fling ove-
the corn hills and Bluch took the jump
after him.
There was a barrel OF fun scattered
over that particular locality about that
time-fun for Fitz and Bluch. Cut
where did | get off? Every time |
went up in the air I looked around for
a solution OF this problem. but couldn't |
bump into one. The co-nfleld looked |
to be a million miles across. and Fi:z
was heading straight for the far corner. |
So was Bluch. I thought OF the lion |
and his tail. and whether it was wiser |
to hold on or let go. Not that 1 vas
having much option In the matter. But
| did stick until half the field was COW
cred. when Fitz turned and came back. |
Bluch.
Nothing like an uphill road for |
lCortinued on Fourth Page.)