The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-05
SPORTS.
BLUFFS THE POLICE
Fitzpatrick, of Loop-the-Loop Fame,
Has Argument With Russian
Authorities.
An Official Inquiry and a Sassy
n, Explanation, Which Was
Finally Accepted.

Charles G. Fitzpatrick, manager of the
loop the loop. which Is attracting Dig
crowds at the carnival grounds Is one OF
the few Americans who can boast of hay
Ing come off first best In an argument
with the Russian police. The collision
with the authorities occurred while Mr..
Fitzpatrick was giving exhibitions OF the
loop in st. Petersburg, and he tells the
story In the following words
s'The first exhibition of the loop was
given by Diavolo at the Cin1cillie circus
in ST. Petersburg before had arrived IN
the city The Cinicdllie circus is under the
protection of the Russian government,
which receives Il percentage of the re-
ceipts, and all the performances are under
police supervision. Before the police
would allow DiaNolo to go on. they IN
sisted on having the city engineer inspect
the loop. We had given exhibitions nun
dreds of times without accident, but the
Russian engineer decided that the mech
anism by which Davolo is stopped after
coming out of the loop was not safe. He
took the whole affair out of the hands OF
my mechanic, and put up two extra
windlasses with his own men to handle
the cranks The result was what might
have been expected. Just as DlaVolo was
shooting down the incline. one OF the men
lost his nerve and let go of the crank. Ihe
windlass whirled around. the chain
tcost thousands Of rubles. and the Whole
loop came near topplsng over upon the
crowd The Russians, who are nigh
strung excitable people. rushed to the
doors demanding their money back, and
the management was obliged to accede
to their demands.
A Sassy Explanation.
"When 1 arrived in St Petersburg the
next morning. I was hauled up before the
MAGISTRATES and ordered to give written
explanation Of the accident. learned the
facts from Diavolo and wrote the fol-
lowing:
'..The accident was caused by the inter
ference of the police with the management
of the performance. If the authorities Will
!permtt me to run the loop in my own way.
II will be held personally responsible Tor
any accidents. but do not consider my
self responsible for the accidents last
night
= s"rhfs..was like bombshell to the mag
istrates. They put their heads together
over the document, and from the next
room I a2uld hear them wrangling ana
,disputtne Finally they requested me TO
make the statement little milder | re-
fused, and they held another argument.
At last the interpreter told me that the
magistrates had decided to take me at H, ~
word. and aAow me to put on the loop IN
nv own way. We showed there for sew
aral weeks. and packed the circus every
night and there were no more accfdents.
From, that time I never had the sllgntest
trouble with the Russian police.
While in St. Petersburg, Mr.. Kilpatrlck
was presented to the grand duke by ITO
lessor Phalen, an American VINO IS .ne
grand dukes instructor in physical Gull
+,,ra Mr. Kilpatriclx now carries a beau
tifully inlaid cane, present from tne
grand duke.
at was much impr essed with the fine
horsemanship of the COssack cavalry sta
toned in St. Petersburg said Mr.. Al
patrick. "a lot Of hardy pla1nsmen, they
remind one, in their Caring anu 81. -
riding and the use of arms, OF the amen
can COWBOYS If Germany ever gets int
q way with France and Russia, she viii
receive the worst drubbing in the h1stor.
of the empire The Cossacks are su
,perior to any body Of troops sa" Il
Europe and they can send out ten me-
to Germany's one.
at the state fair last year with MS lates
sensa tional feat, which consists OF oriVlll
an automobile up and down steep cnut
only six inches wider than the gags y
IS 4he machine, and without a guard TAI
The date was cancelled. but 1t IS pos
sible that Mr.. Fitzpatrick VIII pe ehsas
for the fair this fall. Fitzpatrick mrs
won fame by riding a.. bicycle down IN
1pest stems Of the capitol at Washlngto
some wears ago. No ONE before or sine
has had the courage to attempt the led
end for a. e-legged man, of course
was doubly hazardous '-r 'E...'.s 80. ..a.,
Riding Down Capitol Steps.
ST told some friends one day, partly !
toke.n said Fitzpatrick, that 1 would rio
down the west steps. Had realized tf
nature of the undertaking, would neVt
have committed myself in that way M
friends held me to my promise. SO
thought I would try it, knowing that II
succeeded it would give me a reputatle
which would be Of great value IN the sho
business So I notified the Associate
Press and all the special correspondent
II could find, to be on hand the next al
ernoon.
"When 1 stood at the top OF the ste
and looked down I realized what n
chances were of not getting down aliv
Not for my money I said, but the co
respondents and my friends rated me
about backing out that finally starte
Before had gone quarter OF the w
down my foot lost the pedal and all
could do was to keep the head Of t
wheel straight and hold on like deaf
So I went humping down. knowing tn
if my pedal struck the steps l would u
Fl doubtedly be thrown on my head a
killed I have no recollection whatev
of the last half Of the ride, until fash
down past the peace monument and acre
Il car, missing it by not more than ten fe
of humor to the affair, crying out, C