The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-31

NEW YORK, Aug 30.-That once
doughty fighter and still aspiring actor,
Robert Fitzsimmons, has sold "Senator
Reynolds" for $4,000. The "Senator -
is big two-year-old lion which has
been almost a member of Ruby Rob g
family for the past eighteen months
The purchaser was Bostock, the deal
being made over the telephone.
Many in the large crowd assembled
at the American horse exchange were
moved to tears at the affecting parting
in which Mr.. Fitzsimmons and his hon
took leading roles. The actor was genu.
inely moved and 1t is safe TO say that
he never did anything better behind the
footlights.
There were two real tears in Mr.,
Fitzsimmons s eyes, one IN each OF
them, and catch in his voice, as he
said:
"Why, $4,000 wouldn t have touched
that lion If | could have stayed at home
all the time to keep him company. He
loved me, and 1 thought the world and
all of him. But he didn't seem to take
to anybody else and 1 was afraid he
would eat one of the children some
time when l was away. He took several
bites out of good horse of mine the
other day and m afraid it will never
be the same horse again. 1t WASH t
that the Senator was ill-tempered,
he's got a sweet disposition, but he 8
playful, very playful, and little rough
at times. I've got to go away this fsll
with my show, a Fight for Love, and
! don t dare to leave the, big fellow at
home.' and Mr.. Fitzsimmons sighed
profoundly.
Had Advertised Sale.
In the newspapers the actor and pug
Hist had advertised the sale of the
"Senator' at auction on Wednesday.
The big lion had been shipped to the
American horse exchange Mr.. Fitz-
simmons, no longer able to endure the
strain, left his home in Dunellen, n. j.,
and came to have another look at his
pet, He found him almost prostrated
by the heat and astonished the crowd
by taking him out of the cage and
walking up and down Broadway. The
Senator was only restrained by a
nall packing cord and the curious
throng fell back to respectful distance.
'Couldn t he break the string,
BobH" queried an anxious admirer, edg
ing backward as he spoke.
Like a cotton thread.' answered
Mr.. Fitzsimmons pleasantly. "But he
wouldn t think of hurting anybody be-
fore me, he that considerate Of nv
feelings-never chews any one up un-
less | m out of sight. -
Mr.. Fitzsimmons then mounted the
top of the "Senator g" cage with the
hon and posed for a picture, after
whicn he forced the animal into the
cage with an affectionate parting kick,
wiped his eyes with his handkerchief
and went to the telephone. He ex-
planned to Mr. Bostock that he
wouldn't think of leaving his lion in
town another night while the weather
was so warm and asked him to make n
bid for it. Mr.. Bostock said $4,000 and
the deal was closed on the spot.
Details Made Public.
There was no effort on the part of
Mr.. Fitzsimmons to keep the details
Of the trade from the public. With al
most childish candor he discussed the
affair at length, dwelling particularly
the fall with his wife in his show,
"The Fight for Love" Tie actor g
manager was present and supplied any
little incidents which had been over
looked during the conversation.
1t will be remembered that "Senator
Reynolds was the lion which caused
Mr.. Fitzsimmons to remain in durance
vile in cell at the Coney Island police
station for two hours and q half in the
spring of 1905.
Senator Reynolds, the statesman, had
given the lion-his namesake-to Rob
ert when the animal was only few
months old. With the impeutosity which
frequently characterized his action in
the prize ring, Mr., Fitzsimmons entered
the cage without saying anything TO
Mr., Bostock about the Senator's gift,
and took the little lion away 1t looked
so much like theft to the animal train
er that he caused the fighter g arrest.
For two hours Mr.. Fitzsimmons re-
mained in a cell while the matter was
being explained. AS in the present
case, there was no effort ut the time
to keen the affair from the papers.
81 raised that lion from a pup
mean cub, said Mr. Fitzsimmons, sor-
rowfully, as he departed, "and I Ger.
tainly do hate to give him up; but I got
to go with my show, THE Fight For
Love that's the name of it-have