Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-05-31
a "Reminiscences.

The death, by suicide, OF Capt.
"a. !. FrIts, In San Francisco, the
other day, 10 In many respects q
,boeuliar and lamentable episode,
and Il recalls other incidents quite
g Sensational. This young man
vas . thoroush.going Democrat.
IL the days when Kearney had an
nounced it % his imperious will
that men Of neither Of the old his.
sorioal parties should bold a politi.
cal meeting In San Francisco, sim
TSiarly enough it was left to a
Dem ocratic saloon-kseper to assert
The dignity and freedom of the
American citizen in this State.
Every one remembers the public
meeting at which the Messrs. Pix.
Icy and Plcksring-a melancholy
allitsration-figured as doclle sub
orainatss Of Kearney, although the
assemblags bad been called to re-
bake Keafneyism. The pseudo
hero Of the Sand Lot planted him
self In the center Of the proscenium
ct Platts Hall and issued his com.
uands, which were servilely obey.
Cd, right and left. II was ''PiXiey
20 here, Pickering go there" To
the disgust of an amazed public,
these doughty warriors of the press
ebsyed the lordly commands with
out even . murmur of dissent. The
Instinct Of eelf-respect seemed to be
dead within them. The retrospect
is amusing, but the experience was
highly dispiriting. A. J. Fritz
could write upon his brow no COM
mission of intellectual pse-emi-
neuce. None the less lie had a
world Of pure, thoroughbred man
liness about him. He made up
HE mind that Kearney should not
bully-rag the Democracy of San
Francisco. That organization, in
County Committee, having re-
solved to oppose the new .Constitu-
tiop, determined, at the same time,
20 cit down upon Kearney, at
yfitz's initiative. He esaw no reason
Why q large section Of the people
Of San Francisco should not be ac-
corded free speech, and he antici-
pAsed Rule OF Santa Ana in dis.
polling the demagogic aureola
which clustered around Kearney's
brow. At the meeting called by the
Democratic County Committee, at
YlAtt's Hall, in 1879, Fritz was en-.
tirsly responsive to the situation.
He made preparations for the
event. The County Committee
numbered $50 men, one from every
precinct in the city, most of whom
we're we'll built, muscular young
mon, and be called a special meet.
ing Of the Committee the night be-
fore the meeting and unfolded his
plan for the preservation of order.
It WAS that every member should
70 to the meeting armed with a
heavy walking stick or short club,
which were to be concealed as
much IS possible. The members
were detailed to station themselves
in every part OF the hall to detect
the distur bers, and q detachment
Of between 30 and 40 were stationed
1T the door aud along the vesli-
bu.e. The men obtained entrance
TO the hall by the Bush street door,
and took the stations assigned them
before the main doors were
opened. The operation was con.
Quoted with the utmost secrecy.
Toe mob was outside, bowling for
When all the arrange.
ments were complete tho doors
we're opened and the crowd admit.
ted. Promptly at s o'clock Captain
Fritz, with q modest little address
In his hand, stepped 10 the front of
the platform. The hall and plat.
form were literally packed. Fritz's
was the signal for q
storm Of cat-cslls. 1t was evident
that the Sand Lot element was
present IN force. AS soon as Fritz
attempted to speak two men in the
gallery arose and shouted some-
thing which was not distinguishes.
BILE In the confusion. Fritz's reply
was: "Give it to them, boys; and
give 1t to them good at the start"
In the twinkling Of an eye the dis
turbers Were seized, soundly
ciubbed amidst the widest applause
and turned over to the tender mer.
cles OF the chosen band at the
doors, which was ranged along the
vestibule, and showered an ava.
lanche Of blows upon each intruder
~ he was passed along. After
about twenty-five or thirty indi-
viduals had been disposed Of in this
way the meeting proceeded without
Interruption, the Sand Lot element
quietly retiring from the hall and
gatbsrlng In great force in the
street, hooting and yelling. After
~ adjeurnmsnt OF the meeting
|be County Committee marched in
! bedy up Bush street, followed By
~ ysliipS crowd. Frlts led them
((ne Ksafpsy street, and down
e.. = a.