The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-02-27
A HEROIC NEWFOUNDLAND.
Fritz at the Windsor Theatre Fire
Death After a Gallant Act
New York JOurual.1

New York Journal.1
Among the unpublished heroes Of
the Windsor theatre was Christian
Johnston's dog. who went up In a
blaze of glory. Fritz was q big New
foundland, q great pet in the Hart
mann hotel, next door to the theatre.
He wa in love with his masters
little daughter. Julia, four years old.
They were always together. The dog
slept at the foot Of her bed by night,
and she was never out of his sight.
He saved her lite twice b fore the
destruction of the Windsor. She
would have been drowned off Coney
Island last summer had it not been
for Fritz. Little Julia %innocently
ran ont to meet An incoming wave.
The dog saw the danger his little
mistress courted and dashed after her,
bringing her to land before the reced-
ing wave could drag her out. Again
the child was intrusted to a green
German lad to be taken to a dime
museum. Fritz went along also. Tie
boy carelessly dropped the child
before the feet Of galloping Third
avenu street a horses. Fritz
bounded on the track between the
horses and Julia and the child was
snatched from danger by a gentle
man.
No wonder then that Fritz was
treated more AS u member of the
Johnston family than as a dependant
and ate his meals at the same table in
the dining room with them. He
could do everything but talk and s
a knife and fork. When the cry of
"Fire!!" startled the lower end of the
Bowery's transient and regular pop
ulation, Fritz was awake. He barked
Justify, for the door. was shut upon
himself and Mr.J ohnstOn's daughter.
In the hurry Julia had been over
looked. But quickly the missing face
flashed upon father and mother, and
the look of anguish that spread over
their features will ever be relnenl-
bered by the 0n-lOokers. The parents
searched through all the groups that
stood around viewing the scene with
that awe that hlood-red flames,
frlnged with dense black smoke,
always inspire. But no Julia all
swered their frenzied call. BY this
time the police line had been formed
and all who might have been OF
service were driven back indiscrim-
inately with the obtrusive sight-see-
ers.
"Oh, save my Julia!" cried the
heartsick father, while the mother
lay flaming in his rms
"Too late now" said the nearest
policeman; mo II would dare to
enter that furnace" The officer
spoke truly, no one would. The heat
was uncomfortable within forty feet
Of the outer wall.
AT this moment the wind blew
away the smoke from the hotel ell
trance and the flames lighted up the
heroic deed. Down through the
fiery hallway came q singed some
thing on four legs, holding i'll his
mouth a senseless something else. 1t
was Fritz bearing Julia. How the
dog opened the bedroom door will
never be known. But he brought
the child safely through death to her
father, who was now weeping for joy.
When he dropped his bundle gently
at his masters feet she was alive and
soon recovered.
But the dog!
A policeman saw the dog inside the
fire line and rushed at him with ex-
tended club. from the other side,
towards which Fritz turned to flee,
darted another policeman, bent Oh
the same mission. The dog saw that
he was hemmed in and that there
was no escape from being dubbed TO
death.
And the dog chose il!
Back into the fiery furnace he flew
with the officers just behind. Not
h%esitating, the dog gave one howl.
and then disappeared in all ocean of
flame. The fire wsxed hotter and
hotter, the walls fell, and amid the
great whirlwind of flame and smoke
the faithful animal yielded up his
life.