The morning call., 1894-08-19
BARON FRITSCH OUT.
No Longer Superintendent of
Aullman'S Hotel.
Interesting Chapters ir the Check
cred and Remarkable Career of
the Talented Veteran.


Fritsch. officer of the German army, duel
list. veteran of the American civil war,
and gentleman whose years have been
crowded with romance and adventure, is
no longer en- employee of the Pullman Pal
ace Car Company. At o'clock Thursday
evening he was released from the duties
of superintendent of Hotel Florence at
Pullman. position he had graced since
the close of the Worlds Fair.
For some time Baron Won Fritsch has
been in hot water. His life has been made
burden by a number of petty officials of
the Pullman Company. with the result
that the Baron's resignation was requested
with view. it was stated, to reduce ex-
penses."
Baron Fritsch comes Of distinguished
ancestry. His father for nearly a third of
q fury held one of the most important
posts in the diplomatic service of the Ger
man Empire. The Baron sought distiuc-
tion in the German army. He became q
cavalry officer. One evening, while in
command of troop. a retired officer Sc
verely criticized the maneuvers. A duel
was arranged and the Baron killed his an
tagonist.
After the breaking out of the Civil War
the Baron came to America and personally
rendered his services to President Lincoln.
He was informed that before entering the
service he must become citizen of one of
the Northwestern States. After several
Intellectual attempts 10 get into the army
without going through that formality
he met a colonel Of New York
regiment just organizing and was made
captain. He served all through the war.
From clerking In New York dry-goods
store, where be whipped an insulting floor
walker, he became a tutor of French in
private families and later filled the chair
of modern languages in Johns Hopkins
University. Then he fell violently in love
with a New York heiress. whose mamma
herself was attracted by him. and the up
shot of that romance was that the Baron
broke away from both and peddled organs
while waiting for his remittances from
abroad.
Drifting to New Orleans he met the SON
of a Central American merchant who en-
gagged him as chief bookkeeper for the
concern. He journeyed to Central Amer
lea only to have his contract repudiated.
A society of German merchants furnished
funds to carry him 10 Mexico. There he
found employment in large commercial
house. While riding on the esplanade his
charming manner caught the young daugh-
ter of Mexico's President. The infatua-
ton was mutual.
"The President sent for me one day."
the Baron said. land told me he could not
allow civilian to wed his daughter. We
had long conversation and he finally de-
cided to make me an officer in the army.
lie Immediately offered a reward of $780,
COO for the capture of band of rebels,
and to keep the money in the family put
me In charge of an expedition to make the
capture. Flushed with the prospect of
marrying Presidents daughter and get
ting SO much money from the Government
l undertook the expedition.
while approaching their camp a rapid
fire was opened on our ranks. / was cap
tured, tried and sentenced to be shot. Two
hours before the execution, while lying
bound to a tree. l heard Frenchman's
voice and began talking TO him like
native Partisan. deceived him by a story
that l was a Frenchman VINO had been
beguiled into the expedition without
knowing what it meant and explained
that l cherished no feeling toward the
rebels.
''It was decided that my life should be
spared il returned to Germany at once.
The Frenchman gave me his word of
honor and / was put on an outgoing
steamer, with the parting words that ]
would be shot II remained on this side
of the Atlantic. At Havana l escaped
from the vessel, sold my ticket and sailed
for Mexico, but afterward abandoned the
journey"
The Baron passed through number of
exciting episodes before coming TO Chi
cago. In the days before the fire he was
in the real estate business. Last summer
he was in charge of Mr.. Pullman's exhibit
at the fair, and at its close was installed
as superintendent of the Hotel Florence.