The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
THE L|FEBOAT'S BARON,
A Distinguished Foreigner
Who Has Startled the
Weary RaggleS.
He Looks Like One OF Ouida'S
Heroes and Speaks Well Six
Languages.

For the last few days there has been sur
prise, not unmixed with awe, among the
nightly visitors at the Salvation Army life
boat. Men of the Weary Raggles type
lmping in, footsore and worn, in search of
bed and nights blissful repose, have
been almost startled into asking questions
by the sight of a distinguished-loo
man, so far removed from the type usually
seen at the hfeboat that they at once chris
tened him THE Swell"
Even the drunks, stumbling to their xn
downstairs quarters, have cast glances of
respect at the strangers six feet of height
and his stylish military bearing, and won
dered vaguely whether they had not wan
dered into fashionable club by mistake,
until they have caught sight of the night
watchmans familiar red vest and his army
cap, and with sigh of relief have sham
bled off to the place apportioned to them.
In the morning, however, when the
Weary Raggles have rested and the DRINKS
have recovered what is by courtesy called
their reason, they have discussed the
"swell" among themselves and few of
advanced views have gone far enough to
declare that a man who SO obviously be-
longs to the upper classes" had no right
TO intrude his aristocratic presence upon
the Lifeboat, though those who entered
into conversation with him found him
quiet ana unassuming, though trihe re-
served.
actly in his element in his present sur
roundings, though he possesses the precious
gift of adapting himself to circumstances.
If he had registered at the Palace or the
Occidental Hotel, instead of at the Life
boat, he would have been Immediately rec
ognized by the four hundred and would
perhaps have been the recipient of pink
and orange luncheons and five-o'clock mu-
sicaleS, for he belongs to one of the oldest
families in Europe and rejoices in the title
of Baron Fridolf Nicolaus Won Fitinghoff.
The Baron is native of Stockholm,
where his father and elder brother are
well-known figures in the society of that
city. Fridolf Nicolaus Won Fitinghoff was
educated at the University of Upsala. He
assiduously cultivated, and in the course
of his education and of his travels he
learned to speak, in addition to his native
language, Norwegian, Danish, French,
German and Russian.
The Baron was intended for military
career, but his lungs not proving suf-
ficiently strong to pass the medical ex-
Stockholm to study the career of finan-
cier.
Before long, however, his soul rebelled
against office work and, despite the pro-
tests of his family, he insisted on coming
to America, to see the country ana Incl
dentally live free and independent life.
There had been so much said against his
coming and he had shown SO much indie
pendence in the matter that he neglected
to make any preliminary arrangements to
become remittance" man.
At first the Baron did not do badly. He
had good letters of introduction and settled
at Rye, near New York, where he utilized
his musical knowledge by giving concerts
and taking pupils for the pianoforte. A
short time ago he decided to come West.
and the experiment has so far proved
disastrous to his hopes of success.
There seemed to be enough musicians in
San Francisco already, and the Baron's
knowledge of languages did not material
ize into bread and butter. In fact the
Baron Fridolf Won Fitinghoff was stranded
here, when compatriot belonging to the
Salvation Army took him to the Lifeboat,
where Captain McFee is confident of soon
finding position.
When seen last night the Baron proved
to be tall, well set up young man, about
q years of age, of the Anglo-Saxon, mill
tary-looking type that Ouida glories in
describing. He was faultlessly dressed,
spoke good English and chatted on differ
emit SUBJECTS with the careless ease OF
man thoroughly accustomed to society.
When asked about his own plans, he stated
that he should probably return to Stock
holm before the end of the winter. He
added that his father was wealthy, and
that he was in constant communication
with him, but that he preferred to return
home through his own exertions, instead of
writing to Stockholm that his Western ex-
periences had resulted in failure.
In the meantime, the Lifeboat is grow
ing quite aristocratic to have real live
baron residing within its precincts.