Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-26
R. ID. FOX's FATAL FALL.
Full Particulars Concerning the Ace
dent on the Western Texas.


PORT ROYAL, :. c., Oct. 25.-Tuesday
evening about 8 O'Clock, as the steamer
Western Texas, Captain Risk, was max
ing ready to leave her dock the report
came that some one had fallen down the
after-hatchway. 1t was found to be r..
ID. Fox, of Fox q Burns, of St. Mary's.
Ga. The steamers officers had him i'm
mediately taken up and carefully carried
to the Captains room, where everything
possible was done for him. A special
messenger was sent to Beaufort for Dr.
IL. NJ. Stuart, who came down immedi-
ately, but Mr.. Fox had died in the mean
time, about an hour after the fall. An
examination showed that he had
broken his left leg near the ankle, bruised
MS head. and received other injuries.
The steamer was detained and the County
Coroner summoned. Wednesday the in
quest was held, and the officers and
several OF the passengers testified as to
the circumstances attending the sad
event. The jury, after a rigid examina-
tiOn of all the witnesses, rendered the
following verdict at II O'Clock: 'sWe find
that h. ID. Fox, the deceased, came to his
death on the evening of the 23d of OctO-
ber, 1888, by accidentally falling down
the hatchway of the steamship Western
Texas, and this jury can find no evidence
when Will in any way cause blame to
attach to the officers of the ship" The
steamer was then allowed to proceed on
her voyage. The jury was very intelli-
gent one.
THE PURSER's STORY.
FERNANDINA, FLA, Oct. 25.-The
steamship Western Texas arrived here at
I O'clock this morning, bearing the re-
mains of X. d. Fox, of St: Mary's, Ca,
who came to his death at Port Royal on
the night of the 23d by falling down the
after hatch of said ship. Purser Witt
gives the following particulars: "The
snip had Just finished discharging and
was on the eve Of departing for this port.
when Mr.. Fox, who had been forward,
walked on deck and proceeded to the
social hall, and when he came to the
hatchWay. which is directly in front of the
hall, stumbled and fell through. The
hatch was protected by the usual
ropes, and was we'll lighted. He was
also warned by the watchmap whom he
passed. Immediately after the accidents
dispatch was sent to Beaufort for doc
tor, and Purser Witt started in double
team for him. The doctor arrived in two
hours, but found Mr.. Fox dead, having
lived only one hour. The Coroner's in
quest was held. The verdict was that
death was accidental from falling down
'Ht h"tCh' iiC OH ~ w dS tlGld1 GU II nOllfS
at Port Royal by his DEATH"
Mr.. Fox came to Savannah from Eng
land about 40 years ago, and for long
time carried on the business of a baker.
lie afterwards removed to Darien. and
thence to St. Mary's. At the latter place
he was agent for the old Merchants and
Planters Bank, and for years was one of
the firm of S. L. Burns & Co., and after
wards of Fox q Burns, mill men and mer
chants, and at the time of his death was
carrying on business as the successor to
these firms.
The deceased was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Dixon, by whom he
had one daughter, Mrs. William Latti-
more, of this city. His second wife was
Miss Ellen Lachlison, daughter of the late
Robert LachlisOn, Esq, of this city. This
lady died last year, leaving three chill
dren. Mr.. Fox was a remarkable
man in many respects. Though
nearly 20 years of age, he had the activity
and vitality of man of middle age, and
bid fair to live far beyond the average.
His remains are expected by the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western Railway this
morning. The funeral will take place at
10 O'Clock, from the residence of Mrs.
baltimore, No. 50 Barnard street. The
interment will be in BOnaventure Gene