Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-21
TRUE TO HIS TRUST.
Death of an Old and Well-Known
Character of This City.
UNCLE JOHN FOX is NOW NO MORE.
One of PittsburgS Early Detectives, Relic
of the Time When
THE CITY WAS FORMED OF FOUR WARDS

y
on to perform the last office for one of the
city's oldest residents; one who, in his
official capacity, connected the present with
| the time when the city had but four wards.
| Captain John Fox, familiarly known as
''Uncle John" by thousands of people, died
night before last, at his residence on Logan
| street. in the 18th year of his age. Deceased
| left the police force about 25 years ago, so he
was not much known by latter-day police
men, but his face was familiar to all, and to
| millions besides city residents as he had
! been in charge of the Union depot from 1854
until 1889. During that time large part of
the nation, as well as foreigners, passed
through the gateway of the Mississippi
Valley" and none were too lowly to receive
recognition from "Uncle John" when frantic
regarding the direction they wished to take.
"Uncle John" will be buried in his wedding
suit, which is over so years old, but in good
state of preservation.
A Sketch of the Deceased.
John Fox was born in England and came
to this country nearly 60 years ago. He was
stonemason and worked on the old court
house. the second one built in this county.
He then became member of the city's
police force, and was jailor under Sheriff
Magill. Subsequently he was Chief of Police
under several Mayors, and silver-headed
men can remember how, when they were
boys he made them walk chalk line at
the old Drury, when Henderson ran 1t. They
remember him kindly, however, for there
was nothing of the tyrant in his compost
tion.
In 1860 the Pennsylvania Railway Com
pany found him to be the man it needed,
and he was, with Station Master Butler, put
in charge of the old depot on Grant street.
In 1870 the company made him Chief of
in connection with his position as court
crier and tipstave in the United States
Courts, to which position he had been ap-
pointed in 1871. Here he was general
favorite, as elsewhere, and lawyers and
judges always felt it incumbent on them to
take a pinch of snuff when Uncle John"
offered it. He kept the position as long as
he was able to get to the Court House.
Nearly half a century ago he was shot in the
side while making an arrest at a ball, and
the bullet he carried in his body for many
slightly. He was also the Pittsburg agent of
Allan Pinkerton, of Chicago, for many
years.
John Fox leaves a wife and several daugh-
ters. His son Richard was baggage agent
running between this city and New York
and died about year ago from injuries re-
ceived in a wreck near Philadelphia. A
grandson, John Fox, is employed in the bag
gage department at Union station. a daugh-
ter is the wife of Mr.. McMasters, a con-
tractor.
To Be Buried by Brother Masons.
Deceased was the only Past Master in st.
Johns Lodge, F. A. NJ, and had been a mem
Der 81 years. The society will have charge
of the funeral.
Before the War Of the Rebellion Fox and
Hague were supposed by the boys of the
foothills of the Alleghenies to be the only
detectives out side of Bow street, London,
and their presence in any town this side of
Altoona inspired youth with awe. In those
days there were but four wards in the city
and they were the two of the four old-time
constables who rose to distinction. Robert
Hague went over Jordan some years age.
He was a character in his way, hard
worker and one who could out malaprop
Mrs. Malaprop. Many funny slips of the
tongue are recorded of him. Once he was
very much interested in sending criminal
to the penitentisry: The fellow had money
said to Hague: "You might as well give over.
We have gotten a special allocatur to take
the case to the Supreme Court" Said Hague,
Il don't care = for all the alligators in
the Mississippi That will go to the
penitentiary."
Another story is told of his taking ram
BILE one day with Colonel Diehl, a quaint
man who died some years ago. They were
at the Red Lion stables and Colonel Diehl
ventured near the heels of vicious mule
which was making threatening demonstra-
tions. Hague caught Diehl by the arm and
pulling him back remarked: "Take care,
Colonel that mule is fictious," Colonel
Diehl drew himself to his full height and
scornfully corrected Hague as follows:
"Factitious, you blamed old idiot" Detec-
tive Hague stood corrected. bowling to the
superior knowledge of Diehl.
Not Meant as an Aspersion.
Chief Hague's Interpretations of language
would fill columns. A gay Lothario he rem
dered gay Lutheran" without intending
any disrespect to the followers of Luther's
creed When John Covode ran for Con-
gress, Democratic editors and stumpers re-
vamped Hagues lingual slips and oddities,
and credited them to the father of the
famous investigating committee, and the
alligator story stuck. They made Covode
say: "The allegation is false, and the alli-
gator knows it."
"Uncle Johns" health failing about two
years ago, and it being evident that he would
never be himself again, diabetes being added
to the burden of nearly four score years, the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company relieved
him on pension, but he has been able at in