The Sunday morning news., 1891-09-27
OLD EDDIE FOX.
An Interesting Story of the
Boss Of the Governors
Ante-Room.
ONCE A DRUMMER BOY.
He Was Protege Of Marcus 1.
Ward, and He Knows Every
Prominent Nan in the
state.
ONCE A DRUMMER BOY.
spseiai g tbs Isrssg ciIe NsIgs.

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man II New Jersey knows 'sEadIep Fox.
He i 90 the State payroll as Edward Fox.
but hs Is tha same Eddien now that he
was when he wgs a mite OF drummer
boy, and Governor Marcus Ward tapped
him on the shoulder in quiet admiration
for the manner In which be handled the
drum sticks. No one can see the Governor
Of New Jersey unless ha first sees Eddie
Fox. He sits in the oater chamber and
gives the State celebrities the first saIut a.
tion and warns them when not to 20 into
the sanctum sanctorum of the Chief Exec
utlve Of the State. 'sEddEss has been do
ing this kind OF duty Tor nine Governors
and he mas therefore bsen familiar tig-
pre in the choicest part Of the State for
over twenty-five years. This, by the
way, makes Edward Fox the oldest sex
ecutive clerk IN the United States No
other State can boast OF one in service so
long. Ohio has chief clerk in the Ex-
ecutive Department who has been doing
duty for nine years. but he is a baby Ia
comparison to Eddie -
No great man ever Journeys to Trenton
without calling on the Governor. On
that account Eddie has become ac-
quainted during his twenty-five years Of
service with nearly every prominent man
LII btC lotAtrs KlE Eau 1USllY 0GaSI OF
knowing more State celebrities than any
other Jerseyman. He not only knows
their faces, but he even has their Initials
down tine and their street number right
on the end OF his tongue. Eddie" Fox
carries in his vest pocket watch that
has no price 1t is a great timepiece with
q gorgeous monogram on the outside lid,
but on the inside lid is an inscription
that makes 1t choice bit OF jewelry. It
tells that the watch was presented to him
as mark OF esteem by Governors Ward,
Randolph. Bedies Parker, Mcclellan and
Ludlow. Some of the State officials were
also Interested In the gift.
Yne fact that he has served nine Gov
ernors IS interesting in itself, but the
narrative IS given a touch OF romance
when the beginning Of AIr. Fox's career
is considered.
DRUMMER BOY.
In the early days OF the war there was
mite OF drummer IN the Fifth New
Jersey Regiment. He was only fifteen
years OF age, but the manner in which he
handled his drum-sticks and walked at
the head of the drum corps was cousid-
cred one of the features of Hooker's Di-
vision He was the smaiiest-of the corps
put made the most noise. Marcus L.
Ward saw him one day and liked the
business air OF the little chap Of the drum
sticks, 50 he wandered over to the drum
corps tents aud picked out the diminu-
tive drummer.
What is your name. little manf''
Edward Fox, sir, OF Trenton. 2
SIS there anything can do for you at
Trenton? I'm going there tomorrow"
Yes, sir. Take this TO my sister and
tell her am we'll
The drummer lboy handed TO the phi
lantar0pist new so gold piece. Marcus
Ward took the trouble to hunt out Ed
dies family. and as be made frequent
visits to the front. he never failed to
bring some trlnket or message from Fox's
home and carry one back for him. This
was the beginning of a great Friendship
Fox went out with Captain Gould in
the Fifth New Jersey. which WAS re-
cruited at Trenton. 1t was General
Mott that urged Fox to go. He had from
child been phenomenal drummer, and
before the war he did the drumming for
the old Company A of Trenton. now in
the Seventh Regiment. which Quarter
master General D0nnelly commanded
He was so small that there was doubt
about him, bnt General Mott declared be
would beat any boy in the country getting
music out OF sheep skin. He was Il
camp opposite the pit battery in Vir-
ginia, In the lower Potomac, when he
first met his benefactor and friend.
WHEN WARD WAS ELECTED.
In the year 1865 Marcus l.. Ward was
elected Governor. He selected William
OHyLOl Oh lfElE0Il d5 his pElN&t& Sec
reEary. At that time Alex Hickey was the
Clerk of the Executive Department. His
services were wanted In the Secretary of
States Office, where he has been ever
since Tnis left vacancy for Governor
Ward, and when he came to consider it
he said to Secretary Dayton:-ssDo you
know a young man in this city named
Fox?"
what. Fox the drummer'n
Eyes, the same"
81 ought to; / walked behind his drum
for some years when he drummed for
Company A, of which I was a mem
ber. -
Fox was sent for. and he approached
the Executive Chamber. which was then
in the rear of the State House with some
nisgivings. He was then but eighteen
years of age. a STRIPPING, and small one
at that. The Governor recei we'd him cor
daily and informed him that he wanted
a clerk, and he had decided t give it TO
soldier. ana he pointedlY ask ed Fox il be
would like it. Fox gave weak ~ es,
sir for an answer. His penn anship was
tried, and being a good writer, he WAS
promptly accepted aud inductea into his
Office at salary of $50 month.
AS Executive CLERK he necessarily be-
came familiar with the details of every
administration. He remembers the
labor troubles that occurred during the
term of Governor Randolph, and the con-
cern which they gave Governor Ra n
dolph was obliged to caIl out the militia
OF the State and it was Fox's duty TO go
to Jersey City and post the official pro-
clamation OF the Governor calling for
order.
QUEER "REMINISCENCES.
II was during the term of Governor
Bedle that the Frog war occurred be-
tween the Bound Brook and Pennsyl-
vania Railroads. The National Guards
were called out. The headquarters were
established at the State House, and
Governor Bedle took charge and remained
on duty night and day for week. at
that time General Sewell was in active
command OF the troops.
Governor Parker the Executive Clerk had
duty TO perform Ewhich rather tried
him. Lusig Nanni, an Italian. was con-
vIcted or murder in the Morris County
Court. He stabbed to the heart the ma n
that had betrayed his wife. Governor
Parker became much interested in the
case, and was persuaded that Nanni
should n0r be hung. On the day fixed for
the execution hetgranted q reprieve and
called the Court OF Pardons, and urged
them TO favorablv consider the cemm d tn
tion of sentence OF aeath TO i'm prisonment
for life The case had attracted much
attention, and when the Court of Paa-
dous met there was an array OF eminent
counsel, who plead for the Italian. The
Court did not act favorably on the case
It WAS Fox's daty 20 take to the con-
ienned man the death warrant. He went