New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-08
COL. R. L. FOX KILLED
FALLS FROM AUTOMOBILE
NE4R NEWBURG.
ET-Secretary of Republican State
Committee Dies in Hospital
in That City.
IBy relesraph 10 The Tribune-I ]

Newburg N Y, Sept. 7.-Colonel Reuben L.
Fox for many wears secretary of the Republican
State Committee. and close personal frlehu Oh
Ex-Governor b. B. OdeL killed this atter-
noon, by falling from automobile IN which
he was riding. at Wallis Gate, about five miles
south OF this CITY. on the main road to New
York Colonel Fox was conscious when picked
up, but lie became unconscious while being
taken to St. Lukes Hospital, where he died
within five minutes after his reception
Colonel Fox arrived in Newburg shortly after
noon in his automobile. a large touring car
driven by Samuel S Skinner. He had been on
a fifteen hundred-mile trip through the New
England States, and was on his way TO New
York City AS he was an intimate friend OF the
Odell family he decided to call on the former
Governor. Mr. Odell. however. was at Arden
House. the home of E. H. Hartman, and Colonel
Fox. after calling on Mrs. Odell, started for New
York
Mr. Skinner drove the rapidly from New
burg to Wallis Gate. and just on the other side
of that hamlet came upon another car going IN
the same direction. According to Sklnners
story he turned to the left, intending to pass
the other machine the right The road is
narrow at that point and the Fox car was close
TO the ditch on the left side Of the road APP
parently Colonel Fox. who was riding on the
front seat beside Skinner, thought his machine
was going to fall into the ditch, for he stood
up and warned the chauffeur to be careful
AS Skinner turned TO reassure Colonel Fox,
the machine lurched and Colonel Fox was
thrown off his balance. The chauffeur reached
over to catch him, but Colonel Fox fell headlOng
out of the car. His attention taken away from
the wheel, Skinner lost control Of the car mo-
mentarily and 1t started off at high speed down
the grade. He was able to bring it to stop
about fifty yards further on. When he jumped
bac IN NE-hp Colonel
fallen he found that the other had stopped
also and the occupants had lifted the injured
man from the ditch. Colonel Fox asked if Skin
ner was all right and if the car was badly
damaged.
Skinner then rushed to a telephone and in
formed the Odell family of the accident Bryant
Ode son of the former Governor, and Dr.
Burke sped TO the scene in an automobile On
their arrival they found Colonel Fox still con-
scious. and decided to remove him TO st. Luke's
Hospital When they reached the hospital the
colonel was unconscious, and he died before the
physicians could make an examination of his
injuries. A superficial examination later dis
closed the fact that Colonel Fox had died from
concusson of the brain. His skull not
fractured and there were few bruises on his
body. 1t was thought at first that his death
was due TO shock of apoplexy.
According to the friends of Colonel Fox, Skin
on the recent trip it is said he had been
cautioned several times by Colonel Fox about
passing cars on the wrong side OF the road
Ex-Governor Odell was greatly shocked when
he learned of Mr.. Foxs death. He and Colonel
Fox had been friends for about thirty years
When the body was sent to Newburg the for
mer Governor took charge of it. and got into
communication with the coloners friends in
various parts of the state.
Colonel Fox was born in Chenango County
about seventy years ago. He was the son of H
and Sally NJ. Fox. He received his early educa
tiOn in his native town, and later entered the
Cazenovia Seminary. from which he was gradu-
ated. He was veteran of the Civil War hav-
ing served with the. cavalry throughout He was
better known in New York financial districts
and Republican political circles than in his home
city of OneOnta.
Colonel Fox was at one time leader of the Re
publican organization in Otsego County. About
fifteen years ago a hospital was erected at
OneOnta. and IT is understood that Colonel Fox
was the principal contributor to the building
fund of the institution. He was director of
the Central Hudson Transportation Company
the T. F. MARVEL Shipbuilding Company, the
Staples & Hanford Manufacturing Company and
the National Eectrolytic Company He was a
member of Battery A. 1st New York Artillery,
and the 22d New York Cavalry, and also was a
member of the following clubs: The Union
League. the Lotos and the Republican, OF New
York; the Fort Orange, of Albany, and the
Oneonta of Oneonta.
For many years Colonel Fox lived at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. In later years he made his
home at the Republican Club
From the time when Alonzo B. Cornell was
Governor almost to comparatively recent years
Colonel Fox was secretary of the Republican
State Committee. For almost a quarter of a
century he was a conspicuous figure at both the
Republican state and national conventions He
was member of Senator Platt's Amen Corner