The Death of Mr. David Proudfoot.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 75, 31 March 1891, Page 2

The Death of Mr. David Proudfoot.

Mr. David Proudfoot, tbo railway oontraotor, died suddenly shortly before 9 o'clock thi3 morning (20th March), at St. Kilda private Hospital, Woolloomooloo. The deceased was suffering from a most painful complaint, and had been attended by l>r. Knaggs, and in onFeqnanoo of the seriousness of his coudition it was deemed necessary to perform a surgioal operation. This was about to be carried out this morning, and in consequenoe an anteithetio had to- be administered. Dr. Crago administer d the drng, and Dr. Knaggs was to perform the oprration. Only a pmall quantity of the drug was used, when tho patient's pulse) was observed to beootne weak, and his face livid. Means were at once adopted with a view of resuscitating the pationt, and artificial means of respirafon wero applied for upwards of an hour, but without sucoos3, and life was pronounced to be extinct. The news of Mr. Proudfcot's death cast quite a gloom over the Government offices this morning— especially in the Works and Railway Departments, where tho deceased gentleman was well known ns being about tho largtst railway contractor in tho colony. The suddenness of the Bad event led at first to the idea that the rumour was false ; more especially as Mr. Proudfoot no longer ago thm yesterday afternoon was transacting business at tbe Works office Aftor leaving that pi ice he returned to his offloe in Phillipstreet, and attended to business as usual, leavirg there for the hospital about halfpaf,t 5 o'clock. 'J here is a very fitrange coincidence with respect to tho death* of Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Proudfoot. The first news of the death of tbe member for Newcastle was telegraphed to Mr. Proudfoot, and yesterday a friend found him very mnch distressed. He was lamenting he had not gone to Melbourne to sco Mr. Fletcher, and also regretting he bad postponed from day to day undergoing a necessary operation. " Died at 8 o'clock this mording," said Mr P ondfoot. ' I wish it had been I instead of James Fletoher. I may tell jon the very last act of Fletoher' s was to interfere in my libel suit on behalf of the very men who were running him down in politic! 1 . I suppose, however," continued Mr. Proudfoot, " Now that Fletoher is gone we will hear in the papers how good a man he was. But he can't read it. What a fool of a thing it is we can't Bay I some'hing good about a man before he dies." This morning, however, at almost the same hour, death stilled the heart of Mr. Proudfoot as it had the day before stilled the heart of Mr Fletcher. He expressed great aversion to undergoing the operation, but f&id he supposed he bad to submit. He f-aid he had done his share of work in the world, and had funk £100,000 in contracts in Australia. — Sydney Evenicg News.