The morning call., 1893-01-10
HIS LAST PROTEST.
E. w. Piayter's Sudden
Death i'm Oakland.
THE PROPHECY FULFILLED.
Declaring Against the Boulevard Con-
tract-The Ex-Mayor Becomes
Unconscious and Dies.
THE PROPHECY FULFILLED.

There Is a vacancy in the Oakland Board
of Public Works.
81 will continue to protest with my dying
breath against awarding the contract for
doing this boulevard work." said Eli W.
Playter at the special nesting called at
p. NJ. yesterday.
He took his seat and his head fell for
ward on the table.
Others rushed to him and lifted him up,
thinking that he was in faint. They
chafed his hands and feet and some one
rushed across the street. returning with a
glass of brandy. 1t was given him, and life
remained fluttering for a few minutes.
Physicians were telsphoned for, among
whom we're DrS. Dunn. Buteau and Larkey,
who arrived within fifteen minutes, but it
was too late.
While they bent over him be died. lying
prone upon the door. He never spoke after
be fell forward. The cause was attributed
TO heart disease.
In the deatf-chamber a few moments
afterward Commissioners Hughes and
Carothers adopted the resolution TO award
the dredging of the boulevard work to
John Hackett of the California Bridge
Company and the construction Of the wall
to +. 3. Some.
This was after the body had been re-
moved to the Playter residence at 1167
Castro street His death did not break up
the meeting but only interrupted It, so
determined were the other two Commits
sioners to put the scheme through.
They had TO do it, for the twenty days
allowed by law we're up and the bids must
be either rejected or the contract given. 1t
was q special meeting called to consider
them.
In his speech against awarding the con-
tracts Commissioner Playter had grown
greatly excited. contendng that the price
was exorbitant and referring to the letter
sent by one Of the bidders acknowledging
that the figures had been placed too high
and asking that the bids be rejected.
There are serious doubts, said Mr. Play
ter, whether the contractor will ever get
his money and l give notice Of that fact
now"
AS he took his seat Mr. Haekett arose in
the lobby and said: mir. President |
would like TO say. in reply to Mr. Playter-"
Futher words were lost, for panic en-
sued when Mr.. Playter, who had grown
visbly paler, fell forward.
The City Hall corridors were crowded
few MINUTES afterward, the news having
spread very rapidly.
Among the throBg was his daughter, who
had been notified by telephone and who
visited the City Hall without hat or cloak,
but too late to give aid to her dying father.
The rooms were dim with approaching
darkness and the scene was most ORA
matte one. -
Commissioner Playter was Y years old.
He came 10 Oakland from Western New
York in 1851 and for many years was en-
gagged in the hardware business Making
his fortune he retired. He had been in
official life for many years. He was a
member of the Board of Education in the
'7O'S and served as Mayor of the city during
1885 So.
For the past four years he had been a
member of the Board of Public Works
His term would have expired on the list of
next April.
He was Republican. but belonged to the
conservative element of politics and in-
Cured the bitter enmity of those generally
regarded as working in the interests OF
rings and combinations.
Aside from his public duties he was
director Of the Oakland Bank of Savings,
and his fortune is estimated al half mil
lion.
He has been a widower for many years.
and has only two children. both daughters.
one of whom is married. f1e was one of the
trustees of the First NJ. Z. Church.
Both the Council and the Board of Edu-
cation adjourned in respect TO his memory
last night. and to-day the City Hall and the
hre-engine houses win be draped in mourn
ing. The flag on the City Hall was hung at
halfmast last evening.