The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-04
DAVID B SMITH IS Observation-Disclosures
DIES SUDDENLY AT OCCIDENTAL
HOTEL
Heart Trouble Was the Cause-Burled
in the Masonic Cemetery San Fran
cisco-His Island Career.

SAN FRANCISCO, December Esd.
Il, Smith, a wealthy retired merchant
of Honolulu, died suddenly at the Oc-
cidental Hotel shortly before 10 o'clock
last evening. He was seated in a chair
in his apartments, chatting with ms
daughter when the end came. Without
any warning that he was i'll he fell for
ward to the floor, and his daughter,
finding him unconscious and unable to
restore him, quickly summoned assist
ance. DR.. j. V. d. Middleton who re-
sides in the hotel, was called for and
upon examining the PROSTATE form pro-
nounced the man dead. The heart must
have stopped beating the instant he fell
PROSTATE to the floor.
Coroner Hill was notified and his in
quiry into the circumstances attend
ing Smiths sudden demise developed
the fact that half an hour previously
the man had taken a dose of medicine
from bottle marked "Bromidia." How
much of the drug he swallowed at the
time is not known, but of the contents
OF two ounce bottle only a few drops
remained If the bottle contained bro
india the drug may have had some
thing to do with the mans sudden
death. DR.. Middleton and Coroner Hill
both agreed that heart trouble was the
evident couse of death and that the
bromidia had an injurious effect on the
man dlobl utltu lltdIls DTOHlluld COLI
tains considerable proportion of bro
mide of potassium. Smith was taking
the drug, it is stated, for relief from
nervousness. To determine beyond
question the cause of death an autopsy
will be held today and Coroner Hill
will also subject the bromida to chem
ical analysis.
SAN FRANCISCO. December 81
The autopsy on the body of D. B. Smith
showed that death was caused by dila-
tation and fatty degeneration of the
heart which may have been FASTENED
by the drug Coroner Hill explained that
bromidia contains considerable bro.
mide of potassium, a strong heart OPP
preSsant, and is never prescribed by
physicians when they suspect any
weakness of the heart.
| The funeral was held today at
O'Clock from the Masonic Temple. The
interment was at the Masonic cemu-
terry.
David Bowers Smith was born in
Statesville. North Carolina, and was
A years of age at the time of his death
He lived for time In Texas and came
from there here about twelve or thir-
teen years ago. He was engaged first
in the electrical supply and fixture bus.
mess, but soon went into the shoe bus.
mess organizing the Manufacturers
onOe Company. he sou out lnlS DuSl-
ness about a year and half ago, since
which time he has devoted himself tC
travel and the enjoyment of leisure. He
was an early member of the Annexa-
tion Club and was a member of the
Council of State from 1898 to 1895. Al
that time he retired from politics
though he remained a member of the
Bureau of immigration until shortly
before he left the Islands.
He was highly successful in sugar
stock investments and amassed a com.
Portable fortune. His wife died some
years ago. For several months he ha:
been travelling in the east with his only
child, Miss Nav Smith. They had re-
turned to San Francisco from the cas-
only a few days before he died. and
We're expecting shortly to return to tai
Islands.