Obituaries Australia

Alexander Mitchell

B 3024, State Library of South Australia

It is our painful duty this week to re - cord the sudden death of Mr Alexander Mitchell, the well-known landlord of the Mount Gambier Hotel. His death occurred at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and was so awfully sudden and unexpected that, it cast quite a gloom over the place, Mr Mitchell up till Tuesday morning, was in his usual state of health. On that morning, however, on getting up he complained of a pain, in his throat, which gradually increased. Medical aid was summoned, but notwithstanding every effort to give him relief, his death occurred at the hour, we have mentioned. His death was, we believe, caused by congestion of the lungs though evident symptoms of disease of the heart were also present. In the removal of Mr Mitchell from among us, we lose one of the earliest resident of this district and the founder of Mount Gambier. Some twenty years ago he arrived here with Mr N. Black, and for years managed one of his stations. After quitting that gentleman's employment he purchased a considerable quantity of the finest land in this neighbourhood, a portion of which he subsequently laid out in this township.

Yesterday the remains of the deceased, were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of the inhabitants. The stores and places of business were all shut on the occasion. At the grave the Rev Mr Caldwell gave a solemn and im pressive address, exhorting all to be prepared for the change that would sooner or later come to each of them. After prayer the body was consigned "earth to earth and dust to dust," and the dull rattle of the clods on the coffin soon, told that all that was mortal of a well known form had for ever passed away.

Mr Mitchell was comparatively a young man, being only in the 41st year of his age.