Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
COUNT DE VECCHrS DEATH
General Opinion That It Was the Result Of
an Experiment.
Supposed That He Ate Poisonous
Been Rendered Harmless.

1t is now the general opinion that Col
Achilles de Vecchi, who died from mush.
roc poisoning, met his death from eat
ing fungi of the variety which he knew to
be poisonous, but which he thought had
been so treated as to render them harm
less 1t was supposed at the time that
the unfortunate man had COMPOUNDED the
amanita muscaria with the amanita cae-
serea. Thomas A. Williams of the De-
partment of Agriculture and president OF
the Washington Theological Club Is of
the opinion that the mushrooms were eaten
with a full knowledge of their character
and not by accident.
lit appears that Col de Vecchi had been
testing mushrooms for some time, and
considered the vIrulent properties of the
amanita muscaria mad been oyereStimated
He accordingly experimental with it. The
skin was removed ard possibly treated in
other ways, and then it was eaten in con-
siderable quantities.
Mr.. Williams thinks DR.. Kelley simply
followed Col. de Vecchi's directions. 1t is
probable that he made test with silver.
Any mushroom or fungus which is sup
posed to be poisonous, it is claimed, will
blacken silver when applied to it. Mr.
Williams says that none of these tests
are infallible, and that a person should
be as certain that what he is eating is
a non-pOisolous fungus as he Is of a po-
The Theological Club.
1t is a rather curious fact that the To-
cal Theological Club, organized for the
study of edible and poisonous fungi, was
organized only a few days before Col. de
Vecchi and DR.. Kelley were poisoned.
The Washington Theological Club was
organized with a view of bringing together
ali persons interested scientifically or eco
nomically in the study of fungi. The prn-
cipal objects of the club are the identifi-
cation and classification of fungi, particu-
larry the larger and fleshier sorts, and to
study the edible species and the nOXiouS
and poisonous kinds likely to be mistaken
for them; TO arouse a greater interest in,
and wider appreciation of, these plants
as n source of food, and to gather and
disseminate information regarding edible
and injurious kinds by means of exhibit
tons, lectures and publications, and to
make a special study of the fungus flora
of Washington and vicinity.
During the mushroom season regular
exhibitions and occasional field meetings
Will be held and during the winter the
meetings will be devoted more particularly
to discussions. lectures and the study of
the more easily preserved forms.
Any one may become member upon
the payment of the annual membership
fee of 81. All who are interested in this
study snd in furthering the objects of the
club and who wish to become more init
mately acquainted with these 1ung1 are
invited to join.
The officers are: President, Thomas A.
Williams; vice president, G. II. Hicks; sec
rotary -treasurer, V. X. Chestnut; CORE
spending secretary, Mrs. Mary Fuller;
curator. Mrs. f. NJ. Williams.
Study of Fungi.
Mr.. Williams told Star reporter that
the membership of the club is already
twenty or twenty-five and is on the in
crease. Meetings will be held regularly
after the holidays every two weeks at the
Columbian University. He states that this
is one of the finest sections in the coun-
try for the study of fungi. During the
seasons when they appear, the members
of the club will go out and collect them.
The first theological club was in Bos-
ton, the second was in New York, third
in Philadelphia and the local one, fourth
The second club was formed in Philadel-
pnia in the Academy of Science and steps
are being taken for the forma ton of a
club in st. Paul, Mimi. All sorts of peo-
pie become members of the club, and it
is thought they will stimulate people to
the of valuable food supply and ex-
tend the knowledge among the people of
the various kinds of mushrooms that grow
in the United States, their seasons and
methods of preparation. One member of
the New York club sent $500 abroad as a
first order fol books on mycology.