Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
NOTED IN HIS TIME
Only Two Mourners Followed
DR.. Tilden's Remains.
HE DIED DESTITUTE
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO WAS
WELL-KNOWN SCIENTIST.
Was Professor Of Chemistry at George.
town NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with
Death of Garfield.


| followed hearse yesterday from the I'M
| dertaking establishment of ]. William Lee
| 332 Pennsylvania avenue northwest, to
| Rock Creek cemetery. In the hearse were
| the remains of a man who once stood in a
| high niche in the scientific field-Prof. or
DR.. William c. Tilden as he was more IA
| miliarly known during the latter days of
| his life.
At one time the honored professor of
chemistry at the Georgetown University,
and later chief chemist of the United States
Medical Museum, DR.. William c.. Tildcn
toward the close of his eventfuI life, be-
cause of his falling health, became INDECENT
and died charity patient in the Washing
ton Asylum Hospital
Fifteen years ago he was a recognized au-
thority on chemistry, not only in this coun-
try, but abroad. and he was feted and
Toasted by scientific associations and his
services were sought by the government
Fifteen days ago, helpless from long suf-
fering, and penniless, he found his way to
the charity hospital and was taken in by
Dr. Percy Hickling, and his final days made
as comfortable as possible
The death of DR.. Tilden occurred at the
hospital Thursday evening and his funeral
took place yesterday forenoon. The soli-
tary carriage that followed his remains to
the burial place in Rock Creek cemetery
SOiIloiiCu NdDt IdIhei, Il friend OF the
departed chemist and Rev. Morgan Jones
of the Brookland p. E. Church who read
the service of the Episcopal Church at the
grave. The cause of his death was given
as heart failure. The funeral expenses were
provided by few friends who knew and
appreciated Dr. Tilden in his palmy days,
including Mr. George A. Jaeger.
When Garfield Was Shot,
At the time of the assassination of Pres
ident Garfield by the fauatical Charles J.
Guiteau, DIR. Tflden was chief chemist of
the Army Medical Museum, then in the old
Ford Theater building on 10th street be-
tween and + streets northwest. He was
a great admirer of the murdered President.
and after Guiteau had been sent to jail
after his conviction TO await the day of
his execution, DIR. Tilden called on his
friend, the late Gen. Crocker, then warden
of the jail. and identified himself with the
closing chapter of the great national
tragedy.
He was "A frequent caller at the iafl.
Finally DIR. Tilden was added to the attend
ing physicians at the Jail for duty until
Guiteau was hanged.
DR.. Tilden was at the Jail on the occasion
when the poisoned bouquet was sent to
Guiteau in his cell and during Gen. Crock
ers absence from the prison. It had been
planned that the person handing the bou-
quet to the assassin through the iron bars
of his cell was to say to him: Charles
chew the big white in the center"
But close was the watch kept on the
prisoner by the death guards that the ennis
sary could not give the message without de-
lection Had Guiteau received this infor-
nation and eaten the white rose as had
been planned, the galtows would have been
cheated. as according to the analysis later
by DIR. Tilden it was found. 20 use the
chemists own words that there was
enough arsenic in the petals of the white
rose alone to have killed "A pair of oxen
After the bouquet had been taken from
Guiteau's cell DR.. Tilden was summoned
and took charge of the flowers. He re-
moved them to his laboratory, in the old
Ford Theater building, and there made the
analysis with the result stated The por-
celain plates on which the arsenic was con-
centrated as the result of the chemical
analysis II is said, still preserved
Execution of Guiteau.
DR.. Tilden was in front of Guiteaus cell
on the morning of the execution when a
squad of regular soldiers marched into the
rotunda of the Jail and came to order
arms. causing a great noise, which sent
flying echoes through the prison The crash
of arms frightened the assassin so much
that he came near collapsing He turned
deathly pale, his legs wobbed and he came
near falling DR.. Tilden and Dr. McWil-
liams, the jail physicians We're quickly ad-
mitted to the felons cell.
This man., said DIR. Tilden, will never
be able to walk to the scaffold unless we
give him a stimulant He viii have to be
carried there, and will thus create a scene"
DR.. McWilliams agreed with the chemist, |
and bottle of brandy was procured. Gui- |
teau was so nervous that the first idraught |
of the fiery liquor given him was without |
effect Another and another drink were
given him.
Then. when the time came for the assas- |
sin to march to the scaffoid. he walked. |
or rather staggered along. supported by |
two stalwart Jail guards
Speaking of this circumstance afterward. |
DR.. Tnden declared that Guiteau died drunk, |
as WAS Evidenced by the maudlin, sing-song |
manner In which he repeated his doggerel. |
or death song as 1t was termed:
I'm going to the Lordy,
I'm SO glad I'm going to the Lordy."
DR.. Tiiden's service did not end with |
Tho death OF Guiteau. He had a hand In !