Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
PROF. NICHOLSON
DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Work Completed on Final
Experiment, Noted Physicist
Expires in Sleep.
BY the Associated Press.


PASADENA, Calf, May 9.-Dr.
Albert A. Nicholson, one of the worlds
greatest physicists, who determined the
speed of light, died here today. He was
rs years old and the first American to
win the Nobel prize for science.
Two years ago DR.. Nicholson suffered
paralytic stroke. Three months ago
the little professor was forced to take
to bed in his bungalow home here. Two
days ago the great mind snapped with
a cerebral lemorrhage. DR.. Nicholson
went into coma Thursday night, a
sleep that quietly ended in death shortly
before o'clock this afternoon.
DR.. Nicholson seemed resigned to
death. knowing that he had stayed It
OF until his last great experiment was
completed. This was his third and
most precise measurement of the speed
of light. For two years his will power
was credited with holding back the
progress of creeping paralysis with
which he was stricken in Chicago.
Called Aide to Bedside.
Too feeble to move, his lower limbs
completely paralyzed almost to the
abdomen. DR.. Nicholson this week called
Prof. Francis G. Pease to his bedside.
Prof. Pease of the staff of the Carnegie
institution of Washington was carrying
on the final work of the last Nicholson
experiment with the mile-long vacuum
tube at Santa Ana. He had come to
tell the great scientist that all expert
mental work was completed, and all
that remained was the recheck OF IN
struments and recheck Of measurements
to derive the final figure Of the speed
Of light.
In q soft voice, barely audible in the
Quiet bed room. with two watchful
nurses nearby, Dr. Nicholson started
debating. Pease bent over to catch the
words. Page after page Of lucid scien-
tific analysis was set down.
The keen, dark eyes Of Dr. Michel
son and the week voice seemed all
that was alive. His frail form other
wise was still. Then he ceased, and
smiled. Thus was written the intro
duction to his formal report, the last
word from the world OF science from
the man who has been in the vanguard
for more than 80 years.
May Require Months.
This will not be published until all
of the instrumental and geodetic meas
1rements are completed by those who
have been engaged with Nicholson IN
the experiment, matter OF weeks or
perhaps months.
His work was done. The scientist
then went to sleep smiling. Then
came the brain hemorrhage that de-
stroyed the mind.
Mrs. Nicholson, who has nursed him
for two years, and their daughter. Mrs.
Sheldon Dick, of Provincetown, Mass,
were at the bedside when death came.
Two other daughters. Mrs. Phillip
Maler of Chicago, and Mrs. F. S. FoS-
ter Of Dahlgren. Va. are en- route
here. The time of funeral service and
cremation was undetermined tonight,
although it was expected that private
services will be held at the Nicholson
home next Wednesday.
Burial Here Possible.
Charles Nicholson said in WASH
ington tonight that his brother, DR..
Nicholson. may be buried in Arlington
Cemetery.
Mr.. Nicholson, publicity director OF
| the Democratic National Committee,
said his brother was eligible for burial
! in the historic cemetery through his
service in the Navy. The noted phys
! icist attended the y Naval Academy,
was later an instructor there and during
the war returned to Government Serv-
ice.
I News of the death OF Dr. Nicholson
! was received with profound grief BY
! the many distinguished men OF science
! Continued on Page 2, Column - 2