On November 19, 1905, William "Bud" Burns died of typhoid fever at age 32. He was Paul Laurence Dunbar's best friend from childhood and occasionally served as his physician.
There lay in state yesterday, in a humble home in Dayton, the body of a young negro, William A. Burns; visited by mourning hundreds of his race and by very many sorrowful friends among the white citizens of the community. On many lips were words of sincere regard and affection for this young colored physician. He was a man of noble nature, gentle, kindly, sincere. Beginning humbly, early conceiving the ambition to acquire an education and to succeed in life through his own efforts, young Burns had reached that plane where prejudice yields before the conquering excellence of individual achievement. The death of Dr. Burns is a severe blow to Dayton's thousands of colored citizens, among whom he was at once a friend, a counselor, a daily helper, an inspiration.
"William A. Burns -- In Memoriam." The Dayton Evening Herald (Dayton, Ohio). November 21, 1905. Page 12.
One of our colleagues, Dr. William A. Burns, has fallen at the post of duty, and the members of the Montgomery County Medical Society honor his memory and express their sorrow at his untimely death. When the summons of death comes at the end of a long and honored career and man's allotment is complete, it is sad; but when it overtakes one in the fullness of the strength and the power of young manhood, as it were, in the morning of life, then death seems truly appalling and it is difficult to be reconciled to its immutable commands. In the lessons of Dr. Burns' short, but notable career, one cannot but reflect that nobility of character belongs to no one race or creed. His work was not inspired by thoughts of earthly gain alone, for where he labored most, he had no hopes of great reward. His one ambition was the welfare and advancement of his own people and in his death they have suffered an irreparable loss. In his death the Society has lost a staunch supporter, the medical profession a faithful and devoted coworker, the colored race a noble leader, and we as individuals a true and loyal friend.
"Tender Tributes of Profound Respect." The Dayton Journal (Dayton, Ohio). November 21, 1905. Page 12.
Burns studied medicine at Western Reserve University in Cleveland (now known as Case Western Reserve University). In letters to Paul in Dayton, he described his college experiences (and how his mustache was growing).
College is now going at full force, with enough studying to do to keep a fellow up all night, but I am plugging away with a will. There are three other colored students: a second year man, Huffman, formerly of Xenia, who is very popular among the students and also a very congenial fellow; and two Kentucky fellows: one from Louisville, who just entered today, Maxwell by name, and a fellow from Lexington by the name of Hall. Well, old fellow, it's passing 11 P.M. so I will close. Write soon, love to your mother and all friends. Am getting more stash on my upper lip.
William "Bud" Burns to Paul Laurence Dunbar, September 17, [c. 1894]. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
I take my pen in hand to tell you that I have so much to do that twenty-four hrs per day ain't half enough time, but I guess I will have to make it do. I am in excellent spirits, notwithstanding the gloominess of the day, superinduced by the fact that we will have the pleasure of listening to one more lecture per week, since the gentleman of the first year class have not had their ambition cooled sufficiently. What is going on at the Gem City anyhow? If it were not for the few friends that I have there I would not care whether I came back or not.
William "Bud" Burns to Paul Laurence Dunbar, October 14, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
After Paul married Alice Ruth Moore, they kept their marriage a secret and lived in separate cities. Alice in Brooklyn wrote to Paul in Washington, D. C., about her first meeting with Burns. She was impressed by him, but refused to allow Paul to grow a mustache.
Oh Paul, I love you, and your letters set me afire with throbbing heart. I want to kiss you so until my lips ache. But I won't have the "adolescent." I simply refuse to consider it at all. It must come off at once. The idea! Mustaches forsooth. Je les detestes! Your chum Dr. Burns called this afternoon with his credentials from you. I like him very much. He is quite anxious to see you. I told him you would be here on the 16th but would not stay over the 17th. He asked me if he and I could not persuade you to stay longer. I laughed and said I feared not.
Alice Moore Dunbar to Paul Laurence Dunbar, March 31, 1898. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 8).
After Paul experienced a severe case of pneumonia, he went to the Catskill Mountains of New York to recuperate. Alice and Dr. Burns came with him, as Paul described in letters to his mother Matilda in Washington.
I am tired but am feeling fresh, well and game and I am much better, in fact. I am growing better faster than any of the doctors expect. However, I am going up into the mountains anyway and get some of the air there. I have had a letter from Bud Burns, and he was intensely anxious to come here and sorry that he could not be with me during my illness.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, June 17, 1899. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
I am feeling first rate today although we are again shut in by rain. My trip yesterday was very jolly and I caught five fish, Alice one and Bud Burns two. We had them for breakfast this morning. I am surprising everybody. I walked five miles in the morning and five in the evening day before yesterday.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, June 25, 1899. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
I have been walking away up in the mountains. This place is beautiful and I hope the air will do me good. We are on a mountain and entirely surrounded by others. There is good fishing below. Bud Burns has come up to spend two weeks here and will see if the air is all right for me. If it is not, I shall go further up. He wishes to be remembered to you. I have picked up until I weigh 125 pounds and my appetite is enormous.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, June 26, 1899. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
I am not feeling so well today as when I last wrote to you. It has been very rainy up here, and that keeps me coughing and my chest aching. Also it confines me to the house a great deal when I need the open air especially. Bud Burns goes home tomorrow evening, and if it is not raining, I shall go down to the village with him. While I cough a good deal, I am really much stronger. I take exercise when it is dry and spend hours in a bowling alley playing ten pins.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, July 9, 1899. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
Later that year, Burns became a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, and he practiced medicine in Dayton for several years.
The application of Dr. William A. Burns to become a member of the society referred to the board of censors.
Minutes of the Montgomery County Medical Society, October 6, 1899. Fordham Health Sciences Library Special Collections, Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio). SCM 2, Volume 3.
Dr. Daniel C. Mills of New Lebanon and Dr. William A. Burns of Dayton were unanimously elected members of the society.
Minutes of the Montgomery County Medical Society, November 3, 1899. Fordham Health Sciences Library Special Collections, Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio). SCM 2, Volume 3.
Paul and Alice separated permanently in 1902, and Paul was devastated emotionally and physically. Dr. Burns treated Paul's body but was also concerned about his spirit. While others tried to bully Alice into reconciling with Paul, Burns tried a gentler approach.
I hope you will not regard it impertinent for me to take the privilege of writing to you. I am as you know Paul's personal friend and lately have been his physician since his return to Dayton. I have realized for some time that there was a condition in his case which no therapeutic remedy could alleviate, and last night he confessed the cause. Paul is grieving over your separation. He has spoken of you frequently since his return, always in the kindliest terms. Now Mrs. Dunbar, what the reason of your disagreement is I do not know neither do I desire to, for no outsider could possibly feel or understand as you both do, the cause for so unfortunate an occurrence. I have studied Paul for some years and feel that I am able to say that I know him, but he is different now than I have ever found him. Saturday night he said to me that he would not live long without his wife. Mrs. Dunbar, I don't know how much I am asking, but Paul loves you and you alone know your feeling toward him. Won't you write to him? He needs what you alone can give.
William "Bud" Burns to Alice Moore Dunbar, November 3, 1903. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 8).
Alice lost contact with people from Dayton, so she was not informed about the death of Burns in November 1905, nor of Paul's death three months later. An uncle of Dr. Burns wrote to her with details about both.
Dr. Burns' death was quite a blow to me and everyone and also to Paul. He was stricken down and succumbed to typhoid fever after an illness of two short weeks. It seems so sad that one so good and true and so useful should be snatched away before he had reached his prime. Paul never got over Dr. Burns' death. He seemed to give up and become discouraged and on Tuesday night, before he died, he said to a close friend that he would soon be with Bud. I am sending you clippings from our papers on the death of both Dr. Burns and Paul. It was Paul's wish not to be buried right away so he was placed in a vault and will rest there for at least three months and then he will be buried on his lot in one of the most beautiful spots in Woodland. Paul and Doctor were always the same dear lifelong friends and in death they both lie in beautiful grey couch caskets just alike.
John H. Finley to Alice Moore Dunbar, February 17, 1906. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 8).
The grave of Dr. Burns is at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton (Section 33, Lot 2233, Space 1).