The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-29
COLONEL WHITTLECEY, WORLD
WAR HERO, COMMITS SUICIDE
Was Passenger on Steamship
Bound for Havana and Is
Reported as Missing.
LEFT NOTE TO LAWYERS
HE WOULD NOT RETURN
Tragedy Believed to Have Been
Result Of Mental Strain
Recently Under.
az &c AssoeIated Pressl

NEW 1Otk, NOV. Zc--iSltulciidHt
Colonel Charles w Whittlesey. hero of
the famous Lost Battalion" has dis
appeared from the steamship Toloa on
which he sailed for Havana, according
10 d wireless message received here
today.
News OF the famous soldiers disap-
pearance came in the following mes
sage received here from the captain Of
the ship;
Passenger named c. w. WhittleseY
disappeared. Left several letters"
Officials of the United Fruit line OPP
orators Of the ship, confirmed the fact
that the passenger in question was
Lieutenant Colonel Whittlesey through
his relatives.
Members of Whittlesey's law firm
were at a loss to account for proposed
visit to Cuba. When he left the office
of the firm Friday he announced his
intention they said, OF attending the
army-navy game on the following day:
It has since been learned that Colonel
Whittlesey purchased a ticket for Hav-
ana the following morning and sailed
that day.
His business associates declared that
his mind was clear and that he appar-
emily was in good health otherwise
when last seen. He seemed cheerful,
they added. and declared they were un-
able to explain his seemingly strange
action IN going away as he did, without
notifying them of bis plans.
&. WI Whittlesey, the soldiers uncle,
declared tonight that Colonel Whittle-
sev attended the services for the un-
known dead at Washington on Armis-
tice day and had since appeared de-
pressed Mr. Whittlesey said that he
last saw his nephew on Friday evening,
and that he did not notice any decided
change in his demeanor at that time.
Colonel Whittlesey, who was 36, and
unmarried, lived in q bachelor apart
ment on East 44th street. When ho
appeared at breakfast Saturday morn
ing no brought suitcase down from
mis- room He did not say where he
was going and his friends did not con-
slider the circumstance unusual be-
cause he was in the habit Of making
frequent week -end and business trips
Colonel Whittesey is the son Of Mr..
and Mrs Frank Whittlesey Of Pitts
neld, Mass. He has two brothers, Eli
sha, OF pittsheld. and Aelsar, Of this
city.
The crisp laconic reply. you go to
heu' hurled into the teeth Of a Ger
man officer who called on nim and his
men to surrender. was the rhetorical
battlefield classic which brought Coll
onel Whittlesey into fame overnight.
Surrounded in the Argonne with his
command, the first battalion OF the
s0th infantry, nth division Whittlesey
had been cut Off FOR four days without
food or fresh water All but 81 men
had been killed or wounded At dusk,
on October z, 1918 blindfolded Ger
man. bearing a white flag. crossed the
line. He bore message asking the
Americans to surrender. 'In the name
OF humanity"
A few hours after the messenger had
been sent back with whittlesey's reply,
an American advance took place and
all were rescued.
Ills exploit was rewarded by Presi-
dent Wilson with the congressional
medal of honor. the most cherished
American war time decoration, giver
only for valor outside the regular line
OF duty. Some months after the arm
istice tho German officer who de-
manded whittleseys surrender. added
to his laurels by publishing a state
ment extoning the Americans eourag,
and determination.
John b. Pruyn, a lawyer to whom
MESSAGES from Captain Grant, of the
Toloa was addressed, stated tonight
that he was Of the opinion that Colone
Whittlesey had ended his own life
Radio messages related that Colone
Whittlesey left a note for the captain
requesting him to notify his parents ir
Fittsfield. Mass. and then disappeared
from the ship. Mr.. Pruyn stated that
he believed the tragedy to be the result
Of the mental strain to which Colonel
Whituesey had been subjected as one
OF the honorary pail bearers at the Ar
. mistice day ceremonies at Washington
Robert 4. Little, OF White & Case
the law firm with which Colonel whit
tlesey has been associated for some
time. received wireless message from
Captain Grant, Of the Toloa. stating
that the colonel had left a message fol
him regarding some law papers. Th,
note ended with: Il win not return"
Colonel Whittlesey has had so muci
grief confronting him since the wa