The New York herald., 1921-12-01
WHITTLESEY WROTE
9 LETTERS AT Death
His Ship Reaches Havana With
Notes Which May Show
His Motive.
VANISHED AT MIDNIGHT
Captain Says HcrO's Radio
Warnings of Suicide Were
Withheld.
VANISHED AT MIDNIGHT

Lieut.. Charles w. Whittle-
sey's shipmates Of the Toloa tonight
told how the intrepid commander of
the "Lost Battalion" spent the last
hours of his life before leaping over
board forever to still the haunting
voices of the past.
But while they recounted the last
words and actions of the famous SOL
dier whose Go to hell" flung at the
German officer who called on him to
surrender won him the applause of
the world, they came no nearer than
friends in the United States to re-
vealing the final, compelling motive
for the deco
This, it is thought, must wait on
revelation of the contents of nine let
ters. left by him on his stateroom
berth, which Capt Grant, master of
the Toloa, said he would put in the
mails as soon as possible.
The latest story OF the lawyers dis
appearance from the vessel agreed on
by Capt. Grant and the few passengers
tragedy. is that he leaped overheard
about midnight Saturday, the first day
out from New York, on the voyage
which none OF his friends knew he was
taking until his death was reported by
radio.
For nearly two hours after dinner
| Saturday evening" meal which he took
at the captains table---Col. Whittlesey
sat in the saloon of tho ship. discussing
the war. Among those who Joined in
the converse tion was A. Maloret, a Porto
Ricsn merchant
Mr.. Maloret said his new a.quain lance
heavy load on his mind. On the con-
trary. he declared, Col. Whittlesey spoke
of the war with apparent calmness until
an hour before midnight, when the con-
versation lapsed. Soon after that he
said, the former officer roso precipi-
lately and left the smoking room, an
nouncing that he was about TO retire.
That was the last time any OF the
passengers were certain OF having seen
Col. Whittlesey. One other passenger
said he had vague recollection OF hav-
ing seen him the following day. This
wac Jose Armand. business man of
Havana, but he said he was by no means
positive of it On Monday his absence
from the mess. until then a -ibcd to
seasickness. was remarked. and search
revealed his bunk undisturbed. the tell
tale letters lying on the counterpane.
"I can say that from all appearances
the act was premedltated." Capt. Grant
said. "and that Col. whittlesey leaped
overheard either just before or lust
after midnight Saturday"
Radio Messages Detained.
Various wireless messages were left
by Col. Whittlesey for transmission.
but these were not forwarded, and ev-
cept in case OF one of the messages their
nature was not disclosed. This particu-
lar message said he would be missing.
None of the letters which Col. Whit
tlesey left on his berth was on the
writing paper of the steamship COM
psny. nor were any OF them dated,
which led TO the belief that they were
written before embariing on board the
Toloa.
After experiencing heavy weather
nearly all the way from New York, the
Toloa reached here ten hours late, and
II was only after two hours of confer
enres with representatives of the Amer
lean and British consulates and the
acting first secretary of the American
Legation, Cord Meyer, Jr.. that Capt.
Grant would make any statement.
II learned just before we sailed last
Saturday morning that Col. whittlesey
was aboard" said Capt. Grant, but
did not see him until dinner that night.
He sat at my table and appeared quite
normal.
Left Friend mt Midnight.
The first intination had that he had
disappeared was on Monday morning.
IL appears that nc had struck I'D an ac-
quaintancs with Mr.. Maloret, and con-
versed with him in tho smoking room
until u:15 Saturday night. when he left
suddenly, saying he would retire. He
was not seen afterward.
"on Sunday Mr.. Msloret inquired for
him. but thought he was Ill. as we were
meeting heavy weather On Monday
morning. when II was found that hts
berth was undfsturbed, an investigation
was made and nine letters to members
OF his family. several wireless messages
and a note 20 me were discovered on his
berth. The stateroom was then locked
and the papers were delivered TO me.
II did not forward the wireless mes
sages but sent two of my own-one TO
his executor. John b. Pruyn, and another
TO the company office. The letters en-
trusted to me shall man as soon as
possible"