New-York tribune., 1921-11-30
Captain
Onfirnls Death
OF Wllittlesey
Tragic Disappearance of
ssLost Battalion" Leader
at Sea Was Prcmeditated,
letters He Left Indicate
Made New Will Last Week
Hsd Business Affairs in
Perfect Order; Family
Consulted on Memorial

The last vestige Of doubt concerning
he death % Colonel Charles. w. Whit
sesey, commander OF the famous "Lost
fsstalion" of the 77th Division in the
world War. was swept away yesterday
B a detailed telegram from Captain
Grant Of the United Fruit liner Toloa
i Tie Associated Press. In his meg
are Captain Grant said:
aColonei G. ~. whittiesev. n na.-
ssnger from New York to Havana, dis
spreared from the ship during the
night Of Saturday, November 26. He
left letter addressed to me. irving
ne various instructions regarding the
Exposition Of his baggage and also re-
asested me to send several wireless
messages, which were quoted in his
letter. He also left nine letters adj
dressed TO various relatives and
tyeads, which / will send at Havana.
He appeared normal and in good spir-
It's when he left the smoking room
about ll:l5 Saturday night to retire. .
Friends Stunned
The tragic death Of the leader OF the
sLost Battalion cams with such
unexpecteness that it has left his
close pereonal friends in the city
stunned. So great was the shock that
they have not yet had time to arrange
the memorial services they intend to
hold.
In this connection conference was
held yesterday afternoon in the Office
OF John 3. Pruyn, a lawyer. of 2 Rec
tor Street, and former partner Of
Colonel Whittlesey. At the conference
we're Captain George T. McMurtrie.
Major Alan L. Iindley, Major Lucien S.
Breckenridge. Major Kenneth Budd and
Father James J. Mulligan, all former
members of the 30Sth Infantry. They
discussed the memorial services and
then decided to defer to the wishes Of
the parents Of Colonel Whittlesey. Mr..
Pruyn and Captain McMurtrie will de-
part for Pittsfie!d, Mass, to consult
R. Forsythe Little, a close friend of
Colonel Whittlesey and an associate az
bis in the firm of White & Case. said
yesterday:
Colonel Whittlesey made new will
either on Wednesday o. Friday Of laat
week, but l cannot remember whirh
Day. 1t vas drawn up by the stenogra-
pher in the Office and witnessed by two
assistants, Fitzhugh McGrew and Jesse
E. Waid. 1t was then locked up in q
safe deposit vault in the Mercantile
Trust Company. We have not been
able to find the key"
Made Mother Beneficiary
Later the stenographer in the law
Office who typed the will said that,
according to her recollection, 1t was
very brief, and left everything to his
mother
Mr.. Little said that small attention
was paid to this at the time, as it was
customary for lawyers to draw up
their wills in the event of any change
in circumstances. He said that, in view
OF many other little things that were
unnoticed at the time, it indicated that
Colonel Whittlesey had made up his
mind to die.
Before leaving this office,7 continued
Mr.. Little, Colonel Whittlesey had
arranged in minute detail twelve cases
with instructions to as the status Of
each of them. They were found in the
upper left hand drawer Of desk to
which the wireless message he asked
Captain Grant to send referred. These
memoranda, written in pencil in the
handwriting of Colonel Whittlesey.
showed his mind was analytical as to
the last detail in these matters. He
had prepared every business particular
Of his so that it could be carried out
properly If he should not return"
William F. Deegan, state commander
r the American Legion, issued the
following statement yesterday from
state headquarters: "The American
Legion of New York has suffered
grievous blow in the death OF Colonel
Charles w. Whittlesey. He was one Of
the whitest, cleanest and most SYM
pathetic of men in the whole Legion,
and had been of inestimable value to
the organization In his efforts TO better
the condition of wounded and disabled
ex-service men,
Whether or not his death was vol