Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-29
HEROIC LEADER Of
LOST BATTALION IS
A suicide
COL. CHARLES w. WHITTLESEY
WHOSE ANSWER go TO HE'LL"
IN REPLY TO GERMAN PLEA
FOR SURRENDER, MADE HIM
FAMOUS, BELIEVED DEAD.

New York, Nov, 2S-Col Charles
W. Whittlesey, commander of the
famous Lost Battalion" of the world
war, persisted at sea while en- route
from New York to Havana on -
United Fruit Company's liner Toloa
some time Sunday night. according to
wireless received by the company.
II Is believed he was unnerved by
recollections Of the war brought forci.
bly, to his memory by the ceremonies
attending the burial Of Americas I'm
known Hero, at which he acted as
pallbearer.
Word OF the death of the noted
hero, who, when his battalion was
surrounded by Germans and sur
render had been demanded, sent back
a message saying: Go to He'll
Whittlesey," reached here today in
wireless dispatches
The information came as a distinct
shock to Whittlesey's friends and 10
his law partners in the firm of White
Il Case. who were unaware that Col.
Whlttlesey had contemplated a trip
to Havana.
Col Whittlesey left notes telling of
his intended action, one directed to
his father in Massachusetts, who has
not yet been informed, and the other
to law partner, John B. Pruyn of
this city The notes we're discovered
In his cabin on the Toloa soon after
his absence had been noticed
Efforts to reach Mr.. Pruyn tonight
were unavailing, but a woman who
said she was his sister gave the fol-
lowing message over the telephone:
Col. Whitlesey went to the thea.
ter with friends last Friday night
and seemed to be in the best of
Of his friends he was contemplating
a sea voyage.
I'VE are afraid the ceremony in
honor of Americas Unknown Hero,
at which he was a pallbearer, I'M
nerved him Friends who saw him
after the ceremony said he appeared
profoundly impressed by what had
occurred, Usually of cheerful dis
position, he seemed on this occasion
fundamentally depressed.
mo, there was no romance. He
was not engaged"
Col Whittlesey was close to the
soldier of the ranks, his record over
seas being one of continuous sacri,
fees for the welfare of his men.
Their affection for their command.
ing officer was none the less marked.
Whittleseys war record is one of
the most romantic adventures OF the
war, and so great was his heroism
that Gen. Pershing only recently
ranked him next to Sergt. Woodflll
as one of Americas foremost heroes.
He received decorations from vir.
tually every government associated
with the United States in the war.
Col. Whittlesey's modesty was one
of his characteristics Seldom could
he be brought to say anything of the
famous go to hell" message. which
rang around the world as typical OF
the American spirit He was at all
times, however ready to tell OF the
bravery of men who fought under
him.
The leader of the Lost Battalion"
Was Ol6 VI the I1TSl AllcTlCdll Officers
to see service in France and one of
the first to leave the army after the
and the breakup Of the
30Sth Infantry, of which he was an
officer. He went first to his family
home in Pittsfield, Mass, and later
announced his intention Of resuming
law practice in New York.
His heart was as great as his back
bone was firm. On one occasion since
the armistice he made a special plea
in Washington in order that a Polish
stowaway might enter the country.
Just month ago he accepted al
Craftsmanship in the Red Cross,
plunging Immediately into the work
OF the campaign just ended.
Col Whittlesey was not a swearing
man, according to a one-time land
lady, who dismissed his famous "goI
to hell' as merely IAN excellent piece
Of advice to the Germans"
The colonel was one of the first
three Americans to receive the Con
gressional Medal of Honor. He was
publicly decorated in Boston in 1918,
the citation reading:
"For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidity in action with the Germans
northeast of Binarville, in the forest
of the Argonne, France, October to
Z, 1918.