Missing
Charles White Whittlesey
Whittlesey, approximately 1921; Memorial stone
Date and time person was reported missing : 11/26/1921
Missing location (approx) :
New York, New York
Missing classification : Lost/Injured Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 01/20/1884 (137)
Age at the time of disappearance: 37 years old
Height / Weight : Unknown
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Whittlesey boarded the SS Toloa for a voyAge at the time of disappearance: from New York to Havana, Cuba on November 26, 1921. The ship was owned by United Fruit Company and took passengers on commercial voyAge at the time of disappearance: s.
Whittlesey ate dinner with the captain that evening. He appeared to be in good spirits at the time. He left the smoking room at 11:15 p.m., saying he was going to bed. He has never been heard from again. He was reported missing at 8:00 a.m. the next day.
He left behind nine letters addressed to his family and friends, and a note for the captain saying what to do with his luggAge at the time of disappearance: . Prior to his voyAge at the time of disappearance: , he had put his affairs in order at home, wrote a will leaving all his property to his mother, and paid a month's rent in advance.
Whittlesey apparently committed suicide by jumping overboard, but no one saw him go over and his body was not recovered. None of the letters he wrote revealed the motive for his actions.
Whittlesey was born in Florence, Wisconsin and moved to Massachusetts as a child. He graduated from Williams College in 1905 and earned a law degree from Harvard University in 1908.
In 1917, a month after the United States entered World War I, he left his law practice and enlisted in the Army, where he attained the rank of major. He had a very distinguished service record and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for valor.
After the war, he returned to law practice and was frequently asked to give talks about his war experiences. He never married.
Due to the passAge at the time of disappearance: of time, Whittlesey's disappearance is no longer being investigated. He was never located, however.
Other information and links : ncy
None
September 2021 updates and sources
The Cruise Bruise
Wikipedia
The New York Times
World War I - Trenches on the Web
Find a Grave
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
