• Washington, July 22d.(1888)—Numerous inquiries have been made at the Navy Department as to what is being done towards repairing the old Hartford, Farragut's flagship, now in ordinary at the Navy Yard at Mare Island, Cal.  On January 24th, Representative Whitthorne, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill authorizing the repairs.  The House immediately passed the bill, without opposition, and it was sent to the Senate, where it has remained ever since without action, beyond its reference to a sub-committee of the Naval Affairs Committee.
  . . . . The friends of the bill are therefore afraid that the bill may not get before the Senate in time for action at this session.
  . . . . The delay in making this provision will increase the cost, as the vessel now lies in a somewhat exposed condition in anticipation of the passage of the bill.
• Washington, October 25th.(1896)—Eight years ago Congressman W. C. Whitthorne, chairman of the House Naval Committee, introduced a bill in Congress for the establishment of a naval reserve.  It was received with much favor by officers of the navy, and four States at once took active steps to organize naval militia battalions.  Unfortunately for this bill, which met with much public favor, Mr. Whitthorne's illness and death postponed action and it was not until three years later that it was finally passed in a form not as comprehensive or far-reaching as the framer of the bill designed it to be, but at any rate it recognized the naval militia as a branch of the navy and small appropriation were made for its use.

W.C. became a Mason as soon as he was eligible.  He became a Master Mason in 1846.  He became a Royal Arch Mason in 1850 and a Knight Templar in 1870.  He joined the Knights of Pythias in 1870.

In his latter years W.C. was 5' 8" tall, weighed 163 pounds, had gray eyes and hair.  His features were partly Grecian and partly Irish.  His manners were graceful and easy.