Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-08
The Arctic Execution,

SERGEANT FREDERICKs' GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE
DEATH OF PRIVATE HENRY.
Indianapolis Special to the New York World
Sergeant Fredericks, of the Greely polar expo
dition, is in the city. The reporter was surprised
at the noF.d complexion ami hearty appearance
OF the explorer, but this was explained 10y Mr.
FrederlckS
"My normal weight is l5a pounds. When the
Greedy party was rescued weighed los. When
left the capital my weight was Isl. Yesterday il
was LIB and am losing flesh daily This is super
fuvus bloat that You see hanging TO my bones, a
sort OF reaction froh starvation. am still weak
and the heat here Is trying To me. IL is only In the
past DAY or Two that have been able TO 90 without
a IAN; [ have had slnothering sensations. but am
now coming round all right am limited 10 simple
food. such as oatmeal. arrowroot and milk punch,
and ate my first solid food, such vegetables. "A
lew days ago. IL may seem strange 10 you TO hear
me say that 1t is harder to endure an Increase OF
daily rationS than decrease. Up in the arctics
our decrease was gradual and endurable our
stomachs adjusted themselves TO a diminished
supply and became so accustomed To a trifie OF
food That large amount causes a heayiness that
is rot only painful and swelling in Its eject, but
tanned complexion that is due TO the effect OF the
arctic winds"
The reporter solicited discussion OF charges Of
cannibaliSm made against the Greedy party. The
attention Of Mr. FrederckS was called 10 a widely
published dispatch which charged selfishness on
the part OF himself and Long, and determination
on their part TO 1--we, whatever became OF the rest
at is a lie from the word CO." said Fredertcks
ions In the Greeiy party. L never saw party so
united and Harmonious as was the Greely party.
The only man who ever disobeyed an order was
shot. This was Henry, as you know So far as
KNOW, there is no foundation for the charge. IL
might have been that there was some cannibasm.
out There was II resulted In instant death, for the
StUinachS OF the men were IN condition to take
such food To speak definitely, myself saw no III
stance OF canDibalism'
ibid you see Henry Shotcr
81 did. Theft OF i00d supplies was proven against
MIN In several Instances and four or five times he
Greedy, but Greedy was chcken-h hearted or rather
too bfg-hearted, and begged him off. All the time
Henry kept In good physical condition. coming out
In the spring as sleek he In the winter. one
day saw him take food from man without arms
Or legs and from another who drawing his last
breath ! upbraded him for his conduct but he
was Indifferent, and afterwards boosted that he
was able TO take care or himself. The party be-
came a unit against him and demanded that
Greedy should issue death-warrant allow il TO
proceed without Greedy finally consented, and
the order was secretly issued. Now, mind YOU
Henry was as supple as ever, and IL he had known
that an order for his death had been issued he
would have killed us all, Tor were weak that
we could not defend ourselves, and could barely
walk with gun. Three guns were ioaded-I can I
tell who loaded them-two OF them with balls, the
other with blank cartridge. The three were
placed on the ground and an equal number Of men
detailed to take them up for the eXecu llon.n
who were the three mem"
"Brainard, Long and myself were the three We
] did not know who loaded the gun with blank
cartridge. Nobody knows except the man who
loaded the gun. We were then ordered to proceed
| 10 the execution. We found Henry down ON the
coast and alone, about one hundred and fifty yards
away. In the very act Of collecting sealskins which
| were designed for the subsistence or the entire
| party. Henry did not know that we Were about 10
Kill him, but he knew that he had been warned
time and again that he would be killed IL he per-
sisted In apprOprtatfhg the food OF the party. We
walked TO within twenty yards OF him. and the
| ranking man said: Henry. we are now compelled
| to carry out our orders The order TO fire was
given and the man dropped dead. There was no
missing him at that range and the aim from each
| OF the two men, whoever they were. who carried
bullets in their guns was fatal Henry did not say
| word before or after we shot"
SURVIVORS OF THE GREEDY PARTY MUST NOT MAKE
A SHOW OF THEMSELVES
In Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, Capt Van Horne.
OF the receiving Office, received = te gram from
Washington inQuiring whether Sergeants Brainard
and Long and Private Cornell, survivors OF the
Greedy expedition, were In Cleveland. iron the
receipt OF an Affirmative reply. the department
sent another message calling for explicit details as
| to their employment The captain replied that
Bra1nard was exhibiting charts and delivering lee
lures at dime museum, While Long and Cornell
occupied seats on the stage The last telegram
was sufficient, and in response was sent peremp-
tory order directing the Immediate return OF the
party to Portsmouth, n. H. wherd they VIII be as
signed to duty al once.