The Mineral argus., 1884-08-28
wHp ARCTIC EXECUTION.
p-ssideut erssly's ofaoial Report Of the
Killing Of Private henry.

so,,ovine is Lieut. Greely's official re-
- tbe execution ofPriyate Henry.
pnsU-swourH. N. H., Aug. Ito the Adju-
tant General of the united STATES Army,
TLroneb the Chief Signal Officer of the United
go Armv-sr: 1 have the honor to report
49, on ,June6 1884, at Camp Clay, near Camp
Sabine Grinnell Land, it became necessary for
:. 40 order the military execution Of Private
Ch.rles b. Henry, of the Fifth cavalry, for
N--.inued thieving. IT order was given in
ur;tine on my undivided responsibility, being
..onad absolutely essential for the safety Of
~ surviving members. Ten had already
J;ed 0f starvation, and two more lay at the
ooint of death The facts inducing my
sction were as follows: Provislons had
heaD stoIen in November, 1888, and Henry's
ooTnnIicitv therein was more than sus-
Oectad On March "a, 1884, the party
nearly persisted from asphyxa. While sew
eroI men were unconscious, and efforts were
being made for their restoralon, Private Henry
sto1e about two pounds of bacon from the mess
Cores He was only seen by the Esquimaux,
Tobn Edwards. but his stomach being over
loaded he threw up the undlgested bacon. An
omen investigation was held and every MEM
REV Of the party declared him guilty of this and
cher thefts. A clamor for his life was raised,
hnt II was repressed by me. l put him under
surveillance at once, for our waning
strength rendered his physical services indis-
nensable. Later he was found one day mtoxi-
Gated
IN hand for general issue. A second time his
life was demanded, but ! again spared him.
On june 5 the thefts of provisions on his part
was reported to me. 1 had a conversation
with him in which / appealed to his practical
sense, pointing out that it was necessary to
our preservation. He promised IN entire
reformation, but, ~distrusting him, I ISSUED a
written order that he should be shot if detect
ed stealing. On June &, he not only stole part
of the shrimps for our breakfast, but visiting,
unauthorized, our winter camp, stole certain
sealskins reserved for food / then ordered
him shot. On his person / found a silver
chronograph Abandoned by me at Fort Con-
ger and stolen by him. In his bag was found
a large quantity of sealskin and a pair OF seal
skin boots stolen a few days before from the
hunter. Suspecting completely on the part
of several, / ordered his execution by
the most reliable men. After his death
the order was read to the entire
party and concurred by every member
as being not only inst, but essential to our safe
ty. To avoid a public scandal l ordered that
no man should speak of this matter until official
report was made Of the facts. | have to request
that a court of inquiry be ordered or a court
martial convened should the honorable secre-
tary of war deem either advisable. In this case
I have thought it best not TO ask written state
ments of the surviving members for appendices
10 this report, lest j might seem 70 be tamper-
ing with them. have not asked since the res
cue June p, whether their opinions %concurring
in my action have changed or not, leaving such
questions to your action if deemed requisite. L
naturally regret that circumstances imposed
such a terrible responsibility on me, but l am
conscious that l should have failed in my duty
to the rest of my party had l not acted prompt
ly and summarily.
[Signedf A. W. GREEDY,
First Lieut. Fifth Cav, A S. o., and Asst Com.
Of l. +. Z. Expedition.