Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-21
Horrible Story that the Gree
Iy Party Ate Human Flesh.
Officers Very Reticent, Evident
~ Know More than they Tell.
Several Interviews with High
Officers.
n HORRIBLE STORY.

story was published IN the New Ork
Times this morning, that the surviv-
ors of the Greedy party, crazed by
hunger and cold, fed on the dead bod
les of their comrades, and that writ
ten documents in the possession of the
navy department substantiate the
terrible narrative. This has created a
great sensation here, and Admiral
Nichols, acting secretary of the navy,
was shortly besieged by newspaper
men. anxions to obtain something
official concerning the publication
The admiral said there was nothing
IN the navy department confirming
the story. and he doubted its truth
1t is doubtful, however, that report
of this nature may have gone direct
to Secretary Chandler in New Hamp-
shire, as numerous documents are
forwarded to aim without examina-
ton
Some persons express the opinion
quietly that there is something in the
story, and say it is beginning to be
known that the Greedy party was not
as harmonious as had been generally
supposed, and that there is a story
connected with the expedition which
it was intended to conceal, but which
must now come out In the same way
the history of the Jeannette'S unfor
tunate cruise came TO the knowledge
of the public.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-The New
York Times story was shown to Gen.
Hazen to-day, who at first was very
non-committal, but finally, with de-
cided emphasis, he said: There are
certain facts connected with the mat
ter that l am not at liberty to men
ton. 1t is very probable, though do
not say so officially, that they viii be
made the sui Jet of congressional in
vestigatiOn next winter. The
story contains some mac
curacies, notably, that in
which reference is made to devour-
ing the amputated limbs of those who
suffered from loss of legs and arms, in
order to preserve life" Gen. Hazen
was asked what truth there was in the
statement that young Henry had been
shot and his body eaten. "That is a
subject" he replied, upon which [
must decline to be interviewed"
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-Gen. Ha-
zen was interviewed today. rs the
report that Capt Schley called you
and Secretary Chandler into the YES
sells cabin and informed you that the
survivors had eaten their associates
faIseY was asked.
That story is untrue"
There is no truth, then, In the re-
malnder of the published stories that
the bodies were eaten"
u will not say they are not true
4 have but casually glanced at the
published story other than at those
portions which I deny"
Did you hear ANY rumOrs while at
Portsmouth that dead men had been
eaten2"
There were rumors of that kind
aaoat. My official position would
not permit me to give facts In the
case
There are facts then?'
Il cant answer that. [ had a long
interview with Lieut. Greedy, but the
subject of eating bodies was not re-
ferred to. can imagine case when
cannibalsm would be justifiable,
and it would be case where men are
starving"
do You excuse caunibalism in the
Greedy case?"
Under circumstances it would be
excusable."
Has Secretary Chandler received
any report relative to this subject2'
Not that [ know of. l have re-
ceived none"
us the report that private Henry
was shot and afterwards eaten. false2"
There were rumors at Portsmouth
that he had been killed and the sur
vivors had eaten his body. but l de-
cline to give any facts IN his case that
| might know"
will the shooting be the subject
OF an investigation by the war depart
ment?'
mot necessarily. Men are shot
every day IN mutinies, and no investi-
cation made. Under some circum-
stances it might be proper"
will there be any investigation of
the reported eating of the bodies?"
''An investigation could not be
made either by the war or navy de-
partment That is matter congress
will have to look into Then all facts
will be presented and until then moth
ing will be given out"
Gen Hazen says Greely's report on
the entire expedition will probably be
forwarded to him within a month.
While it was generally conceded there
were no records in Washington
that would substantiatc the story,
both the army and navy officers,
among themselves, did not view it as
an impossibillty by any means.
Said naval officer 10 the corridor Of
the navy deDartment. ''While there
is no reason | know of for believing
the story, the fact that there are no
records to substantiate it does dot dis
prove 1t at all. Look at it as true.
Is there anything impossible
about II? You and [ standing here,
with all the conforts about us
look upon such matters with dread
and horror. But you must remember
those men were reduced to such con-
dit1on that their moral faculties were
IL i r L