St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-13
THE ARCTIC SUFFERERS.
Accused of Saving Their Lives by
Murder and Cannibalism.
The Navy Department and Gen. Hazen Fail to
Contradict the Story.
Burial of Lieut.. Lockwood-Letter o.
Thanks From Sergt. Brainard.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

luLeTVleWcu up Tue ULOBE correspondent To-
day in reference to the stories of cannibalism
among the members of the Greely party. He
stated fatty at first that he knew absolutely
nothing about the reports. Finally he ad-
mitted that he knew something, but what
that was he was not willing to divulge, on
the ground that the whole affair would be
made the subject OF congressional investi-
cation, and that it would be improper to
speak on the subject at this time. He was
asked to tell what he knew of the death of
Henry, who, it is alleged, was murdered by
| his companions, and he quickly replied with
| some show of temper and considerable en-
| phasis: Really, my dear sir, you must not
question me further. cannot permit il, land
now, once for all, tell you that will not
answer that question"
| The matter was brought to the attention
of Admiral Nichols, the acting secretary Of
the navy, and he said to the GLOBE cores
pondent: SIN my judgement it is ID
lie. That is my opinion. Of course, I can
not tell what may have happened in New
York, but as far as the statement is concerned
| that the story is borne out by papers
ulcu III GllS ucpdIUultuL III Is du dUSOluIc duu
unqualified falsehood. There is nothing here
to give the shadow of the color of truth to
such report. We have no intimation of
such thing, and don't believe it for a
moment"
There was no means of ascertaining what
reports had been forwarded to Secretary
Chandler or delivered personally to him.
of
of navigation, was of the opinion that the
story was of whole cloth. The dispatches of
Commander Schley that it was imperative to
place the bodies in metallic caskets he ex-
planned as follows: Commander Schley
was anxious to bring the bodies back in as
good a state of preservation
as possible. They were kept
in alcohol until they reached st. John. Such
method of transportation was only proper
as long as necessary. In these tanks of al
cohol the bodies would be knocked about by
the motion of the vessels at
sea and would be damaged. Hence 1t was
necessary to place them in metallic
caskets at the earliest opportunity. Besides
that,'' he said, ''bodies which were frozen
when found, would, you know, decompose
rapidly as soon as they reached a warmer eli
mate, and it was advisable to care for them
before decomposition should take place"
Western Associated Press.I
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA horrible story
is published in the New York Times this
morning, that the survivors of the Greedy
party, crazed by starvation, and cold,
FED ON THE DEAD BODIES
of their comrades, and that written docu-
ments in possession of the navy department
substantiate it. The terrible narrative cre-
ated great sensation here, and the admiral,
acting secretary of the navy, was shortly be-
sieged by newspaper men anxious to ascer-
tain something official concerning the publi-
cation. The admiral SAID positively there
was nothing in the navy department confirm
| ing this story and he doubted its truth. 1t
| is possible, however, report of this nature
may have gone direct to Secretary Chandler
in New Hampshire, as numerous documents
| are forwarded him without examination.
Some persons express the opinion quietly
that there is something in the story, and say
it is beginning to be known the Greely party
was not as harmonious as was generally
supposed, and that there is story connected
with the expedition which it was intended to
conceal, but must now come out the same
way the story of the Jeannettes unfortunate
cruise came to the knowledge of the public.
The Times story was shown Gen. Hazen,
| who at first was very non-commital, but
finally, with decided emphasis, he said
s'There are certain facts connected with the
matter | am not at liberty to mention. 1t is
very probable, though do not say so Off
cially, they will be made the subject of con-
| gressional investigation next winter. The
| story contains some inaccuracies, notably
| that in which reference is made to devouring
amputated limbs of those who suffered the
| loss of legs and arms in order to preserve
lives" 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
SIS the report that Capt. Schley called you
and Secretary Chandler into the vessels
cabin and informed you the survivors had
| eaten their associates false?" was asked.
THAT story is untrue.''
There is no truth then in the remainder of
the published stories that the bodies were
eatenl''
II viii not say they are not true. I have
but casually glanced at the published stories,
other than at those portions which l deny.''
''Did you hear any rumors while at Ports
mouth that the dead men had been eatens
''There were rumors of that kind afloat NV
official position would not permit me to give
the facts in the case.'
''There are facts thens"
81 can't answer that. had a long inter-
view with Lieut.. Greeley, but the subject of
eating the bodies was not referred to. / can
| imagine a case when cannibalism would be
| iustiiable, and it would be the case where
men are starving.'
'sDo you excuse cannibalism in the Greely
casea',
"Uuder circumstances it would be excusa-
ble"
HAS Chandler received any report relating
| to this subjeetli'
ssNot that know of. 1 have received
none.'
''Is the report that Private Henry was shot
! and afterwards eaten, false!''
'sThere were rumors at Portmouth that he
/ had been killed and the survivors had eaten
his body, but decline to give any facts in
| the case may know"
s'Will the shooting be the subject of inves-
tigation by the war Department.
s'Not necessarily. Men are shot every
day in mutinies and 20 investigation made
Under some circumstances it might be
proper
''WiIl there be an investigation of the re-
ported eating of the bodiesln
San investigation could not be made