Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-15
THE CAPE SABINE HORROR.
VERY CONFLICTING STORIES.
Why the Bodies were Observation-Disclosures naut
Grceiy's OGieiaI Report OF the Execution OF

-"
Grceiys OmeiaI Report or the Execution OF
Henry.
The Herald OF yesterday says: The
charge OF capnibalism against the members
OF the Grccly expedition has been tho
roughly investigated by Herald reporter.
IL has been discovered that there il basis
for the charges. though the circumstances
Of the case are by no means so horrible or
so sensational as the published story indi-
Gates. II l. fact that portions OF the nesa
OF some Of the bodies recovered by the
Bear and the Thets had been cut away.
There is not the slightest evidence toprove
that this flesh was eaten by the dead mems
comrades. and II has been suggested that
the flesh was used for bait TO catch the
shrimIs uron which the survivors subsist-
cd for so long n time. There is no doubt
that the whole affair has been grossly exag-
gerated.
The Herald is IN q position to state that
the. sensational incidents Of the story ~
first published are not at all accurate. No
one was butcbcred for food. Private Henry
was shot because he was discovered steal
ing the scaniy ratiops Of his comrades.
This may not seem a heinous offence to
those who have It in their power to pro.
cure provisions by stepping 10 the nearest
store or TO a welI-stOcked larder but to
those who were merely existing on IN in
fnitesimal allowance OF food daily, and
were endeavOriDg to escape death in the
gloomy, icy North by q careful boarding
UP OF what few necessari& remained, the
offence would doubtless appear as desery-
ing the penalty OF death. Private Henry
was under martial law. ard many a soldier
has been shot during a campaign for an Of
fence far less trivial tlan that OF which IL
is alleged he was guilty.
Then. again. the Herald has learned that
when the Greedy party was rescued each
member was on the brink OF insanity.
Their suflerlngs and the pangs OF famine
had made them almost denented. When
they left Fort Congcr they fully expected
to find wel-fillcd caches Of provisions.
And if 1t had not been for the misfortune
or mismanagement which attended the re-
lief expedition Of Lieutenant darlington
there would have been no horrors to re-
late. Lieutenant Grcely left carefully
drawn-up document, which contained his
instructions for the storing Of provisions
along the line Of MS projected retreat, and
these instructions. which should nave been
rcligiously coniormed to, were disregardcd
in all important particulars. leaving fear
ful weight Of responsibility upon those
officials who are accountable for this negli.
gence-tO call it 10y no harshcr name.
Some Of the bodies that were found by the
mon OF the TbetiS and the Bear were found
to have slices OF flesh cut from their breasts
and legs. The skin had been first carefully
cut away, the flesh aftcrward carved out,
and then the skin was drawn over the
bones. There is no doubt that Commander
SChey was aware Of the mutilated Condi-
ton os some of the bodies. His officers
were bound TO report II TO him. II was
owina 10 This that he applied for permis-
sion TO have the bodies encased in riveted
Wrought-iron caskets. He, no doubt, was
actuated by the best motives in attempting
to conceal state Of affairs the revelation
Of which he thoTght could result in no
possible good.
Ii has also lcCn discovered by the Herald
that there was a certain amount Of insubOr-
diualiOn. chickering's, and Jealousy among
the Eon Of the Grecly expedition; notably
so in the case Of Lieutenant kislngbury.
The friends Of this gentleman have ma
turally been curious and anxious to know
how It Is that his name has not appeared in
the reports Of the achievements Of the eX-
pcdtion as related in the columns Of the
Hfrold The reason is simply this: Lieu.
tenant KiSingbury, on the day after the
landing Of the expedition at For. Con-
ger, was reprimanded by Lieutenant
Grecly for ovcrsleeping himself. Some
words passed between them. Lieutenant
kislinehury asked to be sent back on the
Proteus. which was still fast in the ice
short distance from shore. Lieutenant
Greely said that it was not IN his power to
allow him to return, hut on Lieutenant
kislingbury writing out a formal appllca-
ton to that effect Lieutenant Greely signed
il. Lieutenant kislIncbury started with
the document over the ice foe 10 the Pro
icuS. hut just as he had approached within
Il short distance Of the vessel the ice foe 10
tween the ship and the land broke away,
releasing the Protcus, which immediately
steamed out and down the sound. LicUten-
ant kishngbdry returned to camp. Lieu
tenant Grecly relieved him from duty.
lie was not placed under arrest, but was
not allowed to take part in any OF the Sci
entifc work Of the expedition. IL was not
until long after Fort Congcr was aban-
doned thai Lieutenant Greely, realizing
that he might die first, Teinstated klSling-
bury in his o,d position Of second in com
mand. This he did because there was no
otl er officer surviving competent. in Lieu
tenant Grcely'S Judgment, 10 take com
mand Oi the party in the event OF bis own
death.
The friends Of the dead have Il perfect
legal right TO open the caSkcts and satisfy
themselves as Ia the truth Of the charges
The dead are no longer under martial law,
and when the bodies We're surrendered 10
their relative, The War Department rclin.
uui,hCd all authority