Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-21
The Proof Clear that the Starry
ing Men Ate Their
Comrades.
Lieut.. Kisingsbury's Bones
Found to be Picked
Quite Clean.
CSnnibaliSn1 Proved.

the remains of Lieutenant KS
lSngbury of the arctic expedition
who died amid the arctic snow last
June. Iii established beyond all
question that cannibalism was resort
ri 10 by the starving men of the
Greedy expedition, and shows that
the lives of those saved were pre-
served only by eating the dead bodies
of their companions. Lieutenant
kIslingbury' S relatives here were filled
with horrible doubts as soon as they
learned that disclosures had been made
in New York regarding cannibalism
among the members of the expedition
and they determined to learn the truth
by exhuming the remains and having
them examined by competent physi-
clans. The services OF l.. A. Jeffrey,
undertaken. were secured, and this
morning, with the assistance of five
men, he accomplished the work of
taking up the casket from it's resting
place.
The cssket was opened in the pres
ence of Frank W. Kislingbury and
John P. Kislinghury, brothers of the
deceased, DR.. Chas. Buckley, DIR. T.
A. Mandville, Superintendent Still
son, Assistant Superintendent Mand-
vile and two reporters of the Post
and Express. The work of
opening the heavy iron receptacle was
found comparatively easy, all there
was to it being to unscreW SO iron
bolts which held down the lid. The
noiseless ease with which the latter
was pried from it's bed, showed there
was no absence of grease in the cas-
ket, and it was feared there might be
no body in the casket at all. Feeling
his way into the mass of snow cotton
waste which filled the coffin to the top,
Mr.. JeHreys soon exclaimed, he is
there" A strong order of alcohol
but no very pronounced suggestions
of decay emanated from the casket.
DIR. Buckley, who had put on pair
Of black leather gloves, uncovered
the lower portion of the collins ten
ant, and then 1t appeared as if one of
the legs, the right one, was missing,
but when the waste was ali removed
it became apparent the limb was tied
under the left one. The casket was
next placed upon the floor and then
enshrouded, the form taken from it
and placed upon table. The under
taker and physician now began to cut
the stitches and unwind the sheeting
which formed the first cover. The
sheet was tohen away, the tarred rope
entwining the blanket cut, and the
work Of taking off this last covering
began. Slowly the blanket was re-
moved. The blackened, heshless face,
showing marks of Arctic soil, bore no
semblance to the dead man. Fhe skin
was dried to the skull. The sightless
sockets and half-open moNth gave the
dead man look of mute appealing
agony. The remains were complete
ly identified as those of Lieut.. K s.
lingsbury. The physicians made a
thorough examination and the re-
mains were then placed back into the
caskeJ and again lowered to
the grave. Returning to the
city the physicians made an affidavit
that they found the skin and mus
cles removed from the legs, thighs,
arms and parts of Me body. Their
survivors of the party were, some OF
them at least, compelled to resort to
cannlbalism to save their own lives.
GREEDY HONORED AT HIS BIRTHPLACE.
NEwBURYPORT, Mass, Aug. IA
The day was ushered in by a national
salute and the ringing of church bells
Crowds Of people thronged the public
places. The decoration by the city
government consists of four trium
phal arches-one at the city hall, two
on State street and one at the birth
place of Greedy on Prospect street.
GREELY's OFFICIAL REPORT ON HENRY S
CASE
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14-FOlloging
is the text of Lieut. Greely's official re-
port of the execution of Private Henry:
PORTSMOUTH, n Y, Aug. II.
To the Adjutant General of the United States
Army. through the Chief Signal Officer of the
United States Army:
SIR:-I nave the honor to report that on June 6,
1884, at Camp Clay, near Cape Sabine, Grinnell
Land, it became necessary for me To order the
military execution of Private Charles B. Henry,
of the 9Th cavalry, for continued thieving. The
o. der was given in writing on my individual re-
spOnsbity, being deemed absolutely essential
for the safety of the surviving members OF the
expedition. Ten had already died from starvation
aid two more lay at the point of death.
The facts inducing my &C ion were as follows:
Provisions had beer. stolen in November, 1883, and
Henry's completely therein was more than Sus-
pected. March "a. 1884, he party nearly persisted
from aSphyXia. While Severai men were uncon-
scious, and efforts We're being made for their re-
suscitation Private Henry stole about two pounds
OF bacon rom the mess stores he was not only
seen by Eskimo Jim, but his stomach being over
loaded he threw up the undigeSted bacon An
open investigation was held, and every member
of the party declared him guilty Of this and other
thefts a clamor for his life raised, but this
was repressed by me. l put him under snrveil-
lance until or waning strength rendered bis
physical services Indispensable Later, he
found one day intoxicated, having stolen liquor
on hand for general issue. second time his life
was demanded, but / again spared him. On
June 5th another theft of provisions his part
having been reported to me- had a converse
ton with him. In this conversation / appeal
ed to bis practical sense pointing out what
was necessary to our preservation. He promised
entire reformation, but, di-truSting him. is ued
written order that he should be shot if detected
again in stealing On June 9th he not only stole
a part of the shTimps for our breakfast but, Wis
ting unauthorized our winter camp stole certain
sealskins necessary for food. Ga his person we
found a silver chronograph owned by me at Fort
Conger and stolen by him. In his bag was found
q large quantity of sealskn and pair of sealskin
boots sloen few days before from tbs hunter.
Suspecting completely on the part of several, L
ordered his execution by three of the most re ia
Bile men. After his death, the order was read tC
the entire marty and was cOncurred 10 By every