Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-14
CannihaI,snn.

At this staQe OF the testimony IL ~ I'M
possible 10 decide whether there IL any
truth In the horrible story, first published
in The New York Times, that the survivors
q the GREEDY party subsisied in part by
feeding upon the corpses Of companions.
The statements made by those who have
been in position 70 obtain information are
very conflicting. In some quarters the
whole story is treated as foreesstlc sensa-
,jon. and il positively denied. III others.
coloring az credit is given to IL by
implication. Yet, revolving as is the idea
~ 10th as we are 10 believe that this addi-
,iOnsl chapter Of horrors Is 10 be added to
the history OF the expe1ition--tbe public
willhare no reason to be surprised II rtproye
10 be true, and the press should be careful
In directing It's censurc. Such things have
happened before. Cases OF caHnihalisIn
have occurred time and again among en-
lightcned men. in which there were none
Of the mitigating circumstances that attach
20 the story OF the cannibalism OF the
GREELY party as we have it.
On numerous occasions starving men
have not waited for companion 10 de,
but have cast lois TO decide which OF their
number should be killed that his body
might furnish sustcnance for the rest. IL
the moral sensibIIities OF men can be so
blunted IS TO cause them 20 commit hOIni-
cide--fOr in these cases il was only ques-
ton Of which one should be killed in order
10 satisfy the panss Of hunger In the others
II is not 10 be wondered at that band,
craged and periShing amid the horrors Of
IN Arctic night, and hardly IN a state OF
moral responsibility, should have resorted
but certainly, as far as we know the cir
cumstancCs, not involving the same grave
moral question. Even If it be so that one
Of the party was shot, it is not claimed that
ne was sacrificed TO furnish food for his
companions.
As TO The degree Of moral guilt con-
nocted with the bare fact OF eating human
flesh situated as the GRBnLY party were,
snd reduced as they were to the condition
Of wild beasts, that is Il question that no
human being with 3 well-hlled stomach has
a right TO pass Judgment upon. In fact, it
is question that no human being has
right TO pass judgment upon at al. 1t IS
msttor between the GREEDY survivors and
higher power, and the so-caled moral dis
sertaiions into which some Of our exchanges
have run are to us simply blasphemous.
Let those who take the ground that the
survivors should have starved rather than
become such gbouls put themselves, in imag.
ins;ion, in the places Of the party. II they
could do this they would probably wonder
whether the story is not true, particularly
when they recall the fact that cannibalism,
which happily was not resorted TO, was
feared in connection with the Jeannette
party.
However. as we have intimated. the whole
story may be = iorecGsile yarn. The testi-
mony-ii testimony 1t can be called-of
General HAZES indicates more strongly
than that Of any other man interviewed
that there may be some foundation for the
THneS's article. But 1t should be remem-
bered that General HAzES has genius for
and getting things mixed. His
remarkable statement may be father to a
fear, for il the GRaELr survivors were CON-
PEELED 10 resort TO capnbalism, no ono il
more culpable than is General HAHN.
Since the above was written and put in
type we have seen II statement from Lieu
tenant GRgELY. He admits the military
execution for just cause of Private HENRY,
but denies any knowledge OF cannibalism
on the part of his men. a report Of the
execution OF HENRY was forwarded to the
War Department some days ago.