The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-08-15
A HORROR OF THE ARCTIC.
A Story That the Survivors Resorted to Can't
balism


balism.
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA horrible story
Is published In the New York Times, that
the survivors Of the Greedy party, crazed by
starvation, fed upon the dead bodies OF their
comrades, and that written documents in
possession Of the navy department su5stan.
tiate it. The terrible narrative created a
great sensation here. Admiral Nichols, act
Ing Secretary of the navy, says there is abso-
lutely nothing In the navy department con-
frming the story, and he doubts its truth.
1t Is possible, however, report of this kind
may have gone direct to Secretary Chandler
In New Hampshire, as numerous documents
| are forwarded to him without examination
here. Some persons express the opinion
quietly that there Is something iu the story
and IL is beginning to be known that the
Greedy party was not as harmonious rs has
been generally supposed, and that there Is q
| story relating to the expedition which |; was
intended to conceal, but it must come out
In the same way the history of the jean
nette's unfortunate cruise came to be known
to the public.
The Times story was shown Gen. Hszsn,
who was at first very non -committal,
but finally, with decided emphasis, said {:
"There are certain facts connected with the
matter am not at liberty to mention. II is
very probable, though do not say SO Off
all 4
Congressional investigation next winter.
The story contains some Inaccuracies, nota-
bly, that In reference to devouring lhe ampu-
tated limbs of those who suffered the loss of
legs and aims Ia order to preserve their
lives. Gen. Hazen was asked what truth
there was in the statement that young Henry
had been shot and his body eaten. "That il
a subject" he replied, ."upon which l must
decline TO be interviewed" .-. ~
"Is the report that Captain Schley called
you and Secretary Chandler into the vessels
cabin and informed you that 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
eaten?"
II will not say they are not true, have
bnt casually glanced at the published story,
other than at those portions which deny"
"Did you hear any rumors while at Ports
mouth that dead men had been eaten ?"
"fhere were rumors of that kind afoat.
My official position would not permit me to
give the facts In the case"
"There are facts, then?"
81 can't answer that. l had long inter
view with Lieut.. Greedy, but the subject of
eating bodies W as not referred to. can i'm
agins a case where canibalism would be
justi6able, and it would be the case where
men are starving"
ado yon excuse canlbalism in Greely's
case?"
"Under the circumstances, 1t would be ex.
cusable."
"Has Secretary Chandler received any re.
port relative to this subject ?"
"Not that 1 know of. l have received
none."
"Is the report that Private Henry wa. shot
and Afterwards eaten, false ?"
"There were rumors at Portsmouth that
be had been killed and that the survivors bad
eaten his body, but decline to give any
facts In the case that might know"
"Will the shooting be q subject for inves-
tigstion by the war department
"Not necessarily. Men are shot every day
10 mutinies and no investigation made.
Under some circumstances 1t might be
proper" d.
"Will there be any investigation of the
reported eating Of bodies ?"
"An investigation could not be made
either by the war or navy department. That
Is matter Congress will have to look into.
Then ell the facts will be presented, and I'M
I'll then nothing will be given OUT,
Gen. Hazen says Lieut.. Greely's report on
the entire expedition will probably be for
warded him within month While 1t was
generally conceded that there were no rec
ords In Washington that would substantiate
the story, both army and navy officers among
themselves did not view It as an improbable
ity by any means. Said q navy officer
standing in the corridor Of the navy depart
ment: although there is no reason know
of for believing the story, the fact that there
are no reasons TO substantiate IL does not dis
prove 1t at all. Look as It as true. Is there
anything impossible about il? You and I,
standing here with all the comforts about us,
view such things with Dread and horror, but
you must remember these men were reduced
TO such condition that their moral faculties
were blunted. They should not be consid-
cred as responsible agents. Self preservs-
tion was their only thought, and they could |
not be expected to moralize upon it."
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 12.-Startling inter-
est Is excited here by the story of Henry be-
Ing killed and eaten by the Greedy party. |
Henry's real name was Book. BE has q sis.
ter and other friends In this city who will |
push the investigation.
.a# A Bankrupt City.
WHEELING, W. Va, Aug. This city is
q total wreck financially. Besides being
saddled with bonded debt of half million,
which Ia about ali II can carry under the law