Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-14

True Statement OF the shoesinx OF
Private Henry.
HxSRY's BODY TO Ex FxHuNKD.

HxSRT's BoDT TO Ex FxHUNKD.
NEW YoRx, Aug. 13.-The story thai
Charles B. Henry of the Greely expe-
dition had been killed and a portion OF
his body eaten, caused much excitement
| In the neiohborhood of Cypress cemetery
Application was made to Coroner Robin
son by pers 1ns not related TO Henry 20
have the body exhumed and an inquest
held. The laws of this State IN cases,
where a person dies outside the State
but Is buried IN IL, permit the coroner
OF the county to determine whether
there Is cause TO hold an inquest. The
coroner will take counsel on the matter
today.
GRKKLYs ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING OF
HENRY.
PORTSMOUTH, n. a. Aug. 13.-Early
this morning Colonel Kent obtained an
interview With Lieutenant Greedy, who
admitted that he had Henry shot by a
military execution on the 9th of June.
As early as March il was suspected that
Henry was stealing the limited food
which was apportioned out to the sUr-
vlvors: and this fact being finally and
positively ascertained, Lieutenant Gree
ly had thereafter hard work to protect
the mans life. Ii became necessary in
order to keep up discipline to intern
Henry that he would be shot if the
practice was continued and that simi-
lar fate would befall any other member
of the party detected in like crime.
If Henry had been permitted to continue
his stealing unmolested, the balance of
the party would surely have starved to
~ al -
After, and in spite of these warnings,
Henry was again detected stealing pro-
visions Among the food taken was two
pounds OF baoon-eating 80 much of
which made him sick. A search was
then instituted, when it was found that
Henry had, among other articles, stolen
and secreted pair of sealskin boots
which had belon ged to the hunter of
the party. Lieutenant Greedy was
therefore forced, in order to maintain
military discipline and to protect the
lives of his other comrades, to issue a
order was carried into effect on June
9th. As to the alleged cannibalism
Greedy says that if there was anything
of the kind it must have been an indi-
vlduai act, and not general. Nothing
~ VIC hid1t hONCFCke OdL1C Ills
(Greely's) personal observation.
Sergeant Brainard, who is in the hos.
pital at the navy yard, confirms Gree
Tvs statement. More than a week ago
Lieutenant Greedy forwarded to the Sec
rotary of War a detailed report of Hen
rvs execution. On proper representa-
tions to Secretary Chandler a court of
inquiry will undoubtedly be ordered.
AN OPINION OF THE oANNIBALIsM.
NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-Yesterday the
officers and men of the Alert, Thetis
and Bear refused to say anything for
publication about the snfferings of the
Greedy party. 1t is evident, however,
that the cannibalism of Cape Sabin has
some foundation of fact. A gentleman
with the relief expedition,
who did not wish his name to be used, J
said the opinion among the officers was
that cannibalism was resorted to when
the alternative was either that or death. |
Anyone can easily understand" said
this gentleman, shat men who |
have been living for months on
a few shrimps per day are not |
exactly in their right minds. When |
Greedy was found the party were more |
or less ont of their heads. They had |
suffered SO much from hunger and ex |
posture that collapse was very near. |
1t is easy to see that for months the |
dominant and only idea in the minds of |
these men was how to get food. They |
probably dreamed and thought of moth |
ing else. They cannot be blamed for |
eating whatever they could find.
The Bear was open to visitors to-day, |
and the iron tank in which the bodies |
Of the SIX victims had been preserved |
was on deck. 1t is four and a half feet |
long by twenty inches wide, and the |
bodies of the men, it is admitted, were |
skin and bones.
Commander Schley pronounces the |
interview with him publish |
ed yesterday lie.