, 1884-08-13
HORRORS OF HUNGER
Family Swallowed Forth Re-
garding Arctic Explorers.
Cannibalism Seems to Have
Been Freely Practiced.
One Man Said to Be Shot and
Then Eaten.
Everything Wasn't Lovely.

1%A6AaA - A
story was published in the New York
Times this morning, that the survivors of
the Greely party while crazed by starvation
and i'll fed on the dead bodies Of their
comrades, and that the written documents
in the possession ofthe Navy Department
s~ubstantiate this terrible narrative, The
story created a great sensation here and
Admiral Nichols, Acting Secretary of the
Navy, was shortly besieged by newspaper
men anxious to ascertain something Off
cial concerning the publication. The Ad-
miral says positively there is nothing in
the Navy Department confirming the
story and he doubted its truth. 1t Is
possible, however, n report of this nature
may have gone direct to Secretary Chand-
Ter in New Hampshire. as numer-
GUS documents are forwarded to him
without examination. Some persons
express the opinion quietly that therewas
something in the story, and say its be-
ginning to be known the Greedy party
was not as harmonious as has been gener-
ally supposed, and that there is a story
connected with the expedition which it
was intended to conceal, but which must
come out in the same way as the history
of the Jcanette's unfortunate cruise be-
came known to the public.
The Times story was shown General
HaEen, who at first was very non-com-
initial, but finally with decided emphasis
he said: There are certain facts con-
nected with the matter | am not at liberty
to mention. n is very probable though
l do not say $50, officially they will be
made 4 subject of congressional
investigation next winter. The
story contains some inaccuracy notably
that in which reference to ~devouring the
a%mputated limbs OF those who suffered the
loss Of legs and arms in order to preserve
lives. General Hazen was asked what
truth there was in the statement that
young Henry had been shot and his body
eaten.
THAT is a subject, - he replied, upon
which | must decline to be interviewed.
is the report that Captain Schley
called you and Secretary Chandler into his
cabin and informed you that the survivors
had eaten their associates false?" was
asked,
THAT story is untrue.
There is no truth her in the remainder
of the published stories that the bodies
we're eaten2"
I will not say they are not true. I
have but casually glanced at the published
story other than at those portions which 1
deny"
Did you here any rumors while at
Portsmouth that the dead men had been
eaten2"
There were rumors of hat kind afioat.
My official position would not permit me
to give the facts in the case.
There are facts them
Il can't answer that. l had a long
inverview with Lieutenant Greedy, but
the subject of eating the bodies was not
referred to. l can imagine the case when
cannibalism would be justifable, and it
would be 4 case when men are starving"
do you excuse cannibalism in the
Greedy case2'
Under circumstances it would be ex-
cusable."
Has Secretary Chandler received any
reports relative to this subject"
mot that l know Of l have received
none"
rs the report that Private Henry was
shot and afterwards eaten, false?"
There were rumors at Plattsmouth be
had been killed and the survivors had
eaten his body. But l decline to give any
facts in his case that | mightknow.
"Willl he shooting be a subject of in
v~estigation by the War Department.
Not necessarily. Men are shot every
day in mutinies and there is no investiga-
ton. Under some circumstances it might
be proper"
win there be any investigation Of the
reported eating of the bodiesl'
San investigation could not be made
either by the War and Navy Department
That is a matter Congress will have to look
into. Then all the facts will be presented
4 and until then nothing will be given out. =
General Hazen says Lieutenant Gree
ly's report on the entire expedition vii
probably be forwarded him within 1
month. While it was generally conceded
there were no records in Washington tina
/ substantiate the story, both army anC
navy officers, among themselves did no
deemFit as impossible by any means
, Said a naval officer in the corridor o
l the Navy Department, Though there i
f no reason l know of for believing tn
: story, the fact that thereare no records Il
substantiate it does not disprove it at all
Look at it as trpe-is there anything i'm
probable about it? You and l standing
here with all comforts about us, view sucl
a matters with dread and horror, but yol
z must remember these men were reduces
. to such a condition that their mora
faculties were blunted. They should no
be considered in fact responsible agents
/, Self preservation was their only thought
and they could not be expected4o moral
l. ize upon it"