Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-08-14


morning says: Written documents nov
in the possession of the navy department
at Washington add to the record Of
miserable human sufferings already pub.
lished in connection with the finding of
the Greedy relief expedition. the most
shocking stories of lnhumanity and can.
nibalism. All the facts have been in the
possession of Secretary Chandler for
nearly three weeks, but so closely have
they been guarded, and so strictly have
the naval officers and sailors maintained
the silence imposed upon them, that not
even an inkling of the true and horrible
condition Of affairs has yet reached the
public ear. The sufferings and priva-
tions of the men in their canvas hut
during the long, bitter winter of 1884,
have not half been told. It has been
published that after game gave out early
IN February they lived principally on
seal skins. lichens and shrimps. AS a
matter of fact they were kept alive on
human flesh When the rescuing party
discovered the half starved sur
vivors, their first duty was
to look to the men who were insensible
from cold and privation even to the point
of death. One of them, German, was
wild. In his delirium he shrieked, "Oh"
as the sailors took hold of. him to lift
as they did poor Henry. Must 1 be
let them do it, don't" The sailors were
horrlf.d, but at once reported the mans
words to Commander Scbley. When the
horrible reality was brought out before
an investigating committee Commander
Schley intrusted two or three gentlemen,
amoug whom was DIR. Ames, the surgeon
OF the Bear, to make q careful examina.
ton, and put their conclusions in
writing. This was done, and the reports
are now in the hands of the navy depart
ment. Lieut.. Greedy was decidedly
averse to having the bodies of the
buried dead disturbed, but the bodies
were dug from their graves. Most of
the blankets contained nothing but
heaps of white bones, many of them
picked clean. BY inquiries Commander
Schley discovered that many of the seven.
teen men who are said to have perished
from starvation had been eaten by their
famishing comrades. 1t was the one last
resort. 1t is reported that the only men
who escaped the knife were three or four
who died of scurvy. The amputated
limbs of men who afterward perished,
were eagerly devoured as food. Whether
the four bodies which we're swept out to
sea and never recovered would have
| added further evidence to this story of
horrible cannibalism, cannot be learned
now, though the papers in the possession
of the navy department give oil the
particulars as told by the survivors.
Charles P. Henry's death was particularly
tragic. Driven to despair by his fright.
full hunger, Henry saw an opportunity to
steal a little more than his share oi
1ations, and he made the attempt. He
was found and shot tor his crime. II
the published official report the death q
this man is set down as having occurred
June 5th. When the body was found his
hands and face, though shrunken, were
intact and recognizable; but nearly
everywhere else the skin had been strip
ped from him and the flesh picked from
the bones. Even his heart and lungs
were eaten by his comrades. The body
was IN this condition when it was inferred
last Saturday. The letter from his frient
Robert S. Oberfelder, of Sidney, Neb
which is daily looked for, will probabl,
never come to light.
GEN. HAZES INTERVIEWED.
The Times story vas shown Genera
Hazen, who at first was very non com
initial, but finally with decided emphasi
he said: There are certain facts con
! nected with the matter l am not at lit
, erty to mention. 1t is very probable
though do not say SO officially, tha
they will be made the subject of con
gressional investigation next. winter
3 The story contains some inaccuracies
notably that in which reference is mad
$ to devouring the amputated limbs O
! those who suffered the loss of legs an
:, arms in order to preserve life" Genera
8 Hazen was asked what truth there va
8 in the statement that young Henry ha
been shot and bis body eaten. "That
! subject" be replied. "upon which
! must decline to be interviewed"
us the report that Capt Schley calle
e you and Secretary Chandler into til
\ vessels's cabin and Informed you that th
: survivors had eaten their own associates
: false?" was asked.
J. THAT story is untrue. There is n
more truth in that tEan in the remainde
J. of the published stories that the bodie
t were eaten. will not say they are nc
e true. 1 have but casually glanced at til
published story other than at those POI
. tions which read"
e ibid you hear any rumors while
Portsmouth that the dead men had bee
r eaten?"
t There were rumors of that kind afloa
y My official position would not permit n
!, to give the facts in the case"
3 "There are facts then?"
J. Il can't answer that. I had Ion
: interview with Lieut.. Greedy, but IL
: subject OF eating bodies was not referre
to. can imagine case when Gambia
q ism would be justifable, and it woul
i be case where men are starving"
j do you excuse cannibalism IN Gre
q ly's case?"
: under the circumstances it would t
b excusable."
t HAS Secretary Chandler received r
t port relative to this subject?"
"Not that know Of. 1 have receive
|. none."
8 rs the report that Private Henry W,
e shot and afterwards eaten false2"
: "There were rumors at Portsmout
that he had been killed and the survive
e bad eaten his body, but decline to gi,
s any facts in his case that might know
It "Will the shooting be the subject of Q
,. investigation by the war department ?"
g "Not necessarily. Men are shot evel
:. day in mutinies aud no investigate
3. made. Under some circumstances
y might be proper"
q will there be any Investigation of tt
reported eating of the bodies"
. "An investigation could not be mad
If either by the war or navy department
l,ak l.,