Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-08-15
Other News.
A HORRIBLE STORY.
The Greedy Survivors Accused of
CannihaliSo,

/ A HORRIBLE STORY
The Greedy Survivors Accused of
! CannibaliSm.
WASHINGTON. Aug. IA horrible
story was published in the New York
Times this morning. that the Survlv-
ors of the Greely party, crazed by
hunger and cold, fed on the dead bod
les of their comrades, and that writ
ten documents in the possession OF the
navy department Substanuate the
terrible narrative This has created
great sensation here, and Admiral
! Nichols, acting secretary of the navy.
was shortly besieged by newspaper
men, anXluns to obtain something
official concerning the publication.
The admiral said there was nothing
in the navy department confirming
the story, and he doubted its truth,
1t is doubtful, however, that report
of this nature may have gone direct
to Secretary Chandler in New Hamp
shire. as numerous documents are
forwarded to aim without examina-
ton.
Some persons express the opinion
quietly that there is something in the
story, and say it is beginning TO be
known that the Greely party was not
as harmonious as had been generally
supposed, and that there is a story
connected with the expedition which
it was intended TO conceal, but which
must now come out. In the same way
the history of the Jeannettes unfor
tuuate cruise came to the knowledge
of the public.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-The New
York Times story was shown to Gen.
Hazen to day, who at first was very
non-committal, but finally, with de
cided emphasis, he said: There are
certain facts connected with the mat
ter that / am not at liberty to men
ton. 1t is very probable, though | do
not say so officially, that they viii be
made the subject of congressional in
vestigatlon next winter The
story contains some mac
curacies, notably, that III
| which reference is made to devour-
ing the amputated limbs of those who
suffered from loss of legs and arms, III
order to preserve life" Gen. 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.
WASHINGTON, Aug. y Gen. Ha
zen was interviewed to day is the
report that Capt. Schley called you
and Secretary Chandler into the yes
sells cabin and informed you that the
survivors had eaten their associates,
| false2' was asked.
THAT story is untrue"
"There is no truth, then, in the re-
mainder of the published stories that
! the bodies were caten?h
Il will not say they are not true.
| have but casually glanced at the
published story other than at those
portions which | deny"
"Did you near any rumors while at
Portsmouth that dead men had bee n
eaten?"
There were rumors of that kind
ahoat My official position would
not perlait me to give facts IN the
case
There are facts then2"
II cant answer that | had long
interview with Lieut.. Greely, but the
subject of eating bodies was not re-
| ferred to. | can imagine case when
cannibalism would be justifiable,
and it would be case where men are
starving"
''Do you excuse caunibalism in the
Greedy case2"
Under circumstances it would be
excusable.n .
HAS Secretary Chandler received
any report relative to this subject2
mot that | know of | have re-
ceived none"
rs the report that private Henry
was shot and afterwards eaten, falset'
There we're rumors a. Portsmouth
that he had been killed and the sur
vivors had eaten his body, but | de
cline to give any facts in his case that
| might know"
"Will the shooting be the subject
of an investigation by the war depart
ment2"
Not necessarily Men are shot
every day N mutinies, and no investl-
CATION made. Under some clrcum-
stances it might be proper.
will there be any investigation OF
the reported eating of the bodiesf'
IAN investigation could not be
made either by the war or navy de-
partment. That is matter congress
| will have to look into. Then all facts
will be presented and until then moth
ing will be given out. "
Gen. Hazen says Greely's report on
the entire expedition will probably be
forwarded TO him within a month.
While it was generally conceded there
were no records in Washington
that would substantiatc the story,
both the army and navy officers,
among themselves. did not view it as
an impossibilIty by any means.
Said a naval officer ia the corridor Of
the navy department: While there
IS no reason / know Of for believing
the story, the fact that there are no
records TO substantiate it does dot dis
prove it at all. Look at it as true.
| is there anything impossible
about it2 You and / standing here,
with ali the comforts about US
look upon such matters with dread
and horror. But you must remember
those men were reduced 10 such a CON
dit,on that theif moral faculties were
| DlUUVcd. lncy cHOuIu3 AZ is11s' bDs
considered responsible agents. Self
preservation was their only thought
and they could not be expected to NOR
alize upon it.
| PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 12.-Sec. Cnan-
dler returned here today. An assosi-
ated press agent visited him on the
Tallapoosa TO inquire concerning the
truth OF the article in to-day's New
Ysrk Times. The secretary appeared
to be considerably agitated. He said
ssYou may say that | have seen the
| New York Times, and that the navy
department. has received no such re.
ports of the shooting of Henry and OF
cannibalism as the Times gives. Oi
course you naturally next ask me II
the story is true. say that decline
70 say. I refuse to say anything fur
ther about the matter"
Hoisted by Dynamite
/ 49, AT Granite