The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-22
HENRY'S FATAL HUNGER. !


that Charles b. Henry Was Executed by
His Orders-Driven by Desperate Hunger
the Poor Fellow Stole the Rations of
His Sufferers = His Fate POST
poned Until After His Third Offense--
An Investigation Asked by His Rela-
tives.
BosToN, Aug. IA special from Ports
mouth, n. H., says: 'Early yesterday morn
ing Colonel Kent obtained an interview with
Lieutenant Greedy, who admitted that Pri-
vate Henry had military execution on the
9th of June. AS early as March Henry was
suspected of stealing the limited food
which was apportioned out to the survivors,
and, the fact being finally and positively as
certained, Lieutenant Greedy had thereafter
hard work to protect the mans life. 1t be-
came necessary, in order to keep up
discipline, to inform Henry that ne
would be shot if the practice was
continued, and that similar fate
would be melted out to any other
member of the party detected in like
crime. If Henry had been permitted to
continue his stealing unmolested the re-
mainder of the party would surely have
starved to death, and Henry alone sur
| vived. After, and in spite of these warn
| ings, Henry was again detected stealing
provisions, among the food taken being two
pounds Of bacon, the eating of so much OF
which made him sick. A search
was then instituted, when 1t was
found that Henry had, among
other articles, stolen and secreted a pair OF
sealskin boots which had belonged to the
hunter Of the party.
Being closely questioned by Lieutenant
Greedy he admitted his guilt. He was
| again ready with promises to do better.
His fate was upon him. He was, in the
afternoon of that day, little distance at
alone by himself. The written or
der for his execution was committed
to three of the party. They were ordered
to shoot him, encountering as little danger
to themselves as possible, as Henry was the
strongest of the party. Sadly the men de-
dacted on their terrible errand. Their COM
rades left in camp turned their eyes to the
ocean. In few minutes a breeze bore to
their ears the sound of two quick
pistol shots. All at the camp were
silent Slowly, after short interval, the
men returned the written order was handed
| to Lieutenant Greedy, and the horrible but
| necessary execution was over. Henry was
never seen again by his comrades and his
body was understood to have been inferred
/ at the foot of the northwest ice foe.
The order for the execution of Henry was
that afternoon read to the survivors, and all
concurred In the justice and necessity OF the
act. NoSreport of the manner Of his death
has ever been made to Liuetenant Greedy,
and the survivors tacitly ignored the terri
BILE embrance.
AS to the alleged cannibalism Greedy
says that if there was anything of the kind
it must have been an individual act and not
| general Nothing of the kind, however,
came under Greely'S personal observation.
Sergeant Brainard, who is in the hospital
| at the navy yard, confirmed Lieutenant
Greely's statements. More than week
ago Lieutenant Greedy forwarded to the
Secretary of War detailed report of Hen
RVS execution. Upon proper representa-
tons to Secretary Chandler. court of in
quiry will undoubtedly be ordered.
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.-The Captains OF
the Thetis, the Bear and the Alert left their
vessels to-day with Commander Schley and
went out Of town. 1t is said they were to
meet the naval authorities and confer with
them. All the officers know that three OF
the bodies were found lying naked and
exposed above ground, with long hunks of
flesh cut from their bones. The other nine
bodies were buried, and only Commander
Schley, Ensign Harlow, Engineer Melville
and DR.. Green know positively whether
these also have signs of mutilation.
One of the officers warmly defended the
action of Greedy in ordering the execution
of Henry. ut was the only recourse" lie
said, this killing Of Henry, and l honor
the man for his courage in issuing the death
warrant. The survival of the fittest is the
greatest law that prevails when body OF
half-staryed men band together to help
each other to keep alive. Henry's first
and second thefts were pardoned. He
was warned that third attempt
meant death. Mad with hunger he
again offended. He was stealing his COM
rades very lives, the life of Greedy himself,
and he merited the death that awaited him,
TWAS terrible penalty to pay-a life for
two pounds of bacon-but you must re.
member those were terrible times. Had he
been left alive to steal the food that be
longed to others we would have found only
the dead bodies of the brave little band, and
this example had its effect. Every survivor
knew, and knew positively, that any tam
pering with the little handful of fooG
meant death. In justice to his men Lieu
tenant Greedy had to kill Henry, so he was
shot No one will ever know positively
! that the bodies were eaten-not even Lieu
tenant Greedy. He will know whether he
himself has eaten Of his comrades, but he
does not know what his men have done,
and the world will never know. There
; will always be grave suspicious Of
cannibalism. The facts. are plainly
and simply that these bodies left naked anG
dead on the ice were cut into with sailors
sheath-knives. The latest portions of the
legs and arms were slashed from the bones
so much can be proven. This human fest
may have been used for bait or may have
, been eaten. But you nor nor Lieutenant
, Greedy will ever know what was done WITH
those raw shreds of flesh"
The Coroners of Queens County are dis
cussing the advisability of exhuming the re
mains of Charles B. Henry, who was buried
at Cypress Hills Cemetery. The burial per
nit was made out in New York, and gives
as the cause Of death starvation, and th'
date June 6.
! CHICAGO, Aug. 13.-The horrible recita
of the death of Henry, one of the Greel
expedition, by one of the survivors, ha
caused William Helms, cousin of the de
ceased and resident of this city, to re
quest of Secretary Chandler an official in
, vestigation into the circumstances o
, his death. The real name of tn
deceased was Henry Book. II
was born in Hanover, Germany
where his mother and brother nov
reside. He also has sister living i
Lincoln. Neb. Henry, or Book, enlisted il
the Fifth United States Cavalry at Cincin
natl under the former name, and when tn
Greedy expedition was formed he offeret
his services. Nothing was heard from hin
by his relatives until the horrible details o
his death were published in the papers.
Chess is the oldest game now il
use. 1t was originally played in India
where tradition says it was invented
five thousand years ago; The India1