Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1884-08-15
The. Csmmanderof the Lady.Prank-
LIN Bay. Expedition Makes His
GtHhippial Report a
Of the Military Execution of One. &C,
His Party,,Wh Was CsnRheted
i of Theft.
RA HoOsier. Publisher Gets Einself Into.
Trouble by, Publishing:at Cam
/ paiga Slander.
/ A Party of Mormon ELDERS are. ,;SEar
/ marily Dealt. With by q Mob of
/ Angry Tennesseeans.
i The American Bankers, Associations
Puts In Another Daysat Sara.
toga and AdjouEns.-
Miscellaneeus Wire Waisperinss..
Miscellaneous Wire !, Nlisperinss
The Report,

+ & -
WAsH1sanoie, Aug. ll4.-The following isLssu :
tenant Greeley's official report Of the exaastic q
of Private Hsnry: s #.
Portsmouth, n. r., AUG. u. l.-:-AdjqtAst, 3sn-
eral Upitsd StateA Army y, through tho Grief
Signal Oa5eer United S.atea Army, sirs i hf;se
the honor toreport;,that on June 9Th, 1854, 1t
Camp Chg, near Cape sssin, Grinneil's Land,
it became necessary fox ne to order thsts4ilitry
execution Of Private Charles B. Henry, Fifth,
cavalry..f for continued tkiaving. The ORDER Was.
given IN writing on my Individual respeaaibility,
being deemed absolutely essential fer.the safety
of the surviving membara Of the e1pedition-
Ten had already died Of starvation and two more
lay al the point Of death. The facts inducing
my action were as. fellows: Provisions had
been stolen in November, 1883, and Henrya
completely therein was more than suspected; ON
Mach, Oath, 1884. the party. nearly perished
from asphy yxia. and while: several szaea were rn
conscious and efforts were being. made for their
pounds of bacon from the mess stores. Hewas
not only seen by the Esquimaux, John Edwards,
but his stomach being overloaded, he threw up
the undigested bacon. An oran, investigators
was held and every member Of, the patty da-
clared him guilty of this and other thefts.
-1 II Ac1.AMoR FOB HIS LIFE
was raised but was repressed by me anaD pat
him. under surveillance until our waning
strength rendered his physical services, tndis-
pensable. Laterhe was, found, one day in
toxicated, having stolen the liquor on hsnd for
general Issue. A second time bis. life was de.
.manded. but again spaced him. On June S.
thefts of provisions On his part having been
reported to me, / had . conversation with him
in which l appealed to his practical sense,
pointing out what was necessary to our pre-
servation. He promised entire reformation.
bat distrusting him issued q written order
that he should be shot if dectected stealing.
On June 9Th he not only stole . part of the
shrlmps for our breakfast, but visiting, unau
tborized, our winter camp, stole certain seal
skins reserved for food. I then ordered him
shot. On his person was found silver chfono.
graph, a bandoned ty me at Fort Congez and
stolen by him, and in his bag was found, q
large quantity Of seal skin and rair Of seal
skin boots, stolen few days before from the
hunter. suspeoting completely on ths part Of
several
ORDERED HIS EXECUTION
by the most reliable men, and after his death
the order was read to the entire party and con-
CURED in by every p4ember as being not only
Just but essential to our safety. To avoid
public scandal ordered t as no man should
speak of this matter until an Official report was
made of the facts. have to, request that a
court of inquiry be ordered OF, a, court martial
be convened, should the honorable secretary Of
war deem either advisable in this case. have
thought it best not to ask for written state
ments from the surviving members
of the party for appendices to
this report, lest I might seem to
be tampering with them. have not asked
since our rescue, June 22, whether their opinions
concurring in my action have changed or not,
leaving such questions to your action if deemed
requisite naturally regret that circumstances
imposed such responsibility upon me, bat I
am conscious I shoaM have failed in my duty
to the reat Of the party had I not acted persmp1
torily and sumnaafily. (&gned.)
A. w. GREE1EY,
First Lieutenant Fifth Cavalry. A. 8. o. and
Acting Conmander Of Lady franklin Bay
Expedition. ) st. ..s /; 5s 81. y
The Bankers @ aF n