The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-30
PRIVATE HENRY'S DEATH.
The arctic Explorer Who tcas Shot by Order
of Lieut.. Greedy.


|
L Grinnell Land, 1t became necessary for II
to order the military execution of Privat
Charles R. Henry. Fifth cavalry. 1h
order was given in writing on my undivide
responsibility, being deemed absolute
essential for the safety Of the survivir
members of the expedition. Ten had al
ready died of starvation, and two more Ia
at the point of death. TIE facts inducin
my action were as follows:
Provisions bad been stolen in November
1888, and Henry's completely therein va
more than suspected. On March "a, 1884
the party nearly persisted from aspbyxii
While several men we're unconscious, ant
while efforts were being made for thell
restoration, Private Henry stole about tw'
pounds of bacon from the mess siorss
He was not only seen by the K kin
Jens and Edwards, but his stomach BEN,
overloaded, he threw up the undigts e,
bacon. An open investigation was he'd,
and every member of the party declared
him guilty Of these and other thefts. A
clamOr for his life was raised, but was re-
pressed by me. put him under surN ell
ance until our waning strength render ed
his physical services indispensable. Later
he was found one day intoxicated, hayin.
stolen liquor on hand for medicinal use. A
second time his life was demanded, | III
again spared him. On June 9th theft OF
provisions, on his part, having been re-
| Orted to me, l had conVcis iti0n wi b
him, in which 1 app .aed to his practical
sense, pointing out that it was necessary to
| our preservation. He prom sed entire re-
| formation, but distrustiug HIM, issued
written order that he should be shot if de
iected stealing. On June 9th he not oply
stole part Of the shriUp5 for our breakfss
but visiting unauthorized our winter camp
stole certain sc j skins reserved for food. L
Then ordered him to be shot. On his person
was found silver chrOnograph abandoned
by me at Fort Conger and stolen by HIM.
In his bag was found large qlan-
tity of sealskins and pair OF seaskin boois
stolen few days before from the hunter.
Suspecting completely on the part of several,
ordered his execution by three Of the most
reliable men. After his death the ord,
was read to the entire party and concurred
In by every member as being not only just
but essential to our safety. To avoid pub
lie scandal, l ordered that no man speak OF
the matter until the official report was made
Of the facts. 1 have the honor to request
that court of inquiry be ordered, or II
court martial be convened, should the hon.
orable secretary OF war deem 1t advisable.
In this case have thought 1t best not to ask
written statements Of the surviving mem
bers of the pa: ty for appendices to the To-
port, lest might seem to be tampel1ng
with them. have not asked since our res
cue, on June 22d, whether their opinions
concurring in my action have changed or
not, leaving such questions to your action,
II deemed requisite. l naturally regret that
circumstances imposed such terrible re-
sponsibility upon me, but L am conscien
tious in the belief that l should have failt d
in my duty to the rest Of my party had l not
acted promptly and summarily.
(Slgned) A. W. GREEDY.
A Chicago dispatch says: William
HI ms, who wrote to Secretary Chandler
demanding an investigation into the death
of Private Charles b. Henry, one OF the
Greedy party, in an interview OF some length
relates that his only relation with the de-
ceased is by marriage, and that only dis
family. The father and mother Of the de-
ceased live in Germany. He has a sister |
living at Lincoln, Neb., named Dora Buck.
Henry's proper name is Charles Henry
Buck, he having changed his name on
scribed as a person Of good education and
well brought up. AS to meriting his death
Mr.. Helms said: ''If Henry did steal the
provisions as Lieutenant Greedy claims he
did, the latter was justified in ordering his
DEATH Iu view of other circumstances
the case, however, Mr.. Helms
said he felt Justified in asking for an invts-
tigation.
ExHUMING LIEUT.. KrsLINGBURY' BODr.
Rochester IN. " dispatch: The
most heart-rendering disclosures were
made In this city this morning regarding the
remains Of Lieut.. Kislingbury, OF the Arc
lie expedition, who died amid the Arctic
NOW last June. 1t is established beyond
Ill question that csnnibalism was resorted
o by the starving men of the Greedy expe-
iition, and shows that the lives Of those
ayed were preserved only by eating the
lead bodies Of their companions. Lieut..
Aislingbury's relatives here were filed with
lorrible doubts as soon as they learned that
disclosures had been made in New York re-
arding cannibaism amor the members Of
he expedition, and they determined to
earn the truth by exhuming the remains
nd have them examined by competent
physicians. The services Of an undertaken
'ere secured, and this morning, with the
ss1stance OF five men, he accomplished the
York OF taking up the casket from its resting
lace. The cssket was opened in the pres
nee Of Frank Kislingbury and John p. J
islingbury, brothers OF the de ceased; DR..
harles Buckley, DR.. F. A. Vaudeville, !
superintendent Stillson, Assistant Superin !!
sndent Vaudeville and two reporters Of the
ost- Express. The work Of opening the
eavy iron recepts Gle was found COMPARE
vely easy, all there was to do being 10 uu-
rev the tfty-two iron bolts which held
own the lid. The noiseless ease with a
hich the latter was freed from its bed q
lowed there was an absence Of gas in the I
Isket and 1t was feared that there might be I
0 body in the casket at all. Feeling his =
ay into the mass of cotton waste which =
led the coffin to the top, the undertaken .
on exclaimed: "He is there" A strong s.
ior Of alcohol, but no very strong sugges- n
ons Of decay, emansted from the casket. L
r. Buckley, who had put on q pair Of Y
ack feather gloves, uncovered the lower I
)rtion of the coffin and then it appeared as Il
one Of the legs-the right one-was miss q
6, but when the waste was all removed it D
came apparent that the limb was lied I'M n
r the left one. A basket was next
iced upon the floor and the en-
rouded form taken from 1t and
aced upon a table. The undertaken br
d physicians now began and cut the :,
tches and unwound the white sheeting pi
lich formed the first covering. The sheet 10
$ taken away. A tarred rope entwining Ri
blanket was cut and the work of taking off Sc
IS last covering began. Slowly the blanket nj,
s removed. The blsckened, fleshless a.
e, showing marks Of Arctic soil, bore no da
nblsnce to the dead man. The skin was TO
led to the skull, aud the sightless sockets an
q half opened mouth gave the dead man as
ook Of mute, appealing agony. The re-
inns were completely identified as those of eg
uis Kislingbury. The physicians made els
trough examination and the rema ms were ali ali
n placed back into the casket and again iss
Vered into the grave. Returning to the CO..
y the ply sicisns made an affidavit in thi
ich they say: ''The body, in weight, ty