News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-09-11
CRAZED BY STARVATION.
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE AWFUL
STORY OF CAPE SABINE.
The Secrets of the Camp on Smiths sOund
-Probnbilit that DIR. Pavy was Killed
Discomfort and Despair of the Men Lett
without Food in the Arctic Regions.
IFrom the New York Times.

without Food in the Arctic Regions.
IFrom the New York Times.l
Until the death of Surgeon Pavy, OF
the Greely party, which occurred at the
rapidly depopulated camp on June 9th,
three weeks before rescue came, the flesh
cut from most of the dead bodies for use
| bv the survivors as food and bait was
removed by hand skilled in dissection.
| A few of the bodies had the heshy por-
tions cut away entire. But with the
majority the work had been so well done
that casual observer would not have
suspected without other evidence, of
which there was plenty, however, that
the survivors had been reduced to can
nibalism, and had for long time been
subsisting principally on the bodies of
their dead comrades. 1t is not coinci-
dence that the body of DR.. Pavy, with
those of two others who died after him,
should be reported as washed away.
With the Surgeon gone the scalpel could
not be used. Before, the bodies had
been left with little mark of the terrible
work done. After his death the surviv-
ors were forced to dismember the bodies
and denude them of flesh in a way that
left nothing but bones. So these unfor-
tunates were reported as buried in an ice
foe and washed away, and to the list
| was added Corp. Sailor, who died on
June 5, and Sergt. Rice, who died on
April 9.
On most of the bodies an in cision was
| made from the clavicle downward be-
low the ribs. The scalpel was then
passed along under the skin, and the
flap was carefully laid back on either
side, The flesh was then removed from
the ribs, the skin was pulled back in
place, and the edges were carefully
Joined SO that there was no external
evidence left of the ghastly work but
dark line. The thighs were treated in
| the same manner, the skin being re-
placed about the feshless bones. The
legs were stripped to the ankle joints
and the arms to the wrists. The hands,
| feet, and face were not mutilated. This
was a work requiring skill, and must
have been long and careful operation.
No one in the party except the Surgeon
could so skillfully remove the flesh
from human body and leave the skin
intact How DR.. Pavy met his death
has not been explained, but it was prob
ably by the knife. With him gone,
and every day the pangs of hunger
growing more unbearable, the caution
was relaxed, and the survivors ate of
human flesh however they could easiest
secure it.
In the last days before relief came to
the wretched men it was the doctrine of
the survival of the strongest that ruled.
| All sense of honor and feeling had been
lost. 1t was Sergt. Long who first saw
tie steam launch, and slid down the
snow and ice from the distress signal to
greet the rescuing party. His face and
beard were covered with blood from a
duck which he had recently shot and
had been eating raw. 1t is stated that
he stopped to conceal half the body of
the bird before sliding down the snow.
He was the strongest of the party, and,
/ despite the frightful gale, was able to
walk to the launch. Sergt. Fredericks
also had considerable strength left, and
clambered on board the Thetis almost
unaided.
After so many months in the desolate
arctic regions, after 50 much suffering,
and passing through such scenes of hor-
ror, it was seldom that the men stood up
right. They crawled about on their
hands and knees over the rocks and ice,
and when Sergt. Brainerd was undressed
on board the Thetis his knees were
found calloused to a thickness of over
half an inch. In the midst of such hor-
rors it was wondered by the rescuing
party how Greely and his few companions
kept their reason. About the camp were
scattered bones of the dead, and dissec-
ted and mutilated bodies were half ex-
posed in the little burial plot back of the
tent 1t was scene at which the
rescuers shuddered as they looked, and
the truth stood revealed.
The bodies of those who died natural
deaths were not mutilated where death
had been caused by disease. AS to
how many died of scurvy accounts
differ. Commander Schley reported II
as having died from starvation. Sergt.
Cross, the first of the exploring party
to die, passed away last New Years
Day, according to Commander Schey's
report. He did not die of starvation,
but from the use of liquor. He would
drink anything that had suspicion of
alcohol about it, even paint. This love
for liquor was so strong among some Of
the sailors of the relief party that the
carpenter, using little alcohol with
which to mix shellac, was obliged to
guard it as miser hides away his
money.
Sergt. Connell, one of the rescued,
saws that Cross died of scurvy on Jan.
IS. At St. Johns it was reported that
one of the two men lost on April 8 died
of scurvy. With several dead of scurvy
and Henry shot all did not die of starva-
ton. Instead. it is feared that others
met death as Henry did. 1t is known
that court martials were of frequent oc-
currence in the Greedy camp. DIR. Pavy
was on trial no less than three times.
There were dissensions among the men,
and as their condition grew more des-
perate these increased. Until weakened
in body and mind by privation each did
all he could for the others. But at the
last the struggle for life became single.
It was each man for himself
The officers of the relief vessels still
refuse to say anything on the unpleas.
ant subject, as is their duty. Sailors
talk freely. But some of the scenes
they describe are too revolving for repe-
tition. At the Greely camp matters
were in as bad condition as it is posi-
BILE to imagine. The disinterment of the
remains of Lieut.. Kislingbury has showr
only what could be revealed by the
opening of any Of the other iron coffins
Where only scattered bones were left ne
attempt was made to put them together
except in the casket marked Private
Henry.
81 PRESERVE my strength by husband
t ing it." said wife, as she ordered he