The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-22
SHOT TO DEATH.
Lieutenant GreeIy's Account of the
Execution of Priv ate Henry.

A Portsmouth On. HI dispatch says that
Lieutenant Greedy was seen by an Associ
ated Press reporter in his cottage on
Seavey's Island. he gave an accoun,
of the various events of the latter part
Of the retreat southwark from Fort
Conger. About November l the party be-
gan to be served with one-quarter rations,
and debilitated health soon showed the effect
of this insufficient amount of food. The men
were not before this in as good condition to
Withstand Arctic weather as they had leen
year before. About November l provisions
we're missed from the stores, and it was CON
cluded that they must have been stolen
Much complaint was made by the men, and
threats against the thief were loud. January
q the party was near perishing from as
phyxia and several of its members were UNI
conscious.
Private Henry during this terrible expert
ence was seen by one of the Esquimaux to
steal some of the bacon from the stores He
s. on afterward was taken i'll from overload
ing his stomach and vomited up the bacon un-
digested. An investigation was had and
Henry was proved guilty not only of this
but several previous thefts. 1t was a
terrible state of affairs. Henry's in
dignant comrades demanded his death Over
but this did not still the clamor for his life.
Lieutenant Greedy demonstrated with his
men and all was Quoted Taking Henry in
hand Lieutenant Greedy represented to him
the enormty of his offense and pointed out
to him the necessity for concerted action
in the party if all would be saved
Henry was then placed under guard for sew
eral weeks, until the increasing feebleness OF
the other members of the party rendered it
necessary for them to avail themselves Of
lltnry's personal services. Shortly atterward
he stole liquor from the stores and became in
toxicated. Again his comrades clamoIe1 fer
his life, and again Greedy restrained them.
On June 5, Henry again stole and carried
away some of the provisions. Lieutenant
Greedy spoke firmly to Henry and told him it
would be policy for him to stop. Said the
Lieutenant: " For Gods sake, Henry, as you
seem to have no moral sense, remember that
our lives depend upon or holding together. -
With great earnestness Henry promised not
to be guilty of theft again. Lieutenant
Greedy felt that he could not trust Henry.
After revolving in his mind their circum-
stances the lieutenant, OH his own response
bility, issued IA written order, now in posses
sion of one of the survivors, commanding
that Henry be shot on sight of commission of
any more theftS of food.
At this time the party had left, as a last re-
sort, only pieces of sealskin and such shrimps
as they could procure. About June G Henry
went to the old winter quarter at Camp
Clay near Cape Sabine, and stole some of
the last sealSkin, which was the only food
left. He also took the last pair of boots in
the stores. On being closely questioned by
Lieutenant Greedy, he admitted his guilt. He
Wa again ready with promises to do better
Ills fate was upon him. He was, in
III. afternoon of that day, little
distance at the rear Of the summer quarters
alone by himself. The written order 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
Henri was the strongest of the party.
Sadly tue men departed on their terrible
errand. Their comrades left in camp turned
their eyes to the ocean. In a few minutes
the breeze bore to their ears the sound of two
quick pistol shots. AL were silent Slowly,
after short interval the men returned The
written order was handed to Lieutenant
Greedy, and the horrible but necessary execu-
ton was over. Henry was never seen again
10y his comrades, and his body was understood
to Ike 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
toncurrcd in the justice and necessity of the
act. No report of the manner of his death
has ever been made to Lieutenant Greely, and
the survivors tacitly ignored the terrible
remembrance.
The reports of cannibalism, Lieutenant
y
he knows of nothing of the kind and the sur
slvors all Indignantly deny it. If any canni-
balism took place Lieutenant Greedy emphat-
ically says it was in secret and not INDUCED
in by the party, but to the best of his know
! ledge there was none.
why said the lieutenant, "why did we
not allow poor Ellison to die, if we were SC
past the line between humans and savagesi
Why did we share our food with him to the
last drop"
All through the retreat the discipline, with
the exception of Henry's theft, was well
maintained and all yielded implicit obedience
even TO tile last dread day on Cape Sabine
A verbal report was made to General Hazen
by Lieutenant Greedy shortly after the arrival
of the relief expedition at Portsmouth. In
regard to the execution of Henry General
Hazen said: 1T was not only justifiable but
the nohlest thing in the expedition"
A written report was submitted by Greedy
to the war department a few days ago fully
covering Henry's case and a court-martial
has been asked for by Lieutenant Greedy il
the facts seem to the war department to war
/ IL