Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-21
Canniballsm Proved.

ROCHESTER, N. Y, Aug. IA --One
of the most heart rending disclosures
was made this morning regarding
the remains of Lieutenant KS
| lingbury of the arctic expedition
who died amid the arctic snow last
June. 1t is established beyond all
question that cannibalism was resort
ed TO by the starving men of the
Greedy expedition, and shows that
the lives of those saved were pre-
served only by eating the dead bodies
of their companions. Lieutenant
Kislingbury' S relatives here were filed
with horrible doubts as soon as they
learned that disclosures had been made
in New York regarding cannibalism
among the members OF the expedition
and they determined to learn the truth
by exhuming the remains and having
them examined by competent physi-
clans. The services of l.. A. jeffrey,
undertaken, were secured, and this
morning, with the assistance of five
men, he accomplished the work of
taking up the casket from its resting
place.
The casket was opened in the pres
ence of Frank w. Kislingbury and
John z. Kislinghury, brothers Of the
deceased, DR.. Chas. Buckley, DR.. f.
A. Mandville, Superintendent Still
son, Assistant Superintendent Mand-
vile and two reporters of the Post
and Express. The work of
opening the heavy iron receptacle was
found comparatively easy, all there
was to it being TO unscrew 50 iron
bolts which held down the lid. The
noiseless ease with which the latter
was pried from its bed, showed there
was no absence of grease in the cas-
ket, and it was feared there might be
no body in the casket at all. Feeling
his way into the mass of snow cotton
waste which filed the coffin to the top,
Mr.. Jeffreys soon exclaimed, he is
there" A strong order of alcohol
but no very pronounced suggestions
| o. decay emanated from the casket.
DR.. Buckley, who had put on pair
of black leather gloves, uncovered
the lower portion of the collins ten
ant, and then 1t appeared as if one of
the legs, the right one, was missing,
but wien the waste was all removed
it became apparent the limb was tied
under the left one The casket was
rext placed upon the floor and then
enshrouded, the form taken from it
and placed upon table The under
taker and physician now began to cut
the stitches and unwind the sheeting
which formed the first cover. The
sheet was taken away, the tarred rope
entwining the blanket cut, and the
work of taking off this last covering
began. Slowly the blanket was re-
moved The blackened, aeshless face,
showing marks of Arctic soil, bore no
semblance to the dead man. The skin
was dried to the skull The sightless
sockets and half-open moath gave the
dead man a look of mute appealing
agony. The remains were complete
ly identified as those of Lieut.. KS
lingsbury. The physicians made a
thorough examination and the re-
mains were then placed back into the
casket and again lowered to
the grave Returning to the
city the physicians made an affidavit
that they found the skin and mus
cles removed from the legs, thighs,
arms and parts of the body. Their
investigation leaves no doubt that tie
survivors of the party were, some of
them at least, compelled TO resort to
cannibalism to save their own lives.