Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-23
TIE GREAT GREEDY TRAGEDY.
why Private Henry was Shot and Used
for Food.
60. Ia PAiladelDAla Nelss

pani0ns oil the Greedy arctic expedition
has remained mystery. There was an
avoidance of a circumstantial narrative
in the official reports inside by Lieut..
Greedy to the Navy Department after his
return, and at that time none OF The sur
yiyors would give the particulars for pub
| LEGATION. Greedy then said ne had gwen
a verbal account TO his superior othoer,
Gen. HaZeH, who would not tell about 1t.
/ There had been a compact by the men
with their commander to keep the secret.
Greedy has been for several months at
Pittsteld, Mass, where he has by rest re-
gained most OF his lost health. He has
spent some Of the time in writing his
tory OF the expedition, and he now says
that he is only waiting until the render
ing of his full official report shall leave
him free to publish the work.
"The execution Of the death sentence
on Henry was not concealed" he says.
"A verbal report was made to Gen. Hazen
the very day / met him, and it was fol-
lowed by a formal report as soon ms | was
able to put it in writing" These re-
ports, however. were very brief, and one
who has read the written one declares
that no particulars are afforded therein.
There is no doubt that Greedy will make
complete statement, and this understand
ing has unsealed the lips Of several OF his
cinct narration Of the tragedy is now
made possible.
THE SOLDIER SHOT AND EATEN.
Private Charles Henry Buck, of the
Fifth United States cavalry, who was
shot by order Of Lieut.. Greedy on June g,
1884, at Cape Sabine, and was eaten by
his comrades, had twisted his name into
Charles b. Henry when he enlisted, in
order to escape any trouble which might
arise from the hasty manner in which he
had previously lett the Seventh cavalry.
He was habitually silent, and his com
paniOns thought him surly. the diary be
left was querulOus. Ho deemed himself
an injured man. After ten Of the party
had died OF starvation, and while two more
lay at the point of death, Greedy
felt compelled to act on the evidence that
Henry had been stealing food. The men
had suspected his crime as early as the
preceding November. 1t happened one
day in March that the whole party were
nearly sutfOcated. While several were
yet unconscious, and there was much
confusion, Jams Edwards, an EsQuimauX,
saw Henry take about two pounds of
bacon from the mess stores. This wit
ness is now in Greenland, but every ac-
cessible one recalls his testimony.
Further proof of the theft was found in
the fact that he threw up some of the I'M
digested bacon from his weakened and
overloaded stomach. An investigation
was held, and notes OF it, made at the
time, will be given in Greely's report.
Every member Of the party Ngned a
verdict that Henry was guilty. They felt
that they would be compelled to starye to
death or begin to eat their dead compan-
ions long before the probable time Of res
cue, and this consideration heightened
their sense of Henry's crime. There was
clamOr for his death, but the proof will
be positive that Greedy only put HIM
under surveillance. He seemed
partially deranged, but that is
now regarded as having been simu-
lati0n, as he subsequently proved to
be the strongest Of the company. Finally
the weakness of the rest rendered their
watch idle. He stole from the scanty
stock of liquor and got drunk. Again his
lite was demanded and again Greedy
spared him. On June he was detected
in robbery OF the provisions. He begged
for mercy and promised to reform. but he
did not pretend to deny his guilt, and the
outraged men voted that he ought to be
killed. Greedy gave him one more chance
tor his life. but ordered that he be shot if
caught stealing again.
THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
On the very next day he not only stole
some of the few shrimps that were caught
with some trouble and exposure by hand
IN the icy water, but in violation of or
ders he entered the winter camp, and
there took some seal SKINS that had been
nut aside for food. 1reely suspected that
others were in completely with Henry.
At all events he did not dare to condOne
the known thiefs crime any longer
There was no way OF eonfiuing him. The
only punishment was death. He issued
the order, which has been preserved, that
the wretch be- shot, and delivered it to
three OF the most trustworthy men.
Lieut.. Greedy gave no directions as to
the execution Of tne sentence. He was,
indeed, 700 i'll to have personally superin-
tended the homicide il he had so desired.
The names OF the three executioners Will
not be given in Greely's official or per-
soual story. None Of the survivors have
yet revealed their identity. The intima-
tion Is given that they subsequently died,
and that may possibly be true I'm part, if
not wholly. But there Is no disposition to
conceal what they did. They took pistols
aud went out of the quarters together. 1t
was IN the afternoon and it happened that
Henry was alone in the rear Of the tent.
He was the ablest man in the party physi-
cally, and IL was necessary TO steal upon
him unawares or approach him in the
guise of friendliness.
Neither ne nor ANYBODY except dreelY
and the executiOners knew that the death
warrant had been issued One engaged
him in conversation. while the others shot
him from behind. The two pistol shots
aroused the rest ana the trio Immediately
walked into their midst. One handed the
order back n Greedy, and then for the first
time its contents were made known To all.
| There was unanimous concurrence in tho
Justice and necessity of the act. On the
spot, Greedy abiured them TO keep the
identity Of the three men secret. but there
was no intention 10 suppress the fact OF
the execution, or any other OF the eiroum-
stances.
THE HORRORS OF CANNIBALIsM.
The motive Tor whatever mystery has
enyeloped the case lies in the cannibalism
which ensued, and as to which On attempt
was made. on the return OF the survivors,
20 hide the dreadful truth. Greedy de-
clines to talk At all on this point, aud 1t is
uncertain whether he has yet made up
his mind 20 publish or suppress all he
knows. The testimony hereinafter pre-
scented does not come from him In any
particular, but It's sources are trust
worthy. Henry was buried az the foot
OF an ice foe short distance from
the quarters 10 the northwest, and
the idea was attempted 10 be- main
| tanned that the body was never seen
/ again by the survivors until their rescue.
| As matter az fact, II was the iirst 20 be
eaten out OF all that were consumed for
A N.. a.. o.. d