The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-03
Flesh of William Whistler Pro-
baby Eaten by His
Companions.
GREWS0ME STORY RETOLD
FATE OF A DELPHI MAN WITH
THE GREEDY EXPEDITION IS
RECALLED BY COOk-PEARY
POLE SUCCESSES.

Delphi, Ind, Oct 1.-THE recent dis
covery of the north pole by DR.. Cook
has caused some of the old-time resi-
dents of the city to remember that a
young man, who lived on a farm be-
tween Rockfield ana Delphi, gave up
his life in the Arctic regions, while a
member of the Gtcely expedition in
1S81-1SS4. He was William Whistler
who was one of the last to die before
the relief expedition rescued the Gree
ly party. and it was upon his flesh
that the others survived. Examin-
alton of the remains, which were sent
to his home, showed that the surviv-
prs, to sustain their own lives. were
forced to resort to cannibalism.
Following is story which appeared
In a Delphi newspaper at the time:
Twill Whistler was born on the 10th
day of September, 1856. in a little
house upon the farm. where his re-
mains now lie in rest. The quiet lit
lie churchyard and burial lot adjoin-
.ng were taken from land entered by
MS grandfather. and were endowed
With the family name. A few years
IF his life were spent in West Vir
ginia, and in 1877. with his brother
Clarence and his father, removed to
iowa. On Aug. IL, 1879, he enlisted
n the United States army at Omaha,
Ind in 1881 was assigned to the Gree
y expedition on account of his hand
lone physique.
"As stated in the preceding para
yraph, they were last heard from on
Aug. IL, 1881, when one vessel of the
expedition returned and the balance
II the explorers continued on their
way. The returning boat brought let
ers from all the crew and the one
written by the subject of this sketch
hows that he realized the dangers
hat beset the enterprise. In this let
er he asked the prayerful consider
tion of his friends. 1t was the last
Message ever received from him, for
le died CD on MAY "a, Just month
revious to the rescue on June %. He
vas the last of seventeen to meet a
nmilar fate from cold and starvation.
THE remains were sent to Delphi
n a hermetically sealed iron coffin.
Ind the army officers had strict orders
prohibiting any attempt toward open
Ing it.
Examination Ordered.
Following the funeral service, the
reports given out by the soldiers that
the body was badly decomposed, and
contagious disease might result If the
coffin was opened. caused much COM
ment and finally disclosures made in
New York and Washington caused the
relatives to make an examination.
$50 persistent were the reports that
nearly everyone felt beyond the SEM
blance of doubt that cannibalism
WAS resorted to by the starving men
Of the Greedy expedition. and that the
Examination would show that the lives
of those saved were preserved only
by eating the dead bodies of their
companions.
The party that met at the home of
) William Whistler. grandfather of the
Unfortunate young man. was compos-
ed of Drs. Angel, Beck, Smith and
Sharrer; Captain Lew Gros, A. Cramp-
ton. Charles Gros, G. W. Julien C. H.
Eilgore. d. A. Fawcett. l.. G.. Beck,
Charles E. Claypool William Whistler
and wife. Christian Whistler, father of
the deceased; Jacob Bowman and
wife. jeff Deel and wife. Mrs. Funk
houser. Mrs. George Deel, Mr.. and
Mrs. George w. Tritler. Samuel Nc
Dowell, Alfred Mcdowell, Noah Rosen.
berger. David Biddle. Ira Cross, Geo.
Robbins and Joe Robbins.
1.-THE earth that had been placed in
the grave had not yet settled, and it
required but few minutes to remove
1t. The huge iron box was removed
and placed on a table improvised for
the occasion. Fiftv-two iron bolts Sc
cured the lid. and these being un-
screwed the lid was noiselessly raised
A strong odor Of alcohol. but no sug-
gestion of decay emanated from the
cnsket Each of the physicians pried
into the cotton surrounding the body
and soon the limbs were released. The
body had been wrapped into a heavy
wooden blanket aud muslin, and this
the doctors cut down through the CEN
ter and folded back to each side. leav-
Ing the remains in full view.
A Shocking Sight.
THE purple. fleshiess face bore no
resemblance to the man as he was
known here. The skin was dried to
the skull, the sisltless sockets and
the half open mouth gave the corpse
look Of mute. appealing agony The
arms from the wrists to the shoulder
were stripped clean-not a particle of
flesh or muscle remained. The bones
and legs were scfaped clean and pre-
sented a CHASTITY and sickening spec
tacle. Not a vestige Of flesh was visi-
BILE. In his back the skin had been
cut, laid back and not a suspicion of
flesh remained. The back bones were
bare. and from all indications the
flesh had been removed with a very
sharp knife. It was the opinion of
the physicians that the work had been
acne by person thoroughly CONVEX