The Press., 1911-02-15

One of the many tragedies of the Greedy arctic expedition was the exc cution of Private Henry, who had been caught time after time stealing food from the scant store of the starving party Henry alone was strong and active. thanks to the stolen food and to the fact that he did no labor he could possibly shirk.
 Lieutenant Greedy had warned and warned Henry and had punished him. but to no avail. and finally, after q par ticularly despicable act of theft, the commander. in fear that Henry's course would cause a general raid on the store of food and thus bring about the destruction of the whole party. condemned Henry to death.
 The story of the execution. which makes a new page in history is told in the American Magazine by Frank I3 COpley who got his data direct from the survivors of the expedition He writes:
 All his lethargy gone, Greedy dis missed the man. seized pencil and pa per and. with trembling, emaciated fingers. wrote: %a Near Cape Sabine June G. 1884, "Sergeants Brainard. Long and Frederick:
 notwithstanding promises given by Private C. B Henry yesterday. he has since. as acknowledged to me, tempered with seal thongs if not other food at the old camp This pertinacity and audacity Is the destruction of the party. if not at l once ended Private Henry will be shot today. all care being taken to prevent his lnjuring any one. as his physical strength Is greater than that of any two men. Decide the manner of his death by two ball and one blank cartridge. This order Is imperative and absolutely necessary for any chance of life A. W. GREELY
 "In the official report of the Lady Franklin bay expedition 1t is sim ply announced that shots were heard about 2 o'clock. and later the order was read to the general party The manner in which the order was ex- ecuted here appears for the first time "Sergeants Brainard. Long and Fred erick could not. as ordered. decide the manner of death by two ball and one blank cartridge Greedy had failed 10 take into consideration that at this time the party had left Only one serv-. Iceuble rife ,,. .!..
 ''The three Sergeants drew lots to zee who would do the shooting When they had done so they bound them selves with an oath that the identity of the man thus chosen never should be revealed. ra.: .raEg~ .- z..-
 Henry w,ts at the tent on Cemetery ridge with all the other men when the, time for putting him to death came What was to take place. of course, was known only to the three sergeants and the commander Two of the sergeants remained in the vi- ciniry of the old hut, while the third went to the tent to bring Henry down.
 "The man who went for Henry told him that he was wanted at the old camp to help carry up some more of the supplies that had been left there Suspecting nothing. Henry readily ac- companied the sergeant to the place chosen for putting him to death
 "Now, Greedy had repeatedly eau tioned the three sergeants to take no. chances on Henry's getting away. for. although none at Cape Sabine knew the mans past history. enough of the mans black soul had been revealed to make his comrades feel that no crime could be put past him, ...- .-..
 ''SO Br;linard. Long and Frederick. cautioned by their commander and warned by their own knowledge of the man with whom they had to deal, had decided that Henry should be made to stoop to pick up something and that then be should be shot from behind. At least one of the sergeants had no more compunctiOn about killing him than he would have had about killing a mad dog.
 "But one of the other two men weakened sa at the last moment. To shoot man in cold blood from be- hind. to send him into eternity with no opportunity to compose his soul, was too terrible q thing for him to stand. It was mistake that nearly proved disastrous
 "Henry was told face to face that ae was to be put to death in accord nnce with the order of the commander, and he was advised to kno0l on6 make his peace with his God. At the same time the executioner appeared with his rife at convenient distance before the doomed mans eyes.
 "Henry stood agape. He muttered something about something not being right. Near where the third sergeant stood an ax lay on the ground. Hen-p. rvs gaze. searching the ground en- countered the ax. He sprang for 1t. A warning cry was raised. The ser geant who stood near the ax jumped and got his foot on 1t almost as Henry" was upon him. There was aa cry sof Quicky Even then there was danger of the executioner shooting his fellow, sergeant if his aim was the least un steady.
 "But despite all he had been through 1he aim of the executioner was true. The rife cracked. and the bullet sped. penetrating the breast of the man fora whom it was intended when if was nodded Henry whiried. crying: You have tricked nae! You have trickeds met! Again the rife cracked The second bullet went through Henry's head. and he fell dead"
 His Bedtime.
 When do you wind your watch.'