The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-16
Henry the Thief,

One of the many tragedies of the Greedy
Arctic expedition was the execution Of Private
Henry, who had been caught time after time
stealing food from the scant store of the starv-
ing party. Henry alone strong and active.
thanks to the stolen food and to the fact that
he did no labor he could possibly shrk.
Lieutenant Greedy had warned and warned
Henry and had punished him, but no avail,
and finally. after particularly despicable act
of theft the commander. in fear that Henry's
course would cause general raid the store
OF food and thus bring about the destruction
OF the whole party, condemned Henry death.
The story of the execution, which makes a
new page in history, is told in the American
Magazine by Frank b. Copley, who got his data
direct from the Survivors of the expedition. He
writes:
"All his lethargy gone, Greedy dismissed the
man. seized pencil and paper and with tremb-
ing. emaclated fingers, wrote:
Near Cape Sabine, June g. 1884
sorgeants Brainard, Long and Frederick;
notwithstanding promises given by Private
I. Is henf! yesterday he has since aGkacRl-
edged to- rrre. tEu1pered with seal thongs II not
other food at the old camp. This pertinactty
and audacity is the destruction OF the party II
not at once ended. Private Henry Will be shot
to-day all care being taken to prevent his
ftt1urfng any one, as his physical strength Is
manner OF his death by two ball and one blank
cartridge. This order is imperative and abb
Soiutely necessary for any chance Of HE,
. &C. a w GREEL.Y."
TN the official report OF the Lady FrankIIn hay.
expedition 1t is simply announced that shots
were heard about o'clock and later the order
n~r
N Whlch the order was executed here appears
for the first Time.
"Sergeants Branard. Long and Frederick
could not, as ordered, decide the manner Of
death by two ball and one blank cartridge ;
Greedy had failed to take into consideration that
at TINS time the party had left only one ser
The three sergeants drew lots to see who
would 40 the shooting. When they had dona
80 Ihey pound themselves with an oath that
the identity Of the man thus chosen never
should be revealed.
Henry was at the tent on Cemetery ridge
with all the other men when the time f,r n.s,
ting him to death came. What was 80 ~
place OF course, was known only to the +hree
serseants and the commander. Two of the ser
seants remained in the vicinity of the Ola but
down. s iiehfS
The man who went for Henry told him that
ne was wanted at the old camp to helm car
up some more OF the supplies that had haan
left there. Suspectng nothing, Henry raadu,
accompanied the sergeant to the place chosen
Tor putting him to death.
Now. Greedy had repeatedly cautioned tho
three sergeants to take no chances on Hsnrv.s
getting away, for. although none at Cape sabine
knew the mans past history enough of 80
mans black soul had been revealed tn ,,aEo
his comrades feel that no crime could he nut
past him. Ps
by their commander and warned by their own
knowledge OF the man with whom they ha5 ro
DEAL had decided that Henry should be made
TO steop to pick up something and that than
he should be shot from behind At Least one
OF the sergeants had more compunctinn
about killing him than he would have had
about killing a mad deg. $50
But one OF the other two men weakened nj
the last moment To shoot a man in cold hlood
from behind. to send him into eternity w,th
no opportunity to compose his soul was ton
terrible a thing for him to stand. II was
mistake that nearly proved disastrous
Henry was told face to face that he vxaa
to be put to death In accordance with the order
OF the commander, and he was advised to kneel
and make his peace with his God. AT the same
time the executoner appeared with his rifle
at a 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 lay on the ground