Frostburg Mining Journal

HENRY THE THIEF.
The Black Heart of the Greely
Arctic Expedition.
STORY
OF
HIS
EXECUTION.

The Order Issued by the Emaciated Commander and the Way It Was Carried Out—The Rifle Shot That Put an End to the Traitor.

One of the many tragedies of the Greely arctic expedition was the execution 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 Greely had warned and warned Henry and had punished him, but to no avail, and finally, after a particularly 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 B. Copley, who got his data 'direct from the survivors of the expedition.

He writes:

"All his lethargy gone, Greely dismissed the man, seized pencil and paper and, with trembling, emaciated fingers, wrote:

"Near Cape Sabine, June 6, 1884.
Sergeants Brainard, Long and Frederick:

"Notwithstanding promises given by Private C. B. Henry yesterday, he has since, as acknowledged to me, tampered with seal thongs if not other food at the old camp. This pertinacity and audacity is the destruction of the party if not at once ended. Private Henry will be shot today, all care being taken to prevent his injuring 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 it is simply 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 executed here appears for the first time.

"Sergeants Brainard, Long and Frederick could not, as ordered, 'decide the manner of death by two ball and one blank cartridge.' Greely had failed to take into consideration that at this time the party had left only one serviceable rifle.

"The three sergeants drew lots to see who would do the shooting. When they had done so they bound 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 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 vicinity 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 accompanied the sergeant to the place chosen for putting him to death.

"Now, Greely had repeatedly cautioned the three sergeants to take no chances on Henry's getting away, for, although none at Cape Sabine knew the man's past history, enough of the man's black soul had been revealed to make his comrades feel that no crime could be put past him.

"So Brainard, 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 he 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 at the last moment. To shoot a man in cold blood from behind, to send him into eternity with no opportunity to compose his soul, was too terrible a thing for him to stand. It was a mistake that nearly proved disastrous.

"Henry was told face to face that he was 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 executioner appeared with his rifle at a convenient distance before the doomed man's eyes.

"Henry stood agape. He muttered something about something not being right. Near where the third sergeant stood an ax lay on the ground. Henry's gaze, searching the ground, encountered the ax. He sprang for it.

A warning cry was raised. The sergeant who stood near the ax jumped and got his foot on it almost as Henry was upon him. There was a cry of 'Quick!' Even then there was danger of the executioner shooting his fellow sergeant if his aim was the least unsteady.

"But despite all he had been through the aim of the executioner was true. The rifle cracked, and the bullet sped, penetrating the breast of the man for whom it was intended when it was molded. Henry whirled, crying: 'You have tricked me! You have tricked me!' Again the rifle cracked. The second bullet went through Henry's head, and he fell dead."