602 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



the commission of any more thefts of food. At this tio<e the 

 party hud left, as a last resort, only pieces of seal-skin and such 

 shrimps as they could procure. About June 6th, He iry went to 

 the old winter quarters at Camp Clay, near Cape kabii e, and 

 stole some of the last seal-skin, which was the only food left. 

 He also took the last pair of boots in store. Being close!/ ques- 

 tioned by Lieut. Greely, he admitted his guilt. He wa . again 

 ready with promises to do better. 



THE SHOOTING. 



His fate was upon him. He was, in the afternoon of tha j day, 

 a little distance at the rear of the summer quarters, alo:ie by him- 

 self. The written order for his execution was con mitt el to 

 three of the party. They were ordered to shoot him, t ncou.iter- 

 ing as little danger to themselves as possible, as Hem y was the 

 strongest of the party. Sadly the men departed on th< ir terrible 

 errand. Their comrades, left in the camp, turned thciii eyes to 

 the ocean. In a few minutes the breeze bore to their ears the 

 sound of two pistol shots. All were silent. Slowl/, after a 

 short interval, the men returned. The written order wa; handed 

 to Lieut. Greely, and the horrible, but necessary, exe<u l ion was 

 over. Henry was never seen again alive. 



The order for the execution was that afternoon read to 

 the survivors, and all concurred in the justice and necessity of 

 the act. 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF HENRY'S EXKCUTION. 



UPON his return, Greely made the following official report of 

 the execution : 



PORTSMOUTH, N. H., August llth. 



To the Adjuta.nl- General of the United States Armi,, through 

 the Chief /Signal Officer of the United Slates Armr: 

 SIR: I have the honor to report that on June 6, 1884, at 

 Camp Clay, near Cape Sabine, Grinnell Land, it beca-ue neces- 

 sary for me to order the military execution of Private Charles B. 

 Henry, Fifth Cavalry, for continued thieving. The order was 

 given in writing, on my individual responsibility, being deemed 

 absolutely essential for the safety of the surviving members of 



