Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23
THE MARINE BARRACKS.
An inspection Made by "star" Reporter
This Morning.

| EVERY ROOM Examined AND THE BILL OF FARE
TEsTED-IMPRovEMENTsF FOB THE COMFORT OF
THE MARINES TO BE MADE NEXT JuLY-TEsrI-
MoNY IN THE COMPLAINT CASE HEARD.
The court Of inquiry at the navy yard that is
examining into the charge made against the
quality Of rations served the marines, and their
quarters, was resumed at 1890 o'clock this
| afternoon. So far very little has been brought
out that places affairs at the yard in bad light.
The time originally set for the opening OF the
court was 1890 o'clock, but there were a num-
Der OF unavoidable delays in the worksof pre-
pairing the testimony already taken, and the
hearing was postponed until after luncheon.
During this interval The STAR reporter
made little investigation on his own account
and when permission was asked OF Lieut.
s9uackenbush, officer of tho day, to inspect the
barracks it was granted willingly and without
delay, and the two went all over the big build
ing from top to bottom
1t would be hard to imagine neater or more
MISUNDERSTANDING place. As usual on Satur-
Gays. general house cleaning was going on,
and soap and water were being used in allo-
pathic doses. The building that is occupied rs
the marine barracks is the big gray structure
above and ON either side Of the main gate into
the navy yard.
THE GUARD ROOM AND CELLS.
One Of the first rooms entered in this tour Of
inspection was the guard room, where the men
on guard stay. Attention. and every man
in the room was on his feet instantly in recog-
milton OF the officer Of the day. In small cell
opening out of the guard room was the young
man King, who testified yesterday that he
had 30 many complaints to make OF
his treatment since he had been at
yar he in oh ha haah aa fba
larger part OF his term of service in the Marine
corps was O clean, whitewashed room, and the
only thing about it that suggested confinement
was the grated door. This was wide open, and
King, with his cap and blouse off. was hard at
work scrubbing up the floor. He is good
looking and apparently weu-educated young
man.
lie has only been in the marine corps since
last August and he has spent more than half of
that time behind the grating. Among the men
he Is known as a malcontent or IN general
parlance as a kicker" Yesterday after
noon when he was on the stand as wit
ness some questions were asked Of him in
cross examination by Capt. Meade, command
ing officer of the marines at the yard, and
thereupon King turned to the president of the
court and asked by what authority Capt
Meade was questioning him. 1t was necessary
to read the letter from Secretary Tracy au-
thorizing Capt Meade to cross-examine wit
nesses before he would answer.
In a cell adjoining the one occupied by King
was Brown, or braun, who was SO diligent III
rushing into print with stories of his treatment
at the barracks. According to the army records
he IL deaertcr from that branch of the service,
having served in a number of regiments under
as many different names. He seems to have
had fondness for enlisting, for no sooner
was he out of one command than he
was in another notwithstanding the fact that
each time he had to take an oath that he had
never served In the army before. 1t is quite
likely that his services in the marine corps will
be dispensed with in the near future. lie is
now held Tor discharge as an eX-convlct.
THE SLEEPING ROOMS.
The rooms where the men sleep at the bar
racks are large, weil-lighted and well-warmed
apartments. In each number of single iron
cots are placed with their heads to the wall
and at the head of each bed is a row of shelves
used by the men for storing their belongings
Zach man has also one or two boxes for
his things. The mattresses are filled
with straw and are covered with the
regulation gray blanket. After tho first of
next July, when the next appropriation goes
into effect, they will all be furnished with COM
Portable spring beds and white sheets. This
will be a decided innovation in the marine sys-
tenn, a system that has held since the corps
was first organized, one hundred and fifteen
years ago. 1t SO happens that Capt. Meade, who
Is interested in the outcome OF the present
hearing, is a member of the board that
recommended these and number Of other
changes that will add to the comfort OF the en-
listed men. This morning the men were for
the most part lying around on their hunks
reading and smoking. some OF them doing O
little amateur tailoring. and all busily engaged
In waiting fo- the dinner hour to arrive.
TEE DINING AND COOK ROOMS.
In the logical order of events the dining
room was next visited 1t opens to the south
and several big windows let in perfec. flood
Of sunshine. Tho tables were without cloths.
but they were Of hard wood and polished until
they fairly shone. At the end of each table were
piles OF plates, each plate being literally covered
with meatin a quantity compared with which
portion served at the ordinary table d'ho.e
hotel would be trifing matter. In addition
the bill OF fare for dinner today included pota-
toes, bean soup ana bakers bread.
In the cook room five big privates, who act
as cooks. were at work preparing ammunition
for the noon fray. Everything was scrupul-
ousiy clean and the big kettles filled with bean
soup sent forth All appetizing odor for those
who like bean soup. One of the witnesses
on the stand yesterday said that when they
had bean soup for dinner it was impossible to
find the bean. That was anything but true to-
when ladle full Of soup was dipped out of the
kettle 1t looked more like bean
stew, the beans SO outnumbered the
soup. 1t was served in big bowls and
one OF tne COOKS ON being questioned said that
they cooked enough to give almost every man
a second helping. The bowls were 30 big
though, he said, that very few of the men
played the Oliver Twist act and come back for
more.
WHAT THEY EAT
In the store room were piles Of potatoes,
barrels Of -four and sugar, and all the equip
ments that go to fill up the pantry in a private
house. All was OF the best in quality, for when
it Is not it is rejected and thrown back upon
the contractors. When all the staple goods
contracted for are not required the deficiency
is made up in the way OF canned goods and
Injuries Of a mild sort that go far toward re-
lleying the monotony Of the bill Of fare.
The regulation bill OF fare for the week is as
follows: Monday-Breakfast, beef stew. coffee
and bread; dinner. bean soup. bacon and 70.
tatoes; supper, sausage, coffee and bread
Tuesday - breakfast, ham hash, coffee and
bread; dinner, vegetable soup. boiled beef and
potatoes; supper. mutton stew, coffee and
bread. Wednesday breakfast. baked beans.
coffee and bread; dinner, corned beet.
cabbage and potatoes; supper, canned corned
beef, coffee and bread. Thursday, breakfast,
mutton stew, coffee and bread; dinner, bean
soup, bacon and potatoes; supper, liver and ba-
con, coffee and bread. Friday, breakfast, baked
beans, coffee end bread; dinner, vegetable
soup. boiled beef and baked potatoes; sup
per, sausage, coffee and BREAD SATURDAY,,
breakfast, beef hash. coffee and bread; dinner,
bean soup, bacon and potatoes; supper, canned
corn, beef, coffee and bread. Sunday, break