Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-29

Some Canned Beef Spoiled, But Most Of II
Was Good, Hill Says.
MEN oyERFtD on REFRIGERATED MEAT
District OF Colembia Volunteers
wifhout Provisions ON Firing
~Ltae-swfit Company win
Oct = Hearing.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.-william w. Hill,
assistant treasurer Of the War Investigating
commission and who served in Company L,
District OF Columbia volunteers, as fret
sergeant and Acting quartermaster' sergeant,
was the only witness before the commission
today, Colonel DENLY. who presided, ques-
toned 1.-The witness regarding the mooted
question Of, the canned beof furnished the
volunteers* = ~
MI. Hil discountenanced the complaints
made by the men. He said they came from
those who would complain against anything.
Hs,sa!d- the health Of his company was ex-
ceiient at Tampa, and he credited It largely
to. free use Of ilemonadei The canned beet
FIRST furnished the men. ne said, was lean,
dry and hard, lacking nutrition, though later
1t was considerably improved. He believed
the canned beef. which he explained was
canned just after being boiled, was f'.per-
fectly At to eat, though once in q while he
would rechiye a can that was spoiled and
smelled badly rth.-. N.,,:. D-s
~. Some Spoiled Canned Beef.
He knew a large lot Of spoiled canned
beef had. been found at Tampa before his
men. sailed for Cuba. His men seemed to
like the corned beef, he said. but later be-
came surfeltcd with 1t. The refrigerated
fresh beef, he said had no evidence OF
chemical treatment and had a fresh appear
aDce. The trouble with the refrigerated
beef was that the men overfed themselves
and ate It half cooked. =
At Siboney, Mr.. Hill said, the company had
to abandon more than half of its provisions.
When they reached the firing line July II
there was only a little food LETT In their
haversacks, being practically without pro-
visions from the morning OF July. II until
supper July 49,. The deficiency. of food sup-
plies, be commended, was solely due to lack
of. transportation, from Siboney VI the ten
miles to the front. ,... I'D.
Questioned as to Camp Wikoff at Montauk
the witness said he had never seen such q
superbundance OF everything even down to
skull caps. dressing gowns, pins and need
les. Tobacco was left there, he said, to be
strew all over the ground, and there was
q great waste Of stuff.
did you see enough Of that refrigerated
beef" asked DR.. Conner, ito have any opln-
ion on. the length Of time such beef would
keep in Cuba by simply protecting 1t with q
tarpaulin from the direct rays OF the sun r.
Cooked Hurriedly to Prevent Spelling
mo, sir" was the reply. II could not
tell you. We had no way Of protecting 1t in
such a manner. All we had to do was to
get 1t Into the pots as soon as possible to
keep it from spelling before it got hot,
us 1t your opinion, witness was asked,
that beef SO protected would keep seventy
two hours?'
az Up its raw state?" the witness asked.
Yes. l mean just as 1t comes from the
A.. ship" .s,-.< ,,.a~,an ~
mo- sir" was the reply. II don't believe
1t possible" ..s.- f4 ?
This referred to a portion OF General
Miles testimony denouncing the beef,
Summing. up, witness said he had no. COM
plants Of any sort to make and the worst
feature of the food waa the moistness1 df'ths
packers. sfra,ss sa,1,,7 ~ -; r. I
II. Is probable no Witnesses will appear to-
: morrow. The Var .commlssion2 has notified
the Swift Beef company OF Chicagos which
had large contracts for furnishing beef to
= the army during the war, that II Will be glad
Ito give d hearing to any report. the, company
may send on January 4 next, ,,.,
This grows put OF the testimony of Gem
Aeral Miles regarding the refrigerated and
canned beef furnished his expeditions and
the telegraphlc protest his statements called
out from the company. The commission re-
CARDS the hearing to be given as important
In view of the issue that has been raised
by General Miles testimony and one special
point OF Inquiry will be regarding a com
plant made OF chemical. treatment OF the
product. 1t is very probable that the COM
mission will recall both Commissary Cen
eral Eagan and General Shafter and pos
sibly General Miles. ,+s' ~.s-atr"