The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-03
Army Officer Contradicts the Stories
Concerning Frauds.
VARIETY OF DENIALS
NO CONFUSION OR DISORDER AT
TAMPA.
Man Who Had Charge of the Trans
ports Contradicts Colonel Roose-
velt's Testimony-Admiral samp-
sons Accusation Resented-The
Wandering Proclivity."

Washington, Dec 1.-The war inves-
tigating committee resumed its sittings
in this city today. Colonel Charles
Bird was on the stand. He was on duty
during the war in the quartermaster
generals office, having charge OF the
transportation division. He had charge,
in the beginning of the war, Of the
purchase of mules, and he believed the
prices paid to have been reasonable,
the average price for leaders being $lO0,
and for wheelers, S120 He testified
concerning contracts for railroad trans
portation. Colonel Bird also said that
the transports occupied between Tampa
and Santiago had been fitted up only to
carry the men and supplies to Havana,
and this was the reason they proved
inadequate for trip of much longer
duration.
Colonel William S. Patton, in charge
of the supply and equipage division of
the quartermaster'S department, was
the first witness of the afternoon. He
was questioned concerning a complaint
made by Knox, the hat manufacturer,
that a fraudulent contract for hats
had been awarded to a Philadelphia
firm, and asserting that the depart
ment, as represented at Philadelphia,
was rotten and corrupt" Colonel
Patton said he had this complaint thor
oughly investigated by several officers,
who had reached the conclusion that
the hats accepted were superior to
those offered by Mr.. Knox. Colonel
Patton said no outside influence had
had any effect upon his office in the
matter of awarding contracts for tents,
clothing etc.
Captain James Mckay, a civilian and
an old sea captain in Florida and Gu
ban waters, who, under General
Humphrey, had charge of the details
of the transportation of the troops to
Santiago, proved an important wit
ness. He said that complete rations
had been put on each ship, and that
the vessels had not been overloaded.
This was contrary to previous testt
mony, as was also a later statement
that the vessel which each command
was to occupy had been designated be-
fore embarking. He emphasized this
fact, saying the designation had been
made by General Shafter, and the colo
mel of each of the regiments was evil
IDENTIFY informed in each case. He said
there was no confusion when the troops
went aboard.
Il say emphatically there was no dis
order and no confusion" he said, land
that in all cases the regiments found
their quarters without trouble or de-
lay"
How about the rough riders, the
Roosevelt regiments?" asked Governor
Beaver.
"They were assigned to the Yucatan,
and there was M difficulty in their
embarkation."
1T has been reported to US" con-
tinued Governor Beaver, that they
seized the vessel. Was that true?"
mo; it was not true the witness
replied. 1.-The Yucatan was placed in
the canal, and the rough riders walked
| in and took their places on the vessel,
according to directions. They did not
seize the vessel, because there was no
necessity that they do So.
Captain Mckay took exception to a
reference in Admiral Simpsons report
1 to what he called the wandering pro-
/ clivities of the transports" CAS- a mat
! ter of fact" he said, IF the transports
developed any wandering proclivities,
| this fact was due to the navy"
He then related that a naval vessel
| had made the rounds the first night,
after arrival, to allow the officer in
command to notify the transports that
change had been made in the direc-
| tions for landing. He thought Captain
.Hunker had given this information,
and he stated that they were to pursue
/ a south-south-east course. He said
nothing as to how long they should
steer in that direction. This course.
pursued indefinitely, would carry them
six points off the coast. This order led
the transport officers generally to con-
clude that they were to sail to Puerto
Rico, and as a matter of fact. the
Knickerbocker did sail thirty-five
miles and got lost for twelve hours, on
account of the order, only coming back
when she found that none of the fleet
was with her