The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-15
No Chemicals Used ny His Firm, ana
Nothing but Cold AR Relied ON TO
Preserve Refrigerated Beef.
CARGO OF GOOD MEAT SPOILED
BECAUSE GENERAL GILMORE DID
NOT WANT 1T IN PORTO RICO.
Evidence Given by Captain Aspinwalls
Who Was I'm Command Of the Trans
port Manitoba Last Summer.

CHICAGO. March 14.-Col. o. NJ. Smith,
purchasing agent of the government at Chi
cago since 1895. testified to-day before the
government Court OF Inquiry that the stores
of canned roast beef bought by him during
the Spanish war were all on the direct order
of General Eagan, the commissary gem
eral. He also stated that some purchases
of canned beef were made without hie
knowledge by the commissary general. An-
other of the days important witnesses was
Gustavus F. Swift, head OF the packing
house of Swift & Co. Good progress was
made by the court to-day. but the end OF
the list of witnesses to be examined In Chi-
cago is not yet in sight.
Capt. Homer f. Aspinwall. assistant quar-
termaster and acting commissary OF volun-
teers during the Spanish war in command
OF the transport Manitoba, was the first.
witness to-day. He testified that he took en-
board at Newport News 1,175 quarters OF re-
frigerated beef The Manitoba left New
port News Aug. and arrived off Ponce.
Porto Rico. Aug. TO- She ran aground three
miles out and remained there three days
and half. A representative of Swift e. Co.
was on the ship in charge OF the beef as
witness reported to General Gilmore the
stores ne had on ship, telling him he had a
large consignment OF refrigerated beef. The
chief engineer had expressed some fear
about the safety of the meat-of the pipes
becoming clogged with sand on account OF
the grounding OF the ship. which might In
terfere with the operation OF the refriger--
ator plant
When the witness reported about the meat
TO General Gilmore the latter looked up
smiling and said: ''You had better throw
it overheard; we have no use for it; we can
get all the beef we want here
The witness continued: 81 said that it
was the best OF beef and / did not care TO
take any such course as that unless or
dered to-"
General Gilmore replied. the witness saids
IF necessary 1 will Civ you order to
that effect"
WAS any beef landed there?" the witness
was asked.
Not at that time"
LIKED THE MEAT.
Witness stated that the ship went from
Ponce to Miowa- He reported to Captain
Davidson, the depot quartermaster and the
depot commissary, who said he would like TO
have some Of the beef for the troops. The
and an issue of fresh beef was made for the
first time. The beef was taken ashore
Witness asked the commssary about IL next
day-the lighter came alongside each day
for beef. The commissary said that he was
delighted with the meat, but he said that
some had been taken fifteen miles into the
interior and did not reach its destination
until o o'clock in the afternoon when IL was
spoiled. But" the commissary said, that
was no fault Of the beef" The beef was
used there from day to day until the ship
left Aug. 81, when witness was ordered
back to Ponce.
Continuing the witness said: "In the Office
of the depot quartermaster i met Lieut..
Col. Smith. who said: You have some fresh
beef on board and 1 am here 10 assist you
in issuing this beef We Immediately pro-
ceeded to make arrangements. so that il
could be issued TO the troops We arranged
to open the boxes at o'clock in the MORN
ing 50 that the troops would get 1t early.
but by some mistake the first issue was
made at o'clock I'm the afternoon. the meat
was taken ashore and kept until the fol-
lowing morning before being issued TO the
troops.
II made inquiries of different commands
ers," said the witness. "about the meat
while remained there and all that talked
to with one exception were well pleased with
the beef Major Birmingham. in command !
of the general hospital. said 1t was the best }
beef he had had. But Colonel Foster. OF the
Sixth Illinois, whose regiment was stationed
six or seven miles in the interior, said the
beef, when II reached his command about 2
o'clock in the afternoon-the first days is
sue-was spoiled. But he did not consider
that anything against the beef. as he said
It was long time after It had been taken
out of the refrigerators. ] remained at
Miowa until Sept. and was then ordered
TO take some troops TO New York
ONLY 5000 POUNDS USED.
The witness stated that he had approxf-
mately on board when he left Newport
News 10000 pounds OF meat; about $1,000
pounds were issued.
by whose order did you make the yoyago
TO New York;"
"I received my order from the depot quar-
termaster"
Was il known TO him that there was still
refrigerated beef on board and not issued?''
Yes sir"
WAS it known to the commanding on
cer?"
II am not advised as to that"
The witness stated that when the Mani
toba sailed for New York. Sept. Z the beef
was in good condition. lie had used some
of il for his own and the officers table dur
ing the voyage. None OF II was issued to
the troops on the ship. as there were no
facilities for cooking. The refrigerating ap-
paratus was in the best of condition.
Did any change take place In the beef-.s
"On the return trip when we were within
about two days OF New York the CHIEF
steward reported TO me that the beef was
BEGINNING TO spoil: that he had 10 cut out