Evening star., 1899-03-14
Capt. Asninwa Tells of That Shipped
''.-' \ on Manitoba.
II WOULD KEEP SWEET ONE DAY
Gustavus Swift Says His Firm
Never Used Chemicals.
RELIED SOLELY ON COLD AIR


investigation today Capt Homer F. Aspen
wall, assistant quartermaster and acting
commissary of volunteers during the Span
lsh war in command of the transport Man
itoba, testified that he took on board at
Newport News 1855 quarters of refriger-
ated beef. The Manitoba left Newport
News August b and arrived off Ponce,
Porto Rico, August 10. When the witness
reported about the meat to Gen: Gilmore,
Gen. Gilmore 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: Il said that it
was the best of beef. and 1 didn't care to
take any such course as that unless Or
dered to-"
He replied: If necessary, will give yon
an order to that effect -
Was any beef landed thereT
Not at that time
Went on 10 Miowa.
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 following day an issue of fresh beef
was made for the first time.
with the meat, bilt he said that some had
been taken fifteen miles into the interior
and didn't reach its destination until
o'clock in the afternoon, when it 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, August 81, when wit
ness was ordered back TO Ponce.
Well Pleased With Beef.
Il made inquiries of different command
ers." said the witness, about the meat
while remained there, and all that talked
with with one exception were we'll pleased
with the beef" Col. Foster of the 9TH
Illinois,, whose, regiment was stationed six
or seven miles in the interior, said the beef
when it reached his command about 2
O'Clock in the safternoon-the first days is
sue-was spoiled. = But he didn't consider
that anything against the beef as he said
1t was long time after it had been taken
out of the refrigerators. Il remained at
Miowa until September 1 and was then Or
dered to take some troops to New York.
Continuing thehwitness said: "The beef,
when it came aboard, was examined by the
witness II, was inclosed in cheese cloth
When taken offn'at New York it had
'whiskers' 6n twas moldy on the outside.
The board pf survey had several quarters
examined. and the beef inside was perfectly
good; but tpe board felt that as there was
so much mold on The outside the beef was
bad, and that it would be unsafe to issue
to the troops '-
Did you nave occasion to suspect that
the beef had been Created with preserva-
tive?'' '--'-" ."
No, sir
Did anything Of that kind come to ycur
kn2wiedge .1, m conYttrsation?'
In cross exa nina -f6n. Maj Lee drew out
that when Cen Gilmore looked up smiling
at Ponce he said; throw it overheard; that
Tyih hrht htEar,i it-T,r
sba G You ta gs Ph P4ssSy Sisnes en
stated that he did not consider the remark
of Gen. Gilmore as a wish to destroy the
property.
GustaSus Swift Called.
The recorder then called Gustavus f.
Swift, president of Swift d Co. He testified
to two contracts entered into between his
company and the United States government
with reference to tine supplying of refrig-.
Grated beef to the troops in Cuba and Porto
Rico.
by whom were those contracts made on
the part of the United States?'' asked Col.
Davis.
by Gen. Eagan, advertisements were is
sued and proposals received in the usual
form. 3D. s.. ..
I'VE agreed to be responsible for the beef
keeping twentyfour hours from issuing.
and If in refrigerating house seventy
two hours, from the steamer issue. | sup
pose there would be reasonable protection
as for any other commodity. When we
deal in beef we deal in a perishabe article
1t certainly should be protected from the
tropical SUM-" z.-te =.-
I'm the preparation of your refrigerated
beef what agent do you rely upon as pre-
servative?"
Refrigerated air, nothing else"
Have you used at any time in connection
with the preservation of refrigerated beef
any chemical preservative of any kind?"
No. sir"
Cross-examined by Maj. Lee witness
ton. E. c. Swift, to go to Washington and
agree with Gen. ,Eagan on the terms of the
contract 1t was finally agreed upon be-
tween my brother and Gen. Eagan. 1 never
met Gen Eagan. previous to the time the
contract was signed"