Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-09
tBy Telegraph to virginian. Pilot.J

Wy AeicSTdpn TO VirSlnlan-SlOt.J
Washington, April S.-John Rusch, of
Englewood, N. J., cook FOR the Second
New Jersey regiment, while at jack
sonville. opened the testimony In the
army beef inquiry to-day.
He declared that It was common talk
among the soldiers that all the meat
sent South was embaimed. The story
became prevalent, and the men refused
to eat the meat which, he testified, was
rotten. often Shiny in appearance. and
there were frequent complaints that 1t
made the men sick"
After frying it it tasted like straw,
and had peculiar smell as IL decayed.
THE CONSERVATIVE PROCESS.
Mr.. Alexander b. Powell, of New
York, the proprietor of the Powell Beer
preservative process. followed Rusch
on the stand. He explained at some
length that he was the sole owner OF
the Powell process for preserving fresh
meats without tha use OF ice; that the
formula was a secret, and that It was
not patented because SO erninentIy SIM
pie. He declared emphatlcally that
neither boracic or salysillic acid was
used In the process. nor, he added. Els,
there any injection or immersion in
fumigatlon."
a PHILANTHRoPIsT.
ar. Powell then gave the particulars
of his treatment of a car load OF Ar
mour's beef which was sent to Tampa
in the spring OF 19S. When he heard
that the contract was to be given by
the government he had reached the
conclusion that the government ought
TO have the use OF the process he had
written TO the President. to General
Miles and to General E,agan, asking
where he should apply to have the pro-
cess used. General Eagan had replied,
saying the department was not engage
. ed in purchasing any process. but that
1t could only deal with those who would
supply the meat and guarantee that it
should keep.
He said the process was applied to a
car OF six caroasses OF beef at Chicago
owned by Armour and Company. He
had made the arrangement with Mr..
Connors. the superintendent OF Armour
and Company, arguing that they should
have the preference in the use of tho
process for the use of the governments.
These carcasses were taken to Tampa
the latter part of May last, and Colo
mel Weston secured four of the car
casses. exposing them in the sun for
about eight hours. 1t was after this
exposure that Colonel Weston. of the
Ccmmissary Department, made his re-
port. which was commendatory.
He said later that not to his knoyl-
edge had Armour and Company used
the process during the war; nor had il
ever been used by any one except him
SELF. There We're. however, other beer
preservative processes in the market.
THE. EAIBALSTING PROCESS.
Does your process resemble the em-
balmins process at all?" asked Major
Lee.
Not in the least" replied Mr.. Powell
put l see no reason why 1t could nat
De SO used-why human bodies could
not De preserved by it's use. However.
mere is no resemblance to the em-
balming process"
Mr.. Powell said he had known of
notes IN which beef prepared by him
had been used for the past five years,
ana In which 1t gave the best satisfac-
ton. He had been shipping to the
Compte DuBarry for ten years and hs
would have no other beef.
He had only a verbal contract with
armour d Co, but the understanding.
was That II that firm got the contract
they were to have the exclusive con-
tfol or the process during the con-
tinuation OF that contract only. He
was to have 90 cents err hundred for III, Z
use. about 5000 per car load. He had
nor attempted to make any arranEs-
inent with Swift & Co, the succesSftlI
bidders at the time, but after the battIe
OF santiago had written to Mr. Swirl
Continued on Ninth Page.)
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