The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-30

Whefe the stores could be more easily issued
TO the troops. The officer in charge Of the
vessel had stated that he had the beef
aboard and that he was fearful ii would
spoil because OF some damage TO the re-
fngerator plant while the vessel was on the
reef Major Black stated that the engineer
volunteers brought their fresh beef with
them. but that IL was spelling when they
arrived. so that it became necessary to corn
the beef.
Capt. Frederick II. Pomeroy, also of the
volunteer subsistence department, who
for time Major Blacks assistant at Ponce
gave testimony along the same line. He
also related the particulars OF the run OF the
| Manitoba to Ponce after visiting other de-
partments. He was al that time depot com.
missary, and during the stay he had re-
celpted for A,o0o pounds, OF which 5000
pounds was destroyed. Much of the beef
was covered with greenish film, bat some
OF the men ate it each meal. Still, they gen
orally complained OF the beef. Much Of il
was found 10 be decomposed and spoiled
The beef in this condition was condemned
and buried or thrown into the harbor at
night. AT this time fresh native beef was
being received on the hoof. At many points
inland native beef is, Captain Pomeroy said
still being delivered.
PRESERVING PROCESS.
At Major Lees request Captain Pomeroy
related a conversation with Colonel Smith.
who was for a time chief commissary and
who had told him that the beef was guar
anteed to keep seventy-two hours on shore
because of a process for preserving il. The
colonel had. however, stated that he did not
know what the process was. Captain Pome-
roy said he had handled probably $4,000
a,
cupancy of the office OF depot comInissary,
but that he had great difficulty in getting
the men TO take 1t. They complained" he
said, that this beef was repulsive I'm ap-
pearance, unappetizing. tasteless and not
nutritious. Not exceeding 10 per cent. Of it
was taken. and when the men did accept
1t they generally threw II AWAY They tried
TO sell this canned beef to the natives and
succeeded for a time, but not long AS
matter of fact the canned roast beef and
also the canned boiled beef sent TO Ponce
was of very little value. The men COM
planned that the meat made them sick" The
witness also mentioned a preserved meat Sc
cured from Kansas City, which, he said
the troops liked. This meat was not cooked
but he did not know the process for its
preservation. Captain Pomeroy said that
the native beef only gave fair satisfaction
and that IL not as good refrigerator
beef under the most favorable circum-
stances.
AT this juncture Major Black was re-
called at the instance of Major Lee and
asked to give the details of a conversation
he had had with General Eagan after his
(Blacks) return to Washington last fall.
The statement he made proved to be some
what sensational. II called upon General
Eagan." Major Black began by saying. Ito
confer with him concerning the conduct of
our affairs at Ponce. He asked me why the
refrigerator beef was not issued at Ponce,
replied that ii was because the issue COM
missaries did not want it as they were get
ting native beef Thereupon General Eagan
became very much excited and exclaimed,
- them,' they have no right to re-
fuse il. l consider ii the best beef in the
United States and them, 1 have
made them take it," Major Black also
stated that at the time the Manitoba was
on the reef he had some conversation with
General Miles about the vessel and while
there casual reference to the beef
board, the general seemed principally con-
cerned to get the troops and horses of.
EAGAN'S TESTIMONY.
The afternoon session began with General
Charles p. Eagan, late commssary general
of the United States army, the stand.
He was recalled to take cognizance Of points
which have been developed since he gave
his first testimony. General Eagan said he
had had conversations with the representa-
tives of Swift & Co. prior to the letting
of the beef contracts, but as he had also
talked with others the same subject he
could not recall the details of his remarks.
He remembered that Mr. Swift had taken
exception to some of the terms of the first
draft of the contract as being very harsh.
Explaining his plans in general, General
Eagan said it was his first intention to
take the refrigerator beef, then in case OF
failure to take beef the block and last
for the government to have its own herd.
Everybody, he thought. understood that his
preference was for refrigerator beef. Swift
& Co. being the lowest bidders for refrig-
orator beef, naturally received the award
Of the contract.
Referring to the terms of the contract
General Eagan said the matter of supply
ing the army with beef considered from
the beginning q :c1y serious problem. He
had first thought OF having ships ply up
and down the Cuban shore and it was with
this in view that he decided TO ask for beef
/
also felt there would be difficulty in land
ing at Santiago. His principal reason for
| inserting the clause stipulating that the
beef should be good twenty-four hours aft
| er leaving the refrigerator was that he did
not wish the troops 20 know that the con-
| tract called for beef that would keep sew
enty-two hours foT fear that it would not
keep so long.
When cross-examined by Major Lee, Gen.
! Eagan said ne exercised his own discretion
| in the letting OF contracts without sugges-
! tion from the secretary of war. When the
| lowest bid was ascertained he had been in
the habit OF making an abstract of the facts
| and submitting il 10 the secretary just as
when he q commissary in the army
| he would furnish such an abstract 10 his
| commanding officer The general said that
! I'm providing for the soldiers I'm the tropics
| he had acted on his experience at Fort
| Mojave. a. II. He was convinced from this
experience that the beef cooked before the
| animal heat was out OF ii was positively in
| furious. He recalled his conversation with
| Mr. Gardner, of the firm of Swift & Co.
| who, he said, had assured him that with
proper care refrigerator beef would keep for
| seventy-two hours. He was, however.
| doubtful of the carc the army would give
| Ii If X was known the beef would keep sew
enty-two hours, hence his agreement to the