Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-22
Excused Temporarily by the Court
Of Inquiry.
ALLOWED BRIEFLYTO GIVE TESTIMONY
Beef Contractors VIII Be Present
When He Appears Again.
GEN. KENT'S EVIDENCE

Dr. DAILY of Pittsburg. former major and
chief surgeon in the volunteer service, who
was attached to Gen. Miles staff and also
had charge Of the convalescent and sick
soldiers brought from Porto Rico on the
transport Panama, was the most interest
ing witness before the court of inquiry in
the Lemon building.
He was not permitted to testify al the
morning session with regard to his ia
nous report charging that the beef served
the army had been embalmed. which has
formed the basis OF Gen. Miles equally ia
nous allegations and which was the first
direct official arraignment Of the alleged
deleterious preservation Of beef.
He was excused until the meat contract
ors involved by the report could be nOti-
fed TO be present to defend their rights
and interests. DIR. DAILY did however, in
response to questions. make many state
ments that were not contained In his cN-
animation before the war invest tiEating
commission. His examination was minute
ly and eXhaustively conducted 10y Judge
Advocate Davis. and the witness calm de-
meanor and self-contained attitude were
marked as upon the former occasion
he testified
Other witnesses were unanimous in con-
demnation of the canned roast beef issued
in the tropics, and one officer stated that
even lne Refrigerated bteI was refused DN
his men, who went without, because il was
so often spoiled tainted.
One officer. Lieut.. Cole, testified that
some of the Powell process" beef that was
placed on the transport Rio Grande at
Tampa to be tested as to the length OF
time ii would keep in the sunlight was
cooked and served to certain of the men.
This is a new statement in this connection
never hitherto brought out and Is regarded
important.
The most noted witness of the day was
Brig. Gen. J. F. Kent. who participa ed in
the daring charge upon San Juan hill. and
who later reported the cowardiCe under
fire of a number of companies belonging to
the list New York Regiment.
The court expects to leave the city for
the west next week in order TO inquire into
the methods of packing houses and refrig-
orator plants.
DIR. DAILY Takes the Stand.
DR. DAILY was the first to be sworn. He
is a big, burly, grizzled man with q very
bright smile and easy manners. He played
with his eyeglasses i'm his right hand as he
sat in the witness chair. He said he was
a major and chief surgeon OF volunteers
during the war. He was attached 10 the
staff of General Miles and assigned to care
for the sick and injured in the military
hospital at Tampa There he remained
until several days after the Shafter eXpe-
dltlon sailed Tor Santiago. He received his
orders from various sources, principally the
medical department of the army and from
the officers and chief surgeon at Tampa.
From this point he went to Key West and
Miami to investigate proposed camp sites
there. He could not reCollect with distinct
ness whether or not he had made a formal
report of the conditions. Afterward he eN-
amined the sources Of the water SupDly at
Key West.
From Miami he went to his home in
Pittsburg. but returned later to Washing
ton. where he arrived a few hours after
Gen. Miles had gone south on his way TO
Santiago. Taking the transport Crande
Duchess. from Charleston, he joined Gen.
Miles at Guanica. Porto Rico. There his
duties We're those of attending surgeon at
headquarters, and he was subject 20 the
orders of Col. Greenleaf as We'll as of Gen.
Miles. These Were both oral and written.
He entered into the details Of his inspec-
ton of insanitary Spanish buildings. inves-
tigation of the water supply and other du-
ties. These Were brought out by many
questions from Col. Davis
Loadin.: the Transports.
DR.. DAILY said he remained five or six days
i'm Porto Rico after the departure Of Gen.
Miles, in order to superintend the loading
and cmbarkation of the transport Panama.
This vessel was assigned to the work of
carrying north the sick and convalescent
soldiers. He was instructed to do this in a
manner that would be above reproach. The
reason for such an order was that there
of transports with the sick. lie received
three orders about August -, and proceed
ed at once with the vessel to various Porto
RiCan ports, where he picked up the troops
who were to return on her He sailed FOR
Maguez, where he took on eight or ten
tons of ice. and finally, on September ,,
proceeded nOrthward.
The transport reached Fort Monroe Sep
tembcr 10, and tie patients were much i'm
proved and benefited by the sea voyage.
He reported al once to Washington, where
he was taken quite in. and given icave Of
absence The sure aon general. ne said, eN-
pressed himself as highly pleased with DIR.
Days work on the Panama, and desired
him to continue with the vessel. After
reaching Pittsburg he received and obeyed
an order from Gen. Miles to go south and
inspect the regiments in the camps there
under orders To proceed to the tropics. This
work was begun about September 20 and
il was during its progress that he became
acquainted with the subject Of the alleged
cphalmed beef. Several officers were en-
gagged in this inspection, but DIR. Daly's in
Structions were 10 investigate particularly
the food supply and cooking arrangements
This was designed TO get the troops into
the best possible shane for tropical service
ana to render ald and assistance in every
other direction where he was ordered
Reports were made after the inspection
OF each camp. and these were forwarie ed to
Washington, where they passed through the
hands ~of the major general comma ndinss
the army. AT this lime he was apain taken
III and was put on The cars and returned to
Plttsburg. His resignation was rendered
and accepted to take effect January is last.
DIR. DaIy's Charge About Chemicals.
With this foundation of questions and an
swers. the topic Of 'embalmed beef having
been hitherto wholly ignored. Col. Davis,
the judge advocate. began the most inter
esting part Of the inquiry today. He took
up the original report by Surgeon DAILY,
which contained the first charge that chem
ical preservauves had been used on the re-
frfgerated beef, ana which caused a wide
spread sensation wnen read by Gen. Miles
before the war investigating commission.
Col. Davis handed the paper to DIR. DAILY
and asked him TO identify it,
DR. Daily read it with care and admitted
its genuineness and correctness except that
the date should be October 2l instead of
September 81. as given in the paper. He
remarked that, however, the date was not
essential.
Contractors Rights. &.
Following :nis. Colonel Davis. with the
paper in his hand arose. and. addressing
the court. said that a large number Of re-