The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-09

He said he never saw canned roas
beef before going 10 Cuba and knew
nothing OF its preparation. He made
October 10, a report upon the ratiOns
in response to a call Of his regi
mental commander. but replying TO
| question he said he would not have
felt called upon 10 make any report
| had he not been requested.
| Captain william Ennis, Fourth ar.
tillery. was Nfth the Shafter expedi'
ton and remained at Santiago until
! August a. He said the canned roast
| beef was used on the transport and
| more or less throughout the stay OF his
| command in Cuba. None OF the men
| complained while there, but personally
| he had taken Il as a stew and was OFT
| en- nauseated Since his return he had
/ inquired of the men as TO its effect and
complaints were made. He took no &C
/ ton about il in Cuba because he heard
Of no notable complaints and did not
consider action necessary.
FINALLY REFUSED.
"A great many Of the men would
eat the canned roast beef and turn
about quickly and vomit," Captain En-
mis- said, ''and finally they refused to
eat II at all
This was said In response to a ques-
ton as to the causes of Illness among
his troops. Captain Ennis believed
much of il was due to this beef. No
other food caused vomiting immediate
ly after eating he said, but the sick
ness was only transient
Responding to Colonel Gillespie, the
witness said he thought the inability
to eat the roast beef did not cause
hunger, because there was an album
dance Of other food. The refrigerated
beef was kept twenty four hours after
its issue to the battery stationed at
Moro castle
Major Stephen Baker, retired, at
tached to the Fourth infantry during
the Santiago campaign, said the can
ned roast beef was issued after land-
ing and after the surrender, and com
plants of no specific character were
made generally by the men and cap
tains. No definite attempt to remedy
the defects in the rations was made
he said, because all realized that the
best possible was being done under
the circumstances, and they we're glad
to get anything.
After refrigerated beef was furnish
ed no complaints were filed, except oC-
casionally, when it was tainted or
spoiled when boards of survey were
appointed and the beef condemned
Witness said he was surprised that
the beef kept so long as it did, but he
never saw anything unusual in its ap-
pearance and never suspected the use
of chemicals. 1t was generally salts
factory.
Major Baker said he had made a
special report upon the rations, pursu-
ant to the adjutant generals orders
Of September 20, but thought had the
orders not been promulgated he would
not have felt called upon to make any
report upon the matter. Prior to Sep
TENDER 20 he had accepted the posi-
ton as being as good as possible. He
did not think the sickness in the regi-
ment due in any material degree to the
food, but rather to the climate.
ROAST BEEF WAS SPOILED.
Colonel Evan Miles, First infantry,
who was a brigade commander in. the
Santiago expedition, but left about
July Is. being sick after the battle.
said he never saw can of roast beef,
did not know 1t had been issued and
never heard a complaint.
Major General Sumner Of volunteers,
who was colonel of the Sixth cavalry
at the outbreak of the war, and COM
manded a brigade of cavalry through
the Santiago campaign, testified that
complaints about the roast beef were
heard in the lines, but no action was
taken. because" as he declared,
there was not any use. That was
all we had and it would not do any
good" Refrigerated beef was furnish
ed after the surrender and was good
except that much of it spoiled before
reaching camp. five or six hours being
required to bring it from the depot.
General Sumner said when he left
Tampa his adjutant. Captain Howe
reported that some one had placed en-
board two quarters of beef, which, he
claimed, as the result of treatment
would keep in the tropics for two or
three days. The second day it became
so offensive that it was thrown over
board. He did not know who put the
beef on board or by what authority.
Captain Howe had been directed to
write particulars. General Sumner said
he attributed none of the sickness to
defective food
REFRIGERATED BEEF SPOILED.
Major Jeses NJ. Lee, Ninth infantry,
who Joined his regiment at Santiago,
July 20, said refrigerated beef was fur
nished, seemingly daily, and frequent
ly spoiled before 1t could be gotten to
camp, two miles from the city. Much
difficulty in transporting it was expert
enced, and, aside from putrefaction
there appeared little ground for COM
plant
Major Lee was very strong in the
opinion that beef on the hoof would
| have been more satisfactory in Cubs
| than refrigerated beef, although hi
| said his opinion might result largely
| from the fact that all his experience il
| the civil and Indian wars had beer
with cattle in herds. Refrigerated bee
| supply was novel and when the camp;
| rNpNnNaA fhppA "a 20
| frigerators in the tropics dificultie.
would be experienced in keeping i
| fresh while en- route.
| In an experience of thirty-siX years
| Major Lee said he had never known o.
| a can of roast beef ever being issued
and he had no experience with it il
| Cuba.
! Captain James 2. Jackson, Seventh
| infantry, who was in the battle anC
| siege of Santiago, said canned roas
/ beef was issued off and on while the.
/ remained in Cuba. A few complaint
were made. but he investigated ant
| found it was generally acceptable H
| ate it. he said and found ii rattle
tasteless, but nourishing. Refrigerate,
beef was issued after the surrender, bu
about one-half was spoiled when de
lvered, the camp being about fou
| miles from the depot. Witness ha
| never had an idea of any chemiCa
treatment of the beef. An open Wagon
he said, was used intransporting tn
beef and It was delivered in the oper
He made a report recently upon III
beef. under orders from his colonel, bu
10 otherwise his sense of duty To his me-
and command would not have prompte
him to have made a report.