The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-16
CANNED MAGC0TS THE RATION
SERVED BY ALGER AND EAGAN
Damning Testimony Given by an Officer in the Regular
Army-Whole Companies Poisoned by Eating the
Putrid Stuff-Complaints Unheeded- -Maggots
Rioted in the Refrigerated Beef

we tfleu TO nave IL served lmmeu1-
ately, but under the intense heat put
refaction would set in almost as soon
as the can was opened. I think pto-
maines were developed almost imme-
diately after the opening of the
cans"
ITO what do you contribute the bad
condition Of the bread?'
Il think it was the bakers them
selves; perhaps the ovens. The natives
took the same flour and made it into
fair bread"
The next witness was Col Fred Ben
nitt of the Sd Illinois volunteers. He
spoke of the voyage from Newport
News to Porto Rico. There We're a
great many complaints about the
canned roast beef, he said.
Repulsive and Nauseating.
"The complaint about the canned
roast beef was that it was nauseating.
Specimens were brought to me for eN-
animation and I found them very re-
pulsive. The meat had a disagreeable
smell. I made frequent representation
to General Grant about the canned
roast beef, but he insisted that the
trouble was lack of knowledge on the
part of the cooks"
Major Joseph A. Sanborn of the 1st
Illinois volunteers testified that the
canned roast beef was unpalatable He
1lSptCleu Tie refrigerator DtSi "o
issues out of three were in fine condi-
ton. but the third was condemned be-
cause decompositiOn had set in. The
witness attributed the spelling of the
meat to the neglect of those charged
with the duty of issuing it to the
, men.
George Lees, :he next witness gave
his occupation as that of packing
house expert, putting up machinery
and apparatus for large packing houses
He said he was familiar with the
classes of cattle delivered in Chicago.
What are 'canners?'" asked Major
Lee.
what is generally termed Gamers
are a very inferior class of cattle; I
think one-third of them would be con-
denned in any English market. Ghucks
and sometimes meat scraped off the
!. plates are used for canning
About what per cent. of nutriment
would be left in the meat that goes
in the can?'
Little or none"
Maggots in the Beef.
William H. Replogle testified that he
served in the hospital corps at Porto
Rico and that canned roast beef was
frequently served to the corps. He
had seen three or four cans opened
with maggots running out of them.
saw piece of cooked fresh beef which
had maggots in it.
In reply to Major Lee, the witness
told of the sickness of one Thompson,
who had nothing whatever to eat the
first day after landing. The second day
he was given corned beef and hard
tack, but had no way of making coffee
The man became very sick and died
within week.
After considering in executive ses-
sion the matter of calling more wit
nesses. the court took recess until
o'clock.
Al the afternoon session First Ser
geant Albert Salavin of the 7th United
States infantry testified that some of
the men complained that the canned
roast beef was not palatabe. AS to
refrigerator beef. some of it spoiled
about half of it-and it was buried
Capt. D. H. Boughton, Sd cavalry,
testified that in his command the Off
GERS drew the same ratons as the men
while in Cuba.
"The complaint about the canned
beef" he said, was that the men could
not eat the meat and would not eat
it unless absolutely compelled to do SO
to appease hunger. When the cans
were opened the first thing that struck
the observer was the repulsive unin-
viting appearance of the contents,
time after the surrender and in gen.
eral conversation among the officers
we attributed it in part to the meat" |
what complaints We're there as to
the refrigerated beef?'
I'VE think that was bad. Some
times half of the quarter of refriger-
ated beef furnished would be unfit |
for use Subsequent to the surrender |
our command did not receive a suffi- |
cient allowance of food
Unfit for IA Ration.
In reply to Major Lee, the witness |
said that canned roast beef was abso-
lutely unfit for ration.
DO you consider canned roast beef |
wholesome for the American sodier?'
1t is exceedingly unWholesome. 1t |
tastes like chips. There is no substance |
and the fat and grease is repusive"
Colonel Henry l.. Turner who went to |
Cuba in command of the 1st Illinois in
fantry and became a brigadier general,
was the next witness. He said that on
the way to Cuba there was good deal |
Of unofficial complaint about the canned |
roast beef. and the result of an official |
complaint was that the surgeon con-
demned lot of it and it was thrown
overheard The cans had swollen and
the meat was very bad.
In reply to Major Lee. the witness
stated that he tried to eat some of the
beef, but it nauseated him and
ne could not do it. It certainly was un-
fit for ration in the warm climate. He
it as a contributing cause OF
the sickness of the men, He had also
tried to eat the refrigerated beef, but
could not. as it gave him diarrhea.
First Lieutenant NJ. F. Davis of the |
lst cavalry was called, upon request of
Major Lee. He said that in Cuba the
men opened all the cans of roast beef
ssued to them, but only consumed one
lalf of the contents on an average: the
est was thrown away because 1t was |
unfit to eat. The contents of the can.
he said, would be about three-uuarters |
suet, not what yIu would call meat
Perhaps One-quarter CT Ora-tifth of the
,an would be good fihzr meat: the rest
appeared to be tailings or clippings,