The times., 1899-12-31

The War Department has ordered q
thorough investigation Of the poisoning Of
2Ss enlisted men and two officers Of the
Thirty-ffth Volunteer Infantry last October
While en route 10 Manila on the transport
City Of Rio.
The Surgeon General yesterday made
public the report Of Assistant Surgeon C.
W. Fry. who attended the stricken soldiers.
The report was received from Colonel
woodruff. al Manila, TO whom it was made
By Surgeon Fry. II stated that Private
Patrick Cleary. OF Company G, died while
the other men57fere sick for several days
as the result Of eating fresh meat supposed
10 contain ptomaines.
The report states that Surgeon Fry took
charge Of the medical department Of The
transport at Honolulu. There were 57l
enlisted men and 26 officers under Lieut..
Col E II. Plummer. on October p twenty
i've enlisted men were seized with castro
ente7itis. which was attributed TO ptomaine
poisoning from eating canned goods. The
Issue Of the canned goods was ordered
stopped and the men appeared 10 BE- get
ting well
October - fresh meat was served The
soldiers for dinner. and many Of them ate
heartily OF h. but others said thar il
tasted like it was spoiled and refused TO
cal it, \ few hours after partakiug Of the
meat Q hundred soldiers were violently ill.,
They first complained OF headache. which
vas followed by vomiting and excessive
weakness. The number OF sick men con-
tinued 10 increase until 2SS soldiers and
two officers were prostrated. DR.. John C.
Boone the ships surgeon. assisted Surgeon
Fry and the whole hospital corps were sci
to work TO relieve the sufferers. The ships
hospital was soon crowded and the men
were cared for iu different parts of the
vessel in the best manner possible.
In spite Of the efforts OF the physicians
Cleary died Dr. Fry claims that Cieary
was physically unfit for service as a soldier
and ought never to have been enlisted. ana
his physical condition made iL impossible
for him 10 Withstand the attack.
The surgeons labOred with the stricken
men. and ~ day or two they were out Of
danger though many q them were still
very ilI when the transport reached Manila
e. November =
The men were poisoned, according 10 Dr..
Fry's report. from eating tainted meat
lie says that had the meat been trimmed
and looked after properly The poisoning
would not have occurred After il was
ed ] 096 pounds were thrown overheard,
and or Tho arrival Of the vessel al Manila
800 pounds more was thrown away.
At the Office Of the Cornmissary General
yesterday il was stated that full inves-
ezgaticn would be had, 10 ascertain how
tainted meat came 70 be served TO the men.
The meat was taken on board the vessel
g. san Francisco. The only explanation the
COmmisssry Generals Department could
sl1er was that the ice boxes in which the
meat was placed were not properly looked
after. and that II became tainted and was
careiessly served 10 the men.
Adjutsnl General Corbin said that the
maltei had not been officially reported 20
kan.
The Thirty-hfth Volunteer Infantry was
Recruited al Vancouver Barracks, Wash
1ngtou and was taken 10 Portland, Orc
where it embarked On the transport Sikh
and the City Of Rio Col William 4.
Kobbe with half the regiment, sailed on
the sikh and safely reached Manila. Lieut.