The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-28

Surgeon Daily and Assistant Commits
sary woodruff Testify other Wit
nesses Give Their Experfence-Gen-
eral Eagan to be ON the Stand Today

eral Eagan to be ON the Stand Today
Washington, February 22.-Today's
proceedings of the court Of inquiry, in
vestigating the beef controversy, de-
veioped little hat was new.
The testimony. with the exception Of
that of DIR. DAILY, surgeon on the staff
of General Miles during the war, and
of Colonel Woodruff, assistant commits
sary general, was generally in line
with that Of yesterday. The canned
roast beef was generally condemned as
unsatisfactory, while the refrigerated
beef was commended. the chief com
plant being that it often decomposed
en- route TO camp.
The testimony of representatives Of
the subsistence department was begun,
that of Colonel Woodruff, assistant
commisary general, being the most not
able. He purchased more than S00,00
pounds of canned roast beef and told
of the method Of purchase and the
reasons thai prompted it. He took is
sue with General Miles contention that
beef on the hoof was the usual source
of fresh meat supply to the army.
Another feature Of the day was the
Introduction of DR.. DAILY, who charged
before the war commission that he re-
frigerated beef at Chickamauga, jack
sonville, Tampa and In Porto Rico had
been treated chemically. He was not
examined, however, in regard to the
charge. Colonel Davis announcing that
the contractors who were attacked
were entitled to be informed Of the ex-
animation upon this point that they
WIGHT hnx-a n pan1n fin1d in which RI an
pear should they desire to do so. The
law required this, he said. According
ly DR.. DAILY vas excused after a par
tial examination and will be recalled
later. The investigation will proceed to-
morrow when General Eagan, commits
Sary genral, is expected to appear and
tell the story of the beef supply as
viewed by his department.
DR.. DAILY testified that he remained
in Porto Rico five or six days after
General Miles departed, being ordered
to supervise the careful preparation Of
the transport Panama for bringing
convalescents north in a above
~reproach. This was because there had
previously been considerable complaint
as to the outfitting of returning trans
ports. He received these orders about
August 23rd, and after picking up a
load of sick at various points in Porto
Rico sailed on September 5th and ar
IlNCu dL NlOIIOS oCptSIiUcI IUlll,
landing his patients in a greatly i'm
proved condition. He reported to
Washington. Here he was quite i'll and
was given sick leave. The surgeon en-
eral was pleased with his work on the
Panama and wished him to remain with
her.
While still sick in Pittsbufg, he re-
ceivad orders from Genera Miles to go
on an inspection of the new regiments
in The CnIfh who yUprp heinz fitted oft
for tropic Service. This was the trip
on which the witness became acquaint-
ed with the alleged embalmed beef.
There were several officers engaged in
this inspection. Reports were made after
the inspection of each camp visited.
These reports, in the course of regular
routine, passed through the hands of
the general commanding the army. Dur
ing this trip he became so i'll that he
was obliged to return home to Pitts
burg, where, after remaining for some
time OF sick leave, he rendered his res
ignation.
In all of this very detailed recital,
the question of beef was not once
preached by the court, but when DR..
DAILY had been chronologically carried
through his term of service and out of
the army, the recorder landed him the
"embalmed beef report and
asked him if he recognized it. .
DR.. Daily said that he did and it was
all right, except perhaps the date,
which in the copy was September 21st.
He said to the best of his recollection
the exact date was October 18th. The
date, however, he said, was not essen
tial, the report being genuine, and IN
the opinion of DIR. DAILY perfectly ac-
Prior to leaving the stand, DR.. Daily
was examined in regard to the Powell
experiment with beef personalities at
Tampa. Colonel Davis pointed out that
1T was merely experimental and no con-
tractor was involved. DR.. Daily said
Colonel j. F. Weston called his atten-
ton to a quarter of beef, which was
hanging on a transport and which Col
onel Weston said had been for sixty
hours in the open and he was waiting
to see what would e~ventuate. DR.. DAILY
did not recall anything of Colonel Wes-
toms statement indicating the beef was
other than a part Of the general supply
or that it had been treated with chem
icals as an experiment. He noticed
that flies would not remain on the beef
and that no larvae were deposited.
Witness finally cut a piece from the
beef n later cooked and ate it. After
riding horseback he became ~nauseated.
He did not suspect p~reservatives on the
beef, although his taste suggested an
experience he had with p~reservatives
on antelope some years before while
hunting. Nevertheless, DR.. Daily said,
he remarked to no one about the mat
ter. Witness wanted it made plain
that Colonel Weston had said nothing
about the beef being experimental,
and he had no reason to suspect the
government was conducting an exper-
iment as to the efficiency Of any chem
ical preservative.
Replying to Colonel Davis, the wit
ness said he supposed the beef was a
part OF q consignment from the con-
tractors, supposed to keep seventy-two
hours in the sun, and perhaps Colonel
Weston was merely curious to see If
it would stand the test.
Recurring to the test of the beef as
suggesting an experience with pre-
served antelope meat, witness said some
years ago while en- route to-hunting
grounds in the west, he secured in Chi
cago what was recommended as a pre-
servative-a white powder. It vas used
in camp. preserved the meat, but the
latter when eaten, nauseated him. An
analysis divulged the presence of boric
and salycilie acids.
In regard to the Tampa experience
n- nolxy rnil s% lsl ~ ~ ~