The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-03
MEAT HAD WORMS IN It
Sensational Testimony Given by
Clarence Walters.
MADE ALL THE MEN SICK
Walters Statements Contradicted by
Lieutenant Sewell-One Witness
Saw Packers Poking Some
thing Into the Meat.

Washington, March 2-There were
beef court Of inquiry to-day. 1t was
field day for the volunteer arm of the
service, the waiting room being filled
all day with members of the various
volunteer regiments that served in
Cuba and Porto Rico. The first of
these. Clarence Walters of the 1st vol
unteer engineers, told a sensational
story of hardship and inhumanty suf-
fered during his service describing the
canned roast beef in harsher terms
than have ever before been applied to
that much-discussed article. Later in
the day Lieutenant Sewell, L. S. A..
who was major of the volunteer bat
talon in which Walters served, con-
tradicted his story completely, saying
there was no canned roast beef aboard
the transport which took the command
to Porto Rico. Further than that he
said. Walters had come to him after
landing and asked to be discharged SO
as to accept a position as newspaper
correspondent and on being questioned
said that he had been well treated
while in the service and had no COM
plant to make.
An important development was the
denial Of the story by James Farnan.
and also attributed to Or. Maxwell
Christine of Phila adelphia. that they had
seen beef injected with chemicals in an
Omaha packing house. DR.. Christine
explained that what he had seen was
the picking of corned beef. the brine
being injected into the meat to save
several weeks time in the picking vat.
The question of counsel for General
Miles before the court is still in abey-
ance, some correspondence having
passed between the general and the
court. but both sides decline to give
out the letters till settlement is
reached.
General Miles has not asked to be
represented by counsel. presumably be-
cause that would put him in the posi-
ton of admitting himself on trial by
the couls, which, up to date, lie has de
clined to admit. On the othel hand,
the court does not feel able. under the
articles of war. to permit Major Lee
or any one else to cross question wit
nesses unless he can be recognized Off
cially as counsel for the defense. 1t
was stated that this matter probably
will be settled Tomorrow
The court expects to start West Tues
day or Wednesday of next week.
The court held a long executive ses-
sion before beginning the examination
of witnesses to-day. Clarence Walters
was the first witness He was asked
what his experience with canned beef
had been on the voyage of his trans
port to Porto Rico, and replied that the
first can he saw opened had worms in
it. and a few minutes after being
opened developed such a putrid odor 1t
was impossible to have it about He
ate some of it and was made violently
sick. The men of his company COM
planned of the meat and the commits
sary sergeant refused to accept it.
Some of the meat was given to the sur
geon major. who tasted it and said it
was all right. The sergeant commits
sarN was compelled to accept it, but
did so under protest. Nearly all of the
men of his battalion We're sick through
out most of the voyage as a result of
eating this meat.
Davis, the recorder, ordered can
opened and asked witness if it was the
same as he had used in the service.
Witness said 1t bore no resemblance to
the campaign article. The cans he had
seen were of different form. keystone
shape and the color. consistency and
cdor of the contents We're entirely DIFF
ferent. A sound can was opened for
inspection with the same result. After
reaching Porto Rico Walters said he
was sick for a week as the result of
the voyage. He was given some medi-
cine and told he would be all right in a
little while. On shore he got supplies
from the Red Cross and bought milk
and eggs from natives, practically sub
sisting himself during his stay on the
island. AT least two thirds of his COM
pany We're equally as sick as he. and
from the same cause. Walters stated
before joining the army he was news
paper man.
Captain Herbert O. Hicks of com
pany NJ, I'd Massachusetts, described
the meat. but did not make 1t out
quite SO repulsive as that served Wal
ters in Porto Rico. but he said it was
Shiny. stringy mass. nauseating to
the taste, without nutriment and with
out form that could be recognized as
meat except by the melted fat with
which 1t was soaked
Lieutenant George Taylor. late of the
9Th Massachusetts,, who said ne was
a groceryman before entering the sery-
ice, said his regiment served in Porto
Rico They had very little that they
could eat on the trip down. They
sometimes had bacon. but no chance
to cook it. and had to throw it over
board. They had canned roast beef
which they could not eat and had fire.
quently only canned tomatoes hardtack
and coffee. Asked if he thought any
sickness IN MS command was caused by
the food the men had to eat, he le-
Piled
Il tlirk it was more due TO what we
did not have to eat. when we got to
Porto Rice there were 30 of our men
so sick they We're. never landed"
Was this state of underfeedine gen
eral abroad the transport?" asked Col
oncI Davis.
Yes, sir"
General Miles was on board. Did you
report to him."
Il did not think we had any right
to go over the head of our colonel We
reported to him. | heard him speak to
the commissary captain and the cap
tain answered that the men were get
ting ali they would get and would
probably get good deal less when they
get on shore. That was all / ever
heard of the report"
NJ. O. Dwyer of the 9th Massachu-
sets volunteers said after landing at
Siboney some of the canned roast beef
issued 10 the company was absolutely
SPOILED when opened but il was all nm