The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-23

N the opinion Oh Ut. Daly, perfectly &c
Colonel Davis then addressed the court
briefly, saying that it was only within
twenty-f0ur hours that he had been able
personally to study this report of DIR. DAILY,
and nc found therein certain allegations
against certain persons, who had made con-
tracts Tor supplying food material to the
government. To continue the examination
Of the witness on this subject, in the abb
SERGE of those persons against whom his
charges were directed, would be 10 deprive
them of rights accorded them by law. He,
therefore. suggested that the other persons
Interested 0he meat contradictory should be
given reasonable notice of the proceedings,
ard that the witness be excused, subject to
recall. when the examination could be con-
present.
Prir 20 leaving the stand, however, DR..
DAILY examined in regard to the Powell
experinent With beef Dreservatives at
Tampa, GJlouel Davis pointing out that 1t
was merely experimental, and no contractor
was involved Dr.. Daily said Col. J. L.
Weston called his attention to a quarter
of beef, which was hanging on a transport
and which Colonel Weston said had been
for sixty hours in the open, and he was
waiting to see what resulted. DR.. DAILY did
not recall anything of Colonel Westons
statement Indicating the beef was other
than a part of the general supply, or that
it had been treated with a chemical as an
experiment. He noticed that flies would
not remain on the beef, and that no larvae
and that be9 would not putrefy in the
Tampa air after sixty hours exposure.
" iAIAteS nlAulty cut IL UlCIE 4|Ohi IL DtCAs
and later cooked and ate it. After riding
horseback he became nauseated. He did
rot suspect preservatives In the beef, al.
though its taste suggested an experience
he had with preservatives on antelope some
years before while hunting. Nevertheless,
DR.. DAILY said he remarked TO no one
It made plain that Colonel Weston had said
nothing about the quarter of beef being ex-
perimental, and he had no reason TO sus-
pect the government was conducting an
experiment as to the efficiency of any
chemical preservative.
HIS FIRST ANALYSIS.
Replying to Colonel Davis, witness said
he supposed the beef was a part of a con-
signment from the contractors, supposed
to keep seventy-two hours in the sun, and,
perhaps, Colonel Weston was merely cur
sous to see If the beef would stand the test.
Recurring to the taste of the beef as sug-
costing an experience with preserved ante
lope meat, witness said some years ago,
while en- route to hunting grounds in the
West, he secured in Chicago what was
recommended as a preservative-a white
powder. It was used IN camp. preserved
the meat, but the latter, when eaten,
nauseated him. An analysis divulged the
presence of boracic and Sallcyilc acids.
In regard to the Tampa experience, Dr.
DAILY said 1t did not arouse any suspicion;
he did not look on the incident as a g3N5
on to report or take any offlclal acuon
about 1t. He a v it little thought then,
and, replying to Colonel Gillespie, said he
first considered his Tampa experience SUI
dciently serious to present to the depart
ment when he had experience with con-
tract beef on the Panama DR.. DAILY was
Capt. r. ii. Beckham, of the subsistence
department. CT volunteers; reported as Drl-
gade commissary of the First Brigade Cav
airy at Tampa, June 8, 1898. he mad no
knowledge of any experiments upon peer
at Tampa. He accompanied the eXpedltlon
10 cuba and issued canned beef on the voy-
age and after landing. On the transport
Rio Grande four quarters OF fresh Deet were
experiment, though he had no knowledge
of any treatment and knew nothing OF It's
origin. He was instructed TO see now long
1T would keep. General Sumner. gave him
instructions to care for and watch 1t. Some
of 1t was thrown over the second day out,
and the remainder on tne intro LAY;
had been on the dock several hours before
placed on board. and when thrown over IL
was very offensive. None or 1t was eaten
by any one.
FOR EXPERIMENTAL USE
Lieutenant Cole, Sixth Cavalry, who was
also aboard the Rio Grande, which carried
General Summers headquarters and the four
experimental quarters of beef to Cuba, was
much clearer in his recollection Of the beef
quarters than Captain Beckman. 1t was, he
said. from some firm of meat packers" and
was sent expressly for experimental use by
the soldiers, with the knowledge that it was
chemically prepared. The beef lasted only
three days, after which it decayed and was
thrown overheard. Some of it was cooked
before Il spoiled. Witness saw the piece
and the man who tasted it said lit was all
right" The officers discussed 1t freely, but
none of them knew how the beef had peen1
treated, the process being secret. The beef
thai spoiled became very offensive and ex-
uded dark c~oagulated blood. Lieutenant
Cole said he ate some of the canned roast
hapf qhOqT6 the frqnSnOrI before It had been
subjected to the tropic heat and 1t was then
fairly good, and he ate it with relish as a
relief from bacon. After 1t had been heated
in the Southern climate 1t became Shiny and
rather repulsive looking.
Lieutenant Colonel H. II. Humphreys,
Twenty-second Infantry, said canned reast
beef was issued to his command in small
quantity prior to the surrender of Santiago:
but he had heard then no complaints about
st. When refrigerated beef was furnished
It was at first satisfactory, but it spoiled in
large quantities and the men finally ceased
10 care for 1t. The canned roast beef was
fhen used in q stew, but the men would not
eat It. Witness did not know why. He at
tempted to eat the beef from the can. It
die not taste right. 1t gagged him. He gave
It UP.
division in the Santiago campaign, said
complaints of canned roast beef came from
the men-it seemingly nauseated them-but
he took no action, considering these COM
plants unavoidable incidents of the cam
paign. He understood much of the refrig-
Grated beef spoiled en- route from the docks
20 the troops because of the delay incident
TO transporting 1t. Transportation was in
sufficient; it had too much to do" he said.
The canned roast beef was tasteless, he de-
clared. and often repulsive in appearance
and apparently had all nutriment extracted.
Under the circumstances General Kent said
he did not consider the beef defects de-
manded any special report. He did not at
tribute any of the sickness to want of or
70 General Davis, said beef on the hoof
would have been preferable to refrigerated
beef. but he doubted very much the prac-
ticability Of a live cattle supply about San
tiago.
HOW MEAT WAS PURCHASED.
Col. Charles M. Woodruff, assistant COM
missary general and United States army
purchasing agent and depot commissary at
Governors island, New York. who was
prominent in army supply purchases, testi-
ned that he bought a total of s.. 256,0O worth
OF supplies in the first six months of the
war. He bought between 100000 and 100000
pounds Of canine roast beef at a cost rang
ing from 11ls cents to II cents per pound,
according to the size of cans. PRINCIPAL
dealers would bid monthly on it. and when
ne received orders to ship canned beef he
would sample the beef in the market. ac-
cept and order II in his discretion. All con-
tracts contained clauses providing contract
ors should replace any beef that proved
unit for use without fault of the army Off
Gals. Eacn box contained q certificate of
inspection and approval from an official Of
the Agricultural Department approving the
cattle on hoof and after slaughter. Most of
the beef was shipped TO Tampa. The entire
supply in New York and in the entire coun-
from Europe, where it had been shipped.
was exhausted and the Factories EclnraI