The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-02
A Soldier Who Was With Miles
in Cuba
Freely Testif1es as to the Con-
ditiOn of the Beef.
is VISITING OTTAWA.
Says Much of the Stuff Was
Purified.
Cans Bearing Labels of "186S
and 1SSO-ArmOur Brand"

Ottawa, March 2-Mr. Gus Anderson,
late private in Company D, Seventh
United States regulars, is now paying
his friends in Ottawa a visit. Last June
Mr.. Anderson enlisted at Denver for
the war" and with the regiment went
at once to the front-reached Cuba the
latter part of the month, in time to take
an active part in all of the big battles.
He was through all the fighting at Ell
Caney, and while he fortunately escaped
without a scratch he had several close
calls. A Mauser ball Clipped a six inch
slice out of his rifle stock, and another
passed between his arm and side, lodg-
ing in a sand bank. Much of the time
Mr.. Anderson was camped near Skaters
headquarters, and had ample experience
with the beauties of what General Miles
has so pertinentIy described as "em-
baImed beef"
Says Mr.. Anderson: "At least one can
in five of the roast beef supplied the
boys in our camp was unfit for food. 1t
was rotten; its stencil, when the cans
were opened, was intolerable. had
some personal experience that was any
thing but pleasing. Canned roast beef
was served out to our squad, on one
occasion for a three days ration. The
cans each contained about seven pounds.
I lugged the inconvenient package per-
haps for three days, and then it was
opened; it was so rotten that the smell
was sickening.
Most of this canned roast beef was
from Armour or Swift. 1t was all fresh
ly labeled 1893 but 1 saw several cans
from which these labels were removed,
to disclose underneath a much older
label, running as far back 1868. I
heard no complaints of the corned beef,
but they were numerous enough about
the roast
BY request, Mr.. Anderson freely made
declaration of his knowledge concern
ing the beef, before notary, to be for
warded to the board of inquiry at WASH
ington. The affidavit is as follows:
Ottawa, Kan, Feb. q, 80.
State of Kansas, County of Franklin.
Gus Anderson, being duly sworn de-
poses and says: I was IN Seventh regi-
ment, L. S. regulars, in Cuba last sum-
mer. 1 enlisted in Company D, of the
said regiment at Denver, Colo, June 6,
1898, and landed in Cuba June % and
%. first noticed the bad quality of the
canned roast beef in the army about
June q, when we encamped near Shat
ter's headquarters. 1 noticed it myself
and also heard many of the boys com
planning of the spoiled beef. 1 noticed
that some of the canned roast beef was
spoiled when it was opened. 1t smelled
bad; we couldn't eat it and threw it
away. L saw some of the cans with an
1898 label pasted on over another older
label; some of the old labels were dated
in the 70S, and I also noticed one old
label of 1868. A large portion of the
cans were Swift's and Armour's. 1 was
honorably discharged from said regi-
ment at FIT. Smelling Mimi, February
Z, 1899, and further sayeth not.
GUS ANDERSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 9th day of February, 1899.
[Seall F. A. WADDLE,
Notary Public.
My term expires Feb. u, 1901.
In November the Seventh regiment re-
turned to the states and was quartered
at FIT. Smelling. Mr.. Anderson's term
of enlistment having expired he was
honorably discharged, his certificate be-
ing endorsed in terms very compliment
tary to his excellence as a soldier.