The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24
WESTON AND EAGAN
NEW CoMMIssARY GENERAL AND HIS
PREDECESSOR TESTIFY.
Tell the Court of Inquiry that the
Canned Roast Beef Was n Nutri-
tiOus Army Ration.
CHEMICALLY TREATED BEEF
WAS AN EXPERIMENT MADE BY A
CHICAGO PACKING FIRM.
Government Was Not Responsible for
It-Refrigerated Beef Said to
Have Been satisfactory.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23-The testimony
of Col. ]. F. Weston, who was at the out
break of the war assistant commissary
general, and who now is the successor of
Commissary General Charles P. Eagan, to-
gether with the appearance of General
Eagan, was the feature Of to-day's proceed
ings of the court of inquiry Investigating the
charges Of General Miles as to the beef
supply to the army while in Cuba and in
Porto Rico. Each contended tina the
canned roast beef was a wholesome and
nutritious component of the army ration
which was furnished the Santiago and Porto
Rican expeditions, and took issue with the
regular army officers who have criticised it.
Regarding the refrigerator beef the testi-
mony of to-day tended to show that it was
satisfactory. General Eagan took issue with
General Miles in regard to beef on the hoof
being the best supply of fresh beef to the
army, insisting that such course was i'm
practicable in Cuba, and especially undesir-
able in any country where the animal heat
in the beef could not disappear before cook
ing.
Capt. Alexander Piper. of the subsistence
department, volunteers, was the first wit
Eess called to-day. He was assigned as
commissary of the Second Army Corps,
Nib WI liz 0lOOhC2 n
petition for Porto Rico. He said that in
Porto Rico beef on hoof, in connection with
canned roast beef, was issued. Native beef
was issued, he thought, five days. out of
ten until Aug. II. after which, under in
structions of Colonel Sharp, corps commits
sary, he drew refrigerated beef from the
Massachusetts,. Some complaint against the
came roast beef. he said, was made, but it
Amounted To little THE man haA 6ofa~;o-
sted in condition and were in a mood to COM
plain of nearly everything. No action was
taken. The men complained Of the native
beef being too fresh. When the Massa-
chusetts left. about Aug. %, native cattle
were used again until January, when re-
frigerators were placed at San Juan and
Ponce. and. under orders from the com
missary general, refrigerated beef was IS
sued to all troops where it was practicable.
Replying to Colonel Davis, witness said
there were no complaints against the beef
Issued from the Massachusetts,, but, on the
contrary, the men were delighted with it.
Only one complaint about the refrigerated
beef was filed, and that because of some
having spoiled. Witness said there was a
great diversity Of opinion among officers
and men as to the cause of sickness in Porto
Rico. Personally he thought a large pro-
portion of sickness was due to the native
fruits. cheap rum and cocoanut candy with
which the men stuffed themselves.
GENERAL EAGAN'S SUCCESSOR.
General Weston, successor to General
Eagan as commissary general, was then
called. General Weston was assistant cOa-
missary general just prior to the war and
told Of some of the problems of the war
that were discussed and settled in the office
before the fighting actually commenced. He
said the whole question of fresh meat
was thoroughly gone over and the depart
ment decided that the canned roast beef
was the best thing obtainable. He said that
War Department had made IN honest and
thorough investigation of The subject and
took the only course open to it.
General Weston went at some length into
the history of the embarkation ar Tampa
and said the refrigerated beef furnished
the troops in camp there was as fine as he
mad ever seen anywhere. There was a
touch of humorous pathos in General
WeStOn's voice as ne lamented the necessity
of leaving nearly ali of the tobacco ne had
got together for the boys" Regarding the
use of canned roast beef in Cuba General
Weston said the commiSsary officers never
got a full ration from the depot commits
sary because they would not carry ii. There
were always both canned roast beef and
bacon on hand and the men got whatever
they asked for. The material in the depot
commtssary Storehouse was rushed to the
front as fast as the pack trains could take
1t. General Shafter understood the situa-
ton and the regimental commissary officers
were notified that there would be no quib-
bling over acquisitions. The first business
was to feed the troops. General Weston
said he received no complaints as to the
meat rations while he was in charge at
Siboney.
General Weston then reviewed the first
arrival of refrigerated beef, the Mississippi
bringing 10000 pounds Immediately after the
surrender. He saw the beef on the Missis-
G{Dni and rPDiVinQ TO Colonel Davis said
It was not so inviting in appearance as the
beef at Tampa. 1t was slightly discolored,
but not bad.
IF any preventative had ever been used
Of any of the beef the fellow that used it
ought to be-whipped for stupidity. for, as
told you, it would spoil within twelve
hours" replied Colonel Weston to another
question.
speaking of the Ponce preservative
process experiment, Colonel Weston said the
commissary department had nothing what
ever officially to do with 1t. Mr.. Edwards,
be said, representing Armour q Co. came
60 him and said some beef was coming that
would be treated, and he asked witness If
be would not put it on ship and see how long
It would keep. The beef arrived and Wit
ness asked Mr.. Powell what had been done
20 the beef and the latter replied that moth
ing injurious was in the treatmen He had
Furnished beef for years to Florida hotels,
and he believed the beef in question would
keep seventy-two hours, and If so and the
government would contract, the illl process
would be explained. Six or seven quarters
were taken and put on the ships. Some was
IN canvas and some not. The former held
out seventy-odd hours. while the uncan-
vased beef went up pretty quickly" Col.
Weston declared emphatically that the gov
eminent had no connection with the expert
ment.
MEN AFFECTED BY THE CLIMATE.
Colonel Weston here reviewed the de-
terioration of the troops. When they left
Tampa he estimated that Is or 20 per cent.
Of their vitality was gone. and the Cuban
climate affected them so that nothing but
the campaign excitement kept them up until
after the surrender. after which they went
to pieces quickly. The deterioration he did
not attribute in any degree to bad food,
but perhaps slightly TO insufficient food, ow-
ing TO the men throwing much of it away
as cumbersome luggage. Canned roast beef
in Cuba was not spoiled, but the heat made
Il uninviting in appearance. However, it
was wholesome and excellent for stew pur-
poses, the witness declared.
Replying to Colonel Gillespie, witness
said he did not know whether any beef fur
nished the army had been treated chem
ically.
Major Henry Osgood. acting as assistant
commissary general prior 10 the outbreak
OF the war and subsequently assigned to
duty with General Miles, accompanying him
to and remaining for some time at Tampa,
testified that while there he participated in
loading the transports. No refrigerated
soldiers being furnished with travel ra-
lions. He saw the Powell process beef for
experiment. Leaving Tampa July 4 he was
al Chickamauga until August and testified
as to the excellence of the REFRIGERATED
beef. Going to Santiago early in August
49, NAA4rAI - EfnV the fUa9A - . AAa