Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-30

PONCE-NAVAL OFFICERS TELL
OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THAT
BRANCH WITH CANNED ROAST
BEEF-IT is CAREFULLY IN
SP E C TED -REFRIGERATE
BEEF THAT KEPT SWEET FOR
EIGHT MONTHS.
Washington, March 29.-Rear Ad-
miral Edwin Stewart, paymaster of the
navy, was the first witness before the
army beef inquiry board to-day. He
stated that canned roast beef was one
of the articles Of food used by the navy
and explained in detail the careful in
spection that was demanded by the
department regulations. Occasionally
the beef which was delivered would
be found to be unsatisfactory and It
would be rejected. He estimated the
average purchases of this character nt
food for the navy to be 100000 pounds
per year, the purchases being made
through the New York representatives
OF Armour & Co., Nelson Morris & Co..
and other firms. The canned beef was
a portion of the regular navy rations
and very little of it was ever con-
demned
Major Lee asked the Admiral for
specifications in the matter of rejec
tons, but these facts he was unable to
give at the time, though he thought
he would be able to later. Reflections
were always due to the fact that the
grade of the beef offered was not up to
the requirements the specifications re-
curing the best OK beef. The marines
at Guantanamo were supplied with this
beef. There had been no complaint
concerning it to his knowledge either
from the marines or from the navy.
Paymaster Henry G. Colby, assist
ant chief of the bureau of supplies of
the Navy Department, also testified
concerning the use of canned roast
beef in the navy. He stated that
where any question arose as to the
chemical analysis. The navy had found
that the canned beef kept we'll at sea
and in cases it was held from year to
year. Mr.. Colby had personally in
spected cans opened in the tropics, but
the quality did not appear to be af-
fected by the heat. The meat was
was well regarded by the men in the
n pftoy tnr hod I,xy
the navy only since the beginning of
the Spanish war. There had been few
losses of this beef. AS an illustration
he stated that the Celtic had recently
arrived at San Francisco with beef in
good condition that had been in re-
frigerators for eight months. He did
not understand that the canned roast
beef was actually roasted, but that it
was simply cooked so as to lose none of
its qualities.
Major John D. Black. of the subsist-
ence department of the volunteer army,
who was a member of Gen. Miles staff
in Porto Rico, followed the naval Of
ficers. 1t had been a part of his duty
to superintend the landing of stores at
Ponce. He said that many of the yes
sells had no manifests when they ar
| rived and it was difficult to locate the
various stores. He was questioned
especially concerning the appearance
in the harbor of Ponce of the steamer
Manitoba on the 10th of August with
100000 pounds of roast beef.
The vessel remained there for sew
eral days, he said, but that no effort
was made to have the beef issued be-
yond informing the commandant, was
due to the fact that there was no re-
frigerator on shore and no ice could
be procured. Furthermore the vessel
! was on reef for four days and the
sea was running so high that it was
| dangerous to approach 1t.
Captain Frederick Fl. Pomeroy, also
Of the volunteer subsistence depart
ment who was for a time Major
Blacks assistant at Ponce, gave testi-
| mony along the same line He also
| related the particulars OF the return Of
the Manitoba to Ponce after VISITING
other departments. He was at that
time depot commissary and during the
stay he had receipted for q 900 pounds,
of which 5000 pounds was DESTROYED.
Much of the beef was covered with a
greenish film, but some Of the men ate
it each meal. Still they generally
complained of the beef Much of it
was found to be tainted. decomposed
and spoiled The beef in this condi-
ton was condemned and buried or
thrown into the harbor at night.
Captain Pomeroy said he had hand
led probably 100000 pounds of canned
roast beef during his occupancy of the
Office Of depot commissary, but he had
great difficulty in getting the men to
take it. They complained he said,
that this beef was repulsive in ap-
pearance, unappetizing, tasteless and
not nutritious"
Not to exceed ten per cent of it was
taken and when the men took it they
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