Evening star., 1899-03-04
Court Expects to Leave for the West
Next Tuesday.
EXHAUSTED FHE WITNESSES HERE
Maj. Lees Leading Question Makes
the Recorder Object
TIL E BAD ROAST MEAT

ton. The court expects to wind up it's
work temporarily here on Tuesday next and
to proceed west. The first point will be
Chicago and then Kansas City and Omaha.
The court will inspect the beef packing
houses and also in each city hear witnesses
that may appear. Afterward the sittings
in this city. will be resumed and a number
Of witnesses who have testified already
will be recalled for examination upon new
points and by Major Lee, counsel for Gen.
Miles.
The witnesses today very generally con-
demned the canned roast beef, and there
was some testimony that the refrigerated
beef was often bad and had "deathly
SMELL
Col. Gallagher Recalled.
Col. Gallagher of the commissary depart
ment, the first witness this morning was
recalled, at his own request, to correct an
error that had crept into the record of the
evidence he gave ON the stand several days
ago. He wanted to state that while at
Montauk he had issued travel rations to all
troops who wished to draw them for the re-
turn trip to their posts. Maj Lee, counsel
for Gen. Miles, seized upon the opportunity
to cross-examine the witness thoroughly
with regard to the issue of canned roast
beef, refrigerated beef and other rations.
The questioning brought out little in addt-
tlOl u WHAT the WltueSS Idu Stdleu pre-
viously. 1t led, however, to an objection
from Recorder Davis to Maj. Lees method
of examination. The witness had been
asked concerning, the issue of canned roast
beef to the refugees at Ell Caney, and after
he answered Maj. Lee said
so the reason you issued this canned
roast beef to the refugees was because our
soldiers would not eat it?''
Recorder Davis stopped an answer by ris-
ing and objecting to the court that lit put
the answer into the mouth of the witness.
Maj Lee responded and said he had not
intended to put anything into the mouth or
the witness. He said he had considered 1t
proper in cross-eXaminations to ask leading
questions, but If it was the courts desire
to limit his form of question he would
modify it The court asserting, he asked
1t in the interrogative form
I'VE issued the canned roast beef to the
CubanS,' said the witness, because they
preferred it, and the bacon to our men be-
cause they preferred that. We were doing
our best to give every one what he pre-
ferred. ''. r-
Canned Meat Fat and Stringy.
Lewis D. Hunter, lieutenant in the 9th
Massachusetts Volunteers during the war,
followed in the chair. He said that many
of the men were taken sick within twenty
four hours after eating the canned roast
beef; nevertheless the men liked 1t. In
Porto Rico it formed only small part of
the meat ration. The men complained of 1t
and he had observed that it was fat and
stringy.
Recorder Davis had can opened and
shown the witness. The contents We're
soft and slushy and presented a repuIsive
appearance. Lie1t. Hunter said the can
was very much like the article he had seen.
He said some of this beef had been con-
demned. but the amount was small. Con-
siderable native beef had been issued at
one tina, but 1t was tough. The men gem
orally liked the taste, but the issue was cut
ii,yIyr hy nrf1a of he or
the sickness among the men was caused
by change of climate and food and too
much greasy food in a hot climate.
Cross-examined by Major Lee, the wit
ness said the men did not eat over five per
cent of the canned roast beef after reach
ing Porto Rico. They traded the rest to
the native storekeepers. On the march
often he had seen many men throw away
the beef after making one meal or else
give it TO the native women. He said he
had twice been made sick, as he supposed,
by the canned roast beef. -..-.r
Concerning the short and inferior rations
issued on the Yale, which transported his
regiment to Porto Rico, Lieut.. Hunter said
there was no lack of provisions, but no
cooking facilities. There was an abun-
dance of bacon, hard tack and coffee. but
little chance to cook more than the coffee.
Gen. Ruthers' Testimony.
The next witness was Major Geo. w.
Ruthers of the commissary department. He
said he had issued refrigerated beef at
Jacksonville and Savannah and never heard
a single complaint about it.
He said the meat had been rigidly in
spected, and there were no cuts or pune
lures in it that would give rise to the sus-
picion that it had been chemically treated
At Jacksonville he issued a general circular
to the 1th Army Corps, which he supplied
with rations, calling attention to the fact
that beef and vegetables issued, but not up
to the contract specifications, were to be
returned to the commissary officers issuing
them even if the defect was not discov-
cred till the food reached the company
camp.
Under cross-examination the witness re-
called that one lot Of 500 pounds of refrig-
Grated beef had been condemned by a board
of survey, but he said he had understood
that afterward the meat was sold in open
market without trouble. He said that an
other lot of 200 pounds was returned, but
only 10 pounds of it was found to be bad
Witness said he had received three official
complaints at Jacksonville
Il understood you to say said Major
Lee, That you never had a complaint as to
the refrigerated beef. If l am wrong I'd
like to be corrected"
You are, sir. i said that l handled l.
G2o,N0 pounds at Savannah without any
complaint
The witness said he had not had any ex-
perience with canned roast beef prior to the
war and knew nothing about it. He said
the quality of this meat issued by him was
the same commercial roast beef
Had Condemned 42,OOO Pounds.
T. Col. Curtis Guild of Boston, who was in
spector general of the 7th Army Corps was
the next witness He testified that at Jack
sonvilTe and Savannah refrigerated beef
was issued to the corps. He has already
made two careful reports on the subject;
one by order of Inspector General Breck-
inridge, and both are on file in the War
Department. He had testified also as to
the subject before the war investigating
commission.
We will, of course call for your reports
to the War Department said the recorder
but your testimony before the war COM
mission will, of course not be available for
U.s."
Col. Guild said that there had been no
material complaints against the refrigerated
beef. He inspected it in the refrigerator
oars and In the company kitchens. Here
and there bad quarter would be found,
but as a general rule it was good beef 1t
reached the men in good condition when
the regimental and company officers took
proper precautions. His experience with it
had been very satisfactory.
He said that he had unofficially condemn
ed 1900 pounds of canned roast beef at
Jacksonville before it was delivered to the
army. He said that this large shipment