Evening star., 1899-03-20
TREATED WITH CHEMICALS
Commissary Sergeant Makes Positive State
ment Regarding Refrigerated Beef
Was So Informed by ArmOur's Agent
and Saw Evidence of 1t
Himself.

The army beef court of inquiry concluded
the taking of testimony at Fort Leaven-
worth at noon Saturday, and departed for
Chicago, where the sessions will be re-
sGmed. The sole witness examined Satur-
day was Sergeant Edward Mason, Troop A.
LIST United States Cavalry, located at Fort
Robinson, Neb., who served as regimental
commissarS sergeant at Lakeland, Fla,
and during the Cuban campaign.
Witness declared that meat received at
Lakeland for use in his regiment was 'un-
doubtedly chemically treated"
AN agent of Armour & CO." he said,
told me at the time that this meat had
been treated with what was called pre-
servatne'" I"
Witness had refused to accept the meat
Sergeant Mason was interrogated individ-
uaIly by each member of the court and
could not be shaken in his testimony.
The court met at 10 o'clock in the court
martial room at the fort. Sergeant Ma
son, whose failure to reach the fort Sat-
9roay made 1t necessary to take Sun
day testimony. was first questioned by
Recorder Davis. He told of the meat fur
n1shed on the voyage from Tampa to Cuba
No complaints were made of the canned
roast beef, but the meat was tasteless and
unsatisfactory generally and had to oe
thrown overheard.
In Cuba the men of his regiment would
not eat the canned roast beef and as rule
II was thToWll away.
Regarding Refrigerated Beef
The refrigerated beef issued after the sur
render was good, but as rule it spoiled
before it could be used.
The witness was then taken in hand by
Major Lee. He said he was detailed com
missary sergeant a Lakeland about April
Cu.san campaign.
Did you as comTnisSary sergeant or act
ing conmissary sergeant for the regiment
draw any refrigerated beef at Tampa or
Lake!and? asked Major Lee.
Il did, sir
Wv hat occurred?''
The meat We received was in appearance
fine. but it was undoubtedly chemically
treated One morning | Went down to the
refrgerator car to draw meat and | OBJ
Jected to the appearance of it. An agent
OF Armour & Co. was there. | do not
know what his name was He told me at
the time that this meat had been treated
with what was called preservatine. 1t was
as if it had been painted over with some
thing like parattine wax. There was q
light coating on the outside of the meat
l objected 10 the color of the meat, and
refused to accept it. Our comrnissary Of
ficer came down and he refused to accept
it"
About what time was that?"
The 2Sth or 29th of May"
who was the officer that came down?'
Lieutenant G. J. Hartman
About how much was there of this meat
at that time?''
Probably 5000 pounds that was in the
car"
Did you notice it generality"
Il examined the meat very carefully as
commissary sergeant. 1 had handled
meat before. The meat was undoubtedly
spoiled"
Were any reports made by Armour S
agent at the time as to the harmfulness
or lack of harmfuiness of this preparation?
Was ii discussed?'
Chemicals Said to BE HarmIes..
My recollection is he stated that the
preparation used did not hurt the meat:
that it was safe. He advised US to cut off
the outside, and said the meat would be
all right in the interior next to the bone"
Did he state where this had been
done?"
No. sir
Where had the meat come from before
Il 90 not know. 1t came in car loads;
probably from Chicago or Kansas City"
Might 1t not have come from Tampa
Yes. sir
there was refrigerator establishment
there where meats We're sent to the various
commands?"
Il know that. I think our meat came
from Chicago. 1t was not billed In any way
to the commssary."
BY General Wade-"Were you at Lake
land when the car was opened?'
Il do not think opened the car but i
was there when it was opened"
Was 1t regular refrigerator carr
Yes, sir
at had only 5000 pounds in it?"
The car was full when ii came i'm
Was the meat you got out of the car be-
fore that treated?
Yes, sir; L suppose the same as the rest
OF it,
WAS that the only car treated?'
NO, sir: we would take about a car q
week. We had four regiments there. the
"a Massachusetts. the I'D New York, 1st
and 10th Cavalry"
Was all the meat you got there treated
with preseryatine?"
Told by Armour's Agent.
THAT l could not say. The only thing
knew was what Arnour's agent told me- ~
BY General Gillespie-"How did the agent
happen to tell you about the appearance of
the meat?'
The meat was supplied in the morning
and il smelled bad and had bad appear
ance. The agent, just simply speaking of
il. said: That is preservatine That is the
chemical we use TO protect the meat-to
preserve it AS to what preservatine was
| do not know"
Was this agent at Lakeland or Tampa o.
He came up from Tampa
DO YOU wish the court to understand
that very much of the meat supplied to you
of that refrigerated beef had been treated
chemically"
II would not swear that it was. / will