Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-04
TWO ON THE STAND
Majors Hopkins and Hfr.ison Give
Their Testimony
BEFORE THE War COMMISSION
Hoof-kiIIed Meat Caused Increase
in Army's III Heath.
V ISITS TO THE CAMPS

The war investigation commission heard
witnesses today, notwithstanding the an
nouncement yesterday that no more would
appear till Friday. There were present
Col. DENLY, who presided: Gen. McCook
Gen. Beaver DR.. Conner, Gov Woodbury.
Gen. Wilson and Capt. Howell. Mai Geo.
Hopkins, military aid to the Secretary OF
War, was the first to be sworn.
Gen. Beaver-"What had you to do with
the inspection of the various camps during
the war and the selection of their loca-
tion?"
Inspection of Camps.
Maj. Hopkins replied that he inspected
the camps at Miami, jacksonville, Savan-
nah. Camp Alger, Camp Thomas and other
points. Concerning Miami. he said that the
water came from two sources-a pipe line
from the everglades and wells sunk in the
earth.
Gen. Beaver-"Did you at any time visit
Camp Alger?''
Mai. Hopkins-"Yes, sir"
Cen. Beaver-"What is your Judgment of
IL with regard to its location, sanitary con-
clifton. and so forth?''
Maj. Hopkins-"O Ordinarily I should say il
was considered a good camp 1 am not
familiar with the climatic conditions in
that part OF Virginia, ror am | expert
enough to say as to its nealthfulness"
Thomas?"
Mai. Hopkins-"Yes. sir"
you found there"
The witness stated that he had not an
proved of the camp and upon his recon-
mendation the camp was abandoned Au-
gust 10
General Beaver-"Were there any evil
dences when you were there that the reg
ime1tS had moved from one camp ground
to another"
Major Hopkins-"Some of the regiments
had"
lie stated that so far as he was aware
no adverse report on Camp Alger had ever
been made to the Secretary of War. Prob
ably the ones that were made were individ-
ual in character
Governor WoCdbury-"You are acauaint-
ed with the workings of your department.
are you not? Then can you tell US if any
complaints have been made al any time to
the Secretary of War to the workings
Of any branch Of the department. and if so.
whether any action was taken to invcsti-
gate them and what steps were taken for
the good of the service?"
Major Hopkins-"f have no knowledge of
any complaints that were not promptly in
vestisated. For instance, l was appointed
with DR.. Reed to inspect the hospitals.
The surgeon general instructed us 10 make
daily reports and he would act on them i'm
Inediately.
Major Harrison Testifes.
Major Harrison of the 9th Volunteer In
fantry was next called to the stand
The witness stated that his regiment
went to Santiago in the latter part of July
last. They embarked at New Orleans and
landed at Santiago. He was in the ser
vice some months prior to going to Cuba.
General Beaver-''W was the charac-
ter and quality of the COmrissary stores
served to the men before cmbarking and
after they reached Santiago"
Major Harrison stated that those in the
United States We're the best to be bought
in the open market.
Refrigerated Beef satisfactory.
He was chairman Of tha permanent board
of survey Of his regiment, and during the
time they were encamped near Nv Or
leans the meats and the commissary stores
for the entire brigade passed under his
eyes. Even the killing of the steers was
done by his orders.
Cen. Beaver-''Wh hat was the character
Of the refrigerated beef shipped from this
country to Sa ltiago, which you inspected"
Witness Excellent. Ii was the best
quality Of meat. 1 have had much exper-
fence with this kind of meat, and while
there vas some disposition on the part of
the regImentaI cooks JC cavil at the ap-
p-arance of the meat, still it was always
used with excellent results. Inc change OF
temperature " men the beef was taken from
tn refTigerGtOrs and exposed to the air
brought out a beard or greenish growth
upon the meat This had to be sGraped of,
but the meat underneath was all right. In
fact, | believe that the refrigerated eff
was eInlnently satisfactory. and its use
was beneficial to the soldiers-sick or well.
But when We began 10 send beef on the
huof from Porto Rico, then our trouble
began. Most of these We're killed and
dressed under my observation. And the
fact is that the meat would not cool. This
Is readily to be cOmprehended when you
consider that in that climate dead
purified in six hours. Meat killed and ex-
posed to that hot climate would not lose
its animal heat before it would begin to
purify. Use of it increased the sick rate
10 per cent. Thu board of survey was kept
busy inspecting and condemning this
meat"
Mai Harrison declared that the canned
roast beef was excellent. Responding to a
que stion as to his business before entering
the army, he stated: Il was d soldier in
various spheres. an author, an actor and a
theatrical manager
Upon the question of the alleged chem
icaI preservation of meat. he stated that
he is familiar with the processes OF butch
ering and refrigerating it, He said he is
certain from his experience that there were
no chemicals in any Of the meat that pass
ed under his inspection. He said no chem
icals could be used that would not result
adversely to the packer and ruin the meat
Therefore he regarded it as highly improb-
able that any such chemical preservation
was attempted. He said that the surgeons
in charge declared that the hoof killed beef
at Santiago was responsible for the ~ per
cent increase in intestinal sickness. There
was propOrtonate decrease when the men
were given refrigerated beef again.
Sights and Smells In Cuba.
Major Harrison told of the horrors at
tending service in the fever and prison
camps around Santiago. He declared that
the sights and smells were utterly unbear-
able. In spite of the fact that 81 per cent
of the men Of mis- regiment We're declared