The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-30
Gen. Eagan Positive in Stating that
He Had Never Met the Ohioan and
Did Not Know Him.
TESTIMONY OF MAJOR BLACK
WHO WAS COMMIssARY ON MILES's
STAFF IN PORTO RICO.
Eagan Charged with Swearing He
Mcat-MOre About "PrOcessed" Beef.

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The military
court, appointed to inquire into General
Mies's charges concerning the beef supplied
to the army during the Spanish war. had
former Commissary General Eagan before 1t
to-day on recall, and also heard the testi-
mony of Rear Admiral Stewart and Pay
master Colby. of the navy, and Major Black
and Captain Pomeroy, volunteer ofhcers,
who were engaged in the commissary serV-
ice at Ponce, during General Miles's Porto
Rican campaign. General Eagans testimony
was not startling. He stated that Messrs.
Armour & Co. had put in a bid TO supply
beef TO be preserved by a process of their
own, but that he had not considered 1t. He
also modified former statement to the ef-
feet that the twenty -four-hour clause in the
beef contract had crept in as clerical er-
ror, saying that in the multitude Of mat
ters which had been demanding his atten-
tion at the time he had forgotten its inser-
tion. There was an apparent effort on the
part of Major Lee, representing General
Miles. to show that Senator Hanna had
sought to influence the contracts, but Cen
Eagan asserted that he did not know the
senator and no explanation was made OF
the introduction of his name General Eagan
made frequent reference, during the giving
of his testimony, to the numerous demands
on his time during the war, making lhis
condition an explanation for not remember
ing details. Major Black and Captain Pome-
roy gave the details concerning the condl-
tion of the beef brought to Porto Rico on
the steamer Manitoba. Captain Pomeroy
stated that of twenty-one thousand pounds
receipted for at Ponce six thousand pounds
had been condemned. They also detailed the
objections made by the men TO the roast
canned beef Major Black told of conver-
satfon with General Eagan in regard to the
refrigerator beef, in which he quoted the
latter as saving with an oath, that he would
have compelled the men TO take the Deel.
Admiral Stewart and Paymaster Colby tes-
tilted TO the use of canned roast beef in the
navy
CORNED BEEF IN THE NAVY.
Rear Admiral Edwin Stewart, paymaster
of the navy, the first witness To-Day
He stated that canned roast beer was one OIL
the articles of food used by the navy, ana
explained in detail the careful inspection
that was demanded by the department reg
ulations. Occasionally the beef which WAS
delivered would be found to be unsatls1ac-
tory and 1t then would be rejected. He est-
mated the average purchases OF TINS chdr
acter of food for the navy TO be JVoVV'
pounds per year, the purchases being mace
tbrouph the New York representatives of
Armour & Co. Nelson Morris Co. ana
other firms The canned beef was portion
of the regular navy ration ana very Hlle VI
ii was ever condemned.
Major Lee asked the admiral for speclnca-
tions in the matter of rejections. but these
n
though he would be able to later. Rejec-
tiors were also due to the fact that the grade
of beef offered was not up to the require
merits the specifications requiring the best
OK beef. The marines at Guantanamo were
s,1pplied with this beef. There had been no
COMPLAINT concerning it to his knowledge,
| either from the marines or from the navy.
Pavmaster Henry q. Colby, assistant
| 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 quality of beef it was submitted 10
| chemical analysis. The navy had found that
| the canned beef kept we'll at sea. and in
some cases it was held from year to year.
| Mr. Colby had personally inspected cans
| opened in the tropics, but the quality did not
| appear to be affected by the heat. The meat
was well regarded by the men in the navy.
| Refrigerator beef had been used by 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 refrigera-
tor 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 BLACK TESTIFIES.
Mai. John ID. Black, Of the subsistence de-
partment of the volunteer army, who was
member of General MiIess staff in Porto
| Rico. followed the naval officers. 1t had
| been part of his duty to superintend the
| landing of stores at Ponce lie said that
| many OF the vessels had no manifests when
| they arrived, and it was difficult TO locate
| the various stores He was questioned es-
| pecially concerning the appearance in the
| harbor of Ponce of the steamer Manitoba on
the 10th of August with 30c00 pounds Of
| fresh beef The vessel remained there for
| several DAYS. he said but no effort was made
| 70 have the beef issued beyond informing
| the commands that the beef was there. This
| was due TO the fact that there was no re-
| frigerator on shore and no ice could be pro-
| cured. Furthermore, the vessel was en- a
| reef for four days and the sea was running
| so high that it was dangerous 10 approach it.
| Major Black said he was aware that
telegram had been sent from General Miles
| on the I'd of August requesting that no more
| fresh beef be shipped. When the Manitoba
returned after an absence OF ten days at
other points the troops were supplying them
| selves in the interior with beef on tie hoof
Moreover, there had been no notice that the
| Manitoba was to bring the beef. The vessel
was sent on by General Miles to other points