The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-14
COMM END
The Position of Gen.
Miles
LOCAL SOLDIERS
Say Beef in Cuba Was I'm
fit to Eat.

The controversy which has been go
ing on for several weeks between Gen.
Nelson A Miles and other generals of
the United States army regarding the
so-called "embalmed' beef has at
tracted the universal attention of all
Cuban volunteers in Worcester, as well
as the volunteers of Springfield and
other cities in Massachusetts.
The soldier boys say that they are
not capable Of judging as to whether it
was "embalmed" or otherwise chem
fcally treated but it seems to be a
general opinion that the beef was to-
tally unfit to eat, and Gen. Miles is
loudly applauded for his bravery in go
ing before the war board and telling
them just what he thought.
The opinions of few Worcester vol
unteers as well as those expressed by
members of the Springfield companies
who belong to the Second Massachu-
sets regiment, are given below:
Capt. Edwin G. Barrett of Co. A
said, when asked to tell of the "em-
balmed" beef:
II am not capable of saying whether
it was chemically treated or not, but
sometimes thought that the sickness of
my men was due to the beef. The
men complained of the roastbeef, say
ing that it was unfit to eat, but they
could get away with the corned beef
Meat that was found to be bad was
buried at once. We did find consider
able that had to be buried. Most all
of it was examined at regimental head
quarters"
Sergt. w. H Allison: "The men
could not eat the beef, and it was unfit
for food
Corp. w. H. King: THE corned
beef ate, but could not go the roast
beef. 1t was very bad wherever we
found it. and nearly every man that
went to Cuba will tell you the same
story"
Robert Taft, Co. C.: THE beef was
unfit to eat. Even at Lakeland we
noticed that something was wrong
with the meat and L could not eat it
in Cuba"
e. J. Martin:-"I could not eat the
beef and it was unfit for the men. |
don't know whether it was embalmed
or not"
c. NJ. Sands, Co. C.:-The beef was
unit to eat. Its taste and smell was
awful 1t made the men sick when
ever they ate it,"
Many other soldiers in Worcester
We're interviewed and they all agreed
mat the least said about the beef by
those who supplied it, the better.
Following are a few opinions from
the Springfield men regarding Gen
Eagan's food: .-t5Irisa
Pflvate William Rooney of Co. c.:
wen, 1t was tough. The canned corned
peef and roast beef was all pretty bad
nut the roast beef was the worst. I've
opened cans that had a thick green
hnoia on top. 1t was tough looking
stun and that scum was too much for
most of us -
Private Robert D Draper of Co. B.
VINO stayed longer in Cuba than most
OF the Second Massachusetts regiment
as he was left behind &c care for the
SICK, says he recalls the canned beef
as II 1t were only yesterday. He said.
When we'd open a can we'd general
~ give 1t the go bye. 1t was enough
just TO look at it. I've worked in a
grocery store and know all the brands
OF canned meats, and I know perfectly
Well That ii was certainly a very chean
grade we got When can was
opened the sight was enough to make
you sick -
PRIVATE Horace w. Allen of Co. K
says the embalmed beef he ran across
was rank and VILE and THAT the ex-
perlence of others was exactly similar"
Lieutenant Thomas F. Burke of B
Co. is one Of the best known Of the
springfield members CT the Second and
MS arraignment OF the canned SUP
plles expresses the general opinion.
Said the lieutenant:
don't suppose that [ ate any more
OF the beef than piece the size of an
Engllsh walnut That piece was enough
Tor me-. For myself / opened Just one
can and stuck fork IN it. That taste
was my last.
By investigation of the contents of
my can the stuff looked as thoupb If
had been through a special process of
preparation. On board the Mobile. COM
ing pack, it seemed as if the canned
meat was worse, If anything. I had to
look after some of the boys and have
opened cans that actually skunk. 7
threw lot of the stuff ont of mort
mole. 1t wasn't fit for anybody to