The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-20
And an Agent Of Armour & Co., He
Says, Told Him the Beef Had Been
Treated with "Preservaline."
MEAT SEEMED TO BE PAINTED
OUTSIDE HAD COATING OF STUFF
LIKE PARAFFINE WAX,
Ind the Witness Refused to Take 1t
Out of the Refrigerator Car-Fresh
Beef Spoiled Quickly i'm Cuba.

LEAvENWORTH, Kan, March 19-The
army beef court of inquiry concluded the
taking of testimony at Fort Leavenworth
at noon to-day and at Ais p. m. departed
for Chicago, where the sessions will be
sumed Monday morning. The sole witness
examined to-day was Sergeant Edward
Mason, Troop a, First United States Cav
airy, located at Fort Robinson Nebraska,
who served as regimental commissary ser
geant at Lakeland, Fla, and during the
Cuban campaign Sergeant Mason's testi-
mony was probably the most direct that has
been adduced since the court left Chicago,
witness declaring that meat received at
Lakeland for use in his regiment was ''un-
doubtedly chemically treated" An agent of
Armour &c Co., he further testified, told
me at the time that this meat had been
treated with what was called preservaline."
Witness had refused to accept the meat.
Sergeant Mason was interrogated individ-
ually by each member of the court and
could not be shaken in his testimony.
The court met at II o'clock this morning
in the court-martial room at the fort. Ser
geant Mason, whose failure to reach the
fort yesterday made 1t necessary for the
court to take Sunday testimony, was first
questioned by Recorder Davis. He told of
the meat furnished 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 be thrown overheard. In Cuba the
men OF his regiment would not eat the
canned roast beef and as rule it was
thrown away. The refrigerated beef issued
after the surrender was good, but as rule
1t spoiled before it could be used.
The witness was then taken in hand by
Major Lee. He said he was detailed as COM
missary sergeant at Lakeland about April
% and served as such through to the close
of the Cuban campaign.
Ibid you, as commissary sergeant act
ing commissary sergeant for the regiment,
draw any refrigerated beef at Tampa or
Lakeland?" asked Major Lee.
81 did. SIR
What occurred?"
LIKE PARAFFINE WAX
'"The meat we received was in appearance
fine, but it was undoubtedly chemically
treated. One morning 1 went down to the
refrigerator car to draw meat, and l 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 'preservaline.' 1t was as if 1t had
been painted over with something like par
| affine wax. There was light coating on
| the outside of the meat. 1 objected to the
| color of the meat and refused to accept it.
Our commissary officer came down and he
| refused to accept it,
About what time was that?"
1.-The 2sth or 18th of May"
who was the officer that came DOWN."
Lieutenant c. ]. Hartman
About how much of this meat was there
| at that timer"
Probably three thousand pounds was in
| the car
Did you notice it generally?"
II examined the meat very carefully as
| commissary sergeant: / had handled meat
| before. The meat undoubtedly spoiled"
Were any reports made by Armours
| agent at the time as to the harmfuness or
| lack of harmfulness of this preparation;
| was it discussed?'
| My recollection is that he stated the prep
| aration used did not hurt the meat; that it
| was safe. He advised US TO cut off the out
side. and said the meat would be all right
in the interior next to the bone.''
| Did he state where this had been done?"
| mo, sir"
Where had the meat come from before
coming to Lakeand?"
II do not know. 1t came in carloads; prob
| ably from Chicago or Kansas City"
Might 1t not have come from Tampa?"
| .'Yes. SIR
| You know, as matter Of fact that there
| was a refrigerator establishment there
4 hare mos CaDf fn l,px
niands?'
| CAME FROM CHICAGO
Il know that. think our meat came from
the commissary."
1t was nor billed in any way to the COM
missary; it came entirely to the commits
sary?"
",t came to the agent entirely
| ITO whom would he report in regard to
the meat? Would he report to the commits
sary?"
| He would probably notify the commissary
officer. We would go down in wagons and
| get the meat every morning"
BY General Wade-Were you at Lakeland
when the car was opened?
| Il don't think 1 opened the car, but / was
| there when IL was opened"
WAS it a regular refrigerator carp"
| Yes, sir"
1T had only three thousand pounds in Il?
| mo, sir; the car was full when IL came
| in"
WAS the meat you got out of the car be-
| fore that treated?"
Yes, sir; 1 suppose the same as the rest
| of it,
| Was that the only car treated?"
| mo. sir; We would take about a car A
week. We had four regiments there-the
Second Massachusetts,, the Seventy second