Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-05

COURT OF INQUIRY, IN SPITE OF
THE FACT THAT HE WAS
THERE READY TO TELL HIS
STORY-HE HAD BEEN IN THE
CULINARY DEPARTMENT OF
COL BRYAN'S REGIMENT, AND
X HAD HANDLED MUCH MEAT-IT
MADE THE MEN SICK-GOT
HOLD OF SOME BEEF PREPAR-
ED FOR PORTO RICO.
Washington, March 4.-The War De-
partments court of inquiry wound up
its weeks work with half days ses-
sion to-day, having exhausted its list
of witnesses now on hand. There may
be some witnesses at the Monday ses-
sion, but the court will start for Chi
cago early next week, probably on
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Just before the close of the session
to-day a volunteer witness presented
himself but was not accepted. He
wore an army uniform, and said his
name was Frank Rundas, late of the
Third Nebraska CIV. J. Bryan's) regi-
ment, and that he had recently been
honorably discharged from the service
and was on his way home. His story
was in brief that he had served in the
company kitchen with his command
in Jacksonville, and that during a
long period when the men were living
on refrigerator beef there was so much
intestinal trouble among the men that
the issue Of this meat was stopped. At
another time he got hold of some re-
frigerator beef in the kitchen that was
such peculiar color that the atten-
tion of the company officers was called
to it. The surgeon in charge examined
it, so Rundas alleged, and remarked
that the meat was "all right, but had
been prepared to send to Porto Rico,
and since it had been issued the men
had as we'll use it,
THE meat was cooked, but all the
men who ate it were made sick. The
inference drawn was that this was some
of the same Porto Rico beef which Dr.
Daily had analysed and alleged to be
chemically treated. Rundas said he
was on his way home, but had stopped
off in Washington to offer his informa-
ton to the court of inquiry if they
thought it WORTH hearing
HE PRESENTED HIMSELF
TO Ool. Davis. the recorder of the
court, but was told that he would not
be wanted as a witness.
On being asked soon afterwards
whether Rundas was to be called, or
why he had been rejected, Col. Davis
said:
Il know nothing about the man. He
has on uniform, but that is no proof
he is a soldier or even has been. There
are all sorts of cranks and imposters
who come up here and want to testify
AS to this man, if he can identify him
self and the court directs me to call
him, will do it,"
The counsel for Gen Miles will inquire
into the antecedents of this witness and if
he appears to be what he represents, he
will be called.
Col. Gallagher who was recalled in an
swer to a question from Major Lee as to
whether he had issued canned beef to
the Cuban refugees because our soldiers
would not eat it, replied:
A. honf ~ ha NJ
bans because they preferred to eat it, and
the bacon to our men because they pre-
ferred that We were trying our best to
give every one what they most preferred"
"Umph!" commented Major Lee.
Lieut.. Louis D. Hunter of the Sixth
Massachusetts, and regimental commits
sary while in Porto Rico, said his exper-
fence with both the canned and refriger-
ated beef on the whole had been
QUITE SATISFACTORY.
Cross-examined, witness said the men
did not use over five per cent. of the can
ned beef after reaching Porto Rico. They
traded the rest to the native storekeepers.
On the march he had seen many of the
men throw away the beef after making
one meal out Of the can, or else give it
to the natives. Witness had been made
SICK, ne suffered Dy eat4AS CdLACu DESA'
His general health was good.
Major George W. Ruthers Of the com
m.ssary department who had supplied the
Seventh army corps with refrigerator beef
while at Jacksonville said he had never
received a complaint. The meat had been
rigidly inspected and showed no evil
dence of cuts or punctures or anything
else that might give rise to the suspicion
that it had been chemically treated.
Major he :,ok up the crJ>s examina-
i'm and de-, 'oped til. fact tina tnere
had been at times complaints as to the
beef and that If. one case 500 pounds OF
beef RAD t.so condemned. Wins. said
he nal IT. &c official - 1pialuts OF the
beef at Jacksonville.
81 understood you to say said Major
Lee, that you had never had single
complaint as to the refrigerator beef. IL
/ am wrong 1 would like to be corrected"
"You are, Sir" replied the witness.
What / said was that I had handled l.
10000 pounds OF refrigerator beef at Sa-
vannah without any complaint. The COM
plants were made at Jacksonville"
Lieut. Col. Curtis Guild, Of Boston, who
was attached to Gen. Fftzhugh Lees staff
as inspector general of the Seventh army
corps said that his experience at Jack
sonville had been very satisfactory. He
had personally inspected many cars, find
ing very few sides Of beef in the whole
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