The record-union., 1899-02-22

nauseated. Since his return he had
inquired of the men as to its effect, and
complaints were made. He tpok no
action about it in Cuba, because he
heard of no notable complaints, and did
not consider action necessary Refrig-
Grated beef was furnished after the sur
render, and was satisfactory. Every
body. he said, liked it, and he never
suspected any use Of chemicals. Since
he had reflected. he was surprised that
he had been able to keep it twenty-four
hours after issue.
IA great many of the men would eat
the canned roast beef and turn about
quickly and vomit," Captain Ennis
said, land finally they refused to eat
it at ALL
This was said in response to ques-
ton as to the causes of illness among
his troops. Captain Ennis believed
much of it was due to this beef. No
other food caused vomiting Immediately
after eating, he said, but the sickness
was only transient.
Responding to Colonel Gillespie, wit
mess said he thought the inability to
eat the roast beef did not cause hun
ger, because there was an abundance of
other food. The refrigerated beef kept
twenty four hours after its issue to the
battery stationed at Moro Castle.
Major Stephen Baker, retired, at
tached to the Fourth Infantry during
the Santiago campaign said canned
roast beef was issued after landing and
until after the surrender, and COM
plants of no very specific character
were made generally by the men and
Captains. No definite attempt to rem
edy the defects in the rations were
made, he said, because all realized that
the best possible was being done under
the circumstances, and they were glad
to get anything. After refrigerated
beef was furnished no complaints were
filed, except occasionally when it was
tainted or spoiled, when boards of sur
vey were appointed and the beef con-
demned. Witness said he was sur
prised that the beef kept SO long as it
did, but he never saw anything unusual
in its appearance. 1t was generally
satisfactory.
Major Baker said he had made @
special report upon the rations, .pur-
suant to the Adjutant Generals orders
of September Goth, but thought had
the orders not been promulgated he
would not have felt called upon to make
any report upon the matter. Prior to
September 10th he had accepted the
situation as being as good as possible
He did not think the sickness in the reg
iment due in any material degree to
the food, but rather ito the climate
Major General Sumner of the volun-
teers. who was Colonel of the Sixth
Cavalry at the outbreak of the war,
and commanded a. brigade of cavalry
through the Santiago campaign, testi-
fled that complaints about roast beef
were heard in the lines, but no action
was taken because" as he declared,
there was not any use. That was all
we had, and it would not do any good"
Refrigerated beef was furnished after
the surrender, and was good, except
that much of it spoiled before reaching
camp, five or six hours being required
to bring it from the depot.
| General Sumner said when he left
Tampa his adjutant, Captain Howe.
reported that some one had placed on
board two quarters of beef which, he
claimed, as the result of treatment,
would keep in the tropics two OF three
days. The second day it became so
offensive that it was thrown overheard.
He did not know who put the beef on
board. or by what authority Captain
Howe had been directed to write par
ticulars.
General Sumner said he attributed
none of the sickness to defective food.
Major Jesse M. Lee, Ninth Infantry,
who joined his regiment at Santiago.
July Goth, said refrigerated beef was
furnished, seemingly daily, and fire.
quently spoiled before it could be got
ten to camp two miles from the city.
Much difficulty in transporting it was
experienced, and, aside from putrefac-
ton, there appeared little ground for
complaint
Major Lee was very strong in the
opinion that beef on the hoof would
have been more satisfactory in Cuba
than refrigerated. beef, although he
said his opinion might result largely
from the fact that all his experience in
the civil and Indian wars had been with
cattle in herds. Refrigerated beef sup
ply was novelty, and when the camps
were removed three miles from the re-
| frigerators in the tropics difficulty
would be experienced in keeping it fresh
while en- route.
Captain James P. Jackson, Seventh
Infantry, who was in the battle and
siege of Santiago, said canned roast
beef was issued off and on while they
remained in Cuba. A few complaints
were made, but he investigated and
found it rather tasteless, but nourish-
ing Refrigerated beef was issued after
the surrender, but about one-half was
spoiled when delivered, the camp be-
ing about four miles from the depot
Witness never had an idea of any
chemical treatment of the beef An
open wagon, he said, was used in trans
porting the beef, and it was delivered
in the open. He made a report re-
Gently on the beef, under orders from
his Colonel, but otherwise his sense of
duty to his men and the command
would not have prompted him to make
a report.