The times., 1899-03-04
short Rations ON the Yale.

Alexander Ifay, late captain in the
Sixth Massachusetts. testified that his
command went south on the Yale. The
men on that transport could not get full
rations. The shortage was a notorious
fact, and all the men were hungry
throughout the voyage Two-thirds of
the canned roast beef issued to his com
pany in Porto Rico was tainted and had
10 be buried. This caused a great short
age IN the meat ration. The meat which
was not tainted was far from wholesome
The men would not eat it except in ex-
IRENE cases. The attention of the VIII
ness was directed to the canned beef nm
exhibition in the courtroom. but he in
sisted that this meat did not look or smell
like that he saw opened in Porto Rico.
Alfred +. Foote. late sergeant in the
Second Massachusetts Regiment. Testified
that the timed roast beef was sickenipg
10 look at ana tasted as though it had
+, been "bleached out" One-third of the
cans issued TO his company contained pu-
trid meat. large percentage of the re
trigerated beef was in a bad condition when
IT was received. Some of its had 10 he
buried. and much of it had to be trimmed
E. b. Critchfield of Shreve, Ohio. who
served during the war as d captain in the
Eighth Ohio Volunteers testified that the
| canned roast beef issued TO his command
ness. The refrigerated beef made him
sick. There was something peculiar about
! the cold storage meat Although il had
| been exposed to the sun for several hours
ana was not standing up very well the
! lles seemed TO avoid it. He did not sus-
pect al the time that il had been treated
with chemicals, but he could now recall a
number of circumstances which appeared
TO him TO be suspicious.
Ate Meat Like Medicine
L. l. Nelius, of New York who went to
/ Porto Rico with the First Volunteer En-
gineer Regiment. testified that he ate the
meat issued to him only because he felt
that he must eat something He took the
meat, he said 'as medicine" All the fresh
meat served 10 him was hard to eat II
all tasted "gamey." He declared with
great seriousness to the Court that he sus
pected at the time that it was mule
meat.
The first witness examined during the
afternoon was II. 5. Van Scoyck. late n
private in the First Volunteer Cavalry. He
said that the canned meat served in Cuba
vas nauseating. There was a deficiency
IN the meat ration. He offered 10 read
some letters which he had written in Cuba
to his friends al home describing the CON
diuons as he observed them during the
siege OF Santiago. Recorder Davis obiected
to the presentation OF the letters in court.
and Major Lee argued in favor of admit
ting them. The letters were ruled out.
Lieutenant Thayer testified that the beef
was bad and that a large amount Of the
sickness among the troops was, in his
opinion. due TO improper and insufficient
food. He declared that there was little
| likeness between the canned beef on ex-
hibition in the Court and that which he
had eaten in Cuba.
Anthony d. Mitten. late captain in the
Ninth MASSACHUSETTS, stated TO the Court
that two-thirds of the canned meat is
sued to his company had to be buried
This caused a shortage in rations from
which the troops suffered. The beef ox-
posed in the Court was very much better.
he said. than any he had seen in Cuba.
Lieut.. Henry NJ. Slime, of the Fourth
PENNSYLVANIA, testified that he had heard
no complaint in Porto Rico against meat
excepting the native Porto Rcan beef
Lieutenant Geary, Regimental Commits
sary OF the Fourth Pennsylvania testified
that the only complaint he had heard
against the canned roast beef was that II
was not seasoned with salt or pepper.
He never suspected that any of the army
beef had been chemically treated.
The Court adjourned at 1870 O'Clock,