Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-01

Dr. La Garde added later that ne uld
not believe that the canned beef had
been any more harmful in causing dis
ease than would any other meat. As. a
rule the officers and men did not like
the canned meat, considering 1t neither
inviting nor nutritious. He, however,
felt in eating it that it was nutritious.
1T was not like straw he said, yet it
was rather tasteless."
The refrigerator beef was generally
satisfactory, but he had noticed on
some occasions a green scum on this
beef, and the physicians had noticed
in few instances that diarrhoea SEEM
ed to follow the use OF this meat by
patients. Yet wholesome fresh beef
would have the same effect.
Captain NJ. w. Ireland, who was ex-
ecutive officer at the Siboney reserve
hospital, and as such supplied the in
stitution with food considered the can
ned beef "a coarse grade of beef, greasy
and unacceptable to the sight or taste"
1t was used by the wounded rather
than by the sick and many of the men
complained that its use caused nausea
and intestinal troubles. He consider
ed it probable that the use of the beef
had been conducive of typhoid fever.
DR.. Ireland said that the refrigerated
beef was also repulsive to the taste
when received. and tfNt it was of u
soft consistency.
Major Henry L. Kiborn, who was chief
medical officer of Gen Lawtons division
at Santiago, said he had found the re-
frigerated beef generally in good condi-
ton, and that he had found it necessary
TO reject one quarter only of II at the d.
vision hospital. He did not attribute the
sickness in Cuba to any part of the food,
especially not to the refrigerated beef.
Canned roast beef was issued 10 the troops
in the field. but he had himself eaten t..
Mr.. Giddings was again placed on the
stand. He told of Gen. Eagan saying that
the refrigerated beef people contracted 10
keep meat good 70 hours.
Il asked Gen. Eagan if ne had any con-
fidence in the proposition and he replied
that he had very little but that the re-
frigerator men were prepared to give
a bond to keep the beef good for y hours
after leaving the refrigerator. He also
stated that they had a preservative pro-
cess by which they expected to keep the
beef in condition. But he said that If
there was any dissatisfaction after the
contract went into effect he would upset it
and give TaxaC IN ~ lpnnan a pbauNp
Mr.. Gddings then proposed to make a
proposition to keep his combination of
cattlemen together for the purpose Of TAX
ing the contract in the emergency indi-
Gated. and this he did He produced a
copy of this document. He had represent
ed. he said, a combination fully capable
of carrying the contract into effect.
Mr.. Giddings said in reply to questions
by Major Lee that Gen. Eagan had told
him that when he was an officer in the
field he always drove his beef on foot and
that he CEagan) thought this the proper
way to supply beef for the army.
Repeating his interview with Secretary
Alger. Gen. Eagan had said, according
to Giddings:
We'll, the Secretary sent for me last
night and told me there was so much diff
ference in price that we should give the
refrigerator beef trial"
Did he order you to do that?" / asked.
No., he replied, but hts wish amounts
to an order Gen. Eagan repeated his
want of confidence and intention If the
beef did not prove satisfactory to annul
the contract, for he would not let the SOL
diers be poisoned
With reference to General Eagan's ref
erence to a preservative process, Mr.. cid
dings said that the general had told him
that Swift & Co. who had made the low
est bid on refrigerator beef. had a process
which would enable them TO keep the beef
for z hours after being taken from tho
refrigerator.
DO you believe 1t, Gen. Eagan?' said
Mr.. Giddings, to which he replied: I've
got to believe tive got to give it a
trialr"
Mr.. Giddings said his relations had ben
pleasant with Gen. Eagan; that he had
gone into the Generals office frequently
because he felt that he had a right to do
so. IF" he added Gen. Eagan referred
to me when he said he had forbidden some
one admission to his office, the statement
was untrue"
Gen. ]. Hale Sypher. an attorney for the
Texas cattlemen, confirmed what Mr. Cid
dings had said.
Some days later" Gen. syFher said.
Gen. Eagan informed me that owing to
the great difference in price he would
have to give the refrigerator beef q trial.
Trial was the word used"
The witness said IN reply 70 a question
put by Major Lee. that Gen. Eagan had
said something about political pressure
as the reason for the neCesg sty Tor making
tine trial. ard that he had said some thing
about his conference with the Secretary Of
War. Asked as to what he had said on
this latter point. he 6Sypher, could not
remember. but he thought Mr.. G.ddings
had stated It correctly.
Major Philip F. Harvey. VINO was chief
surgeon Of the First division OF the army
at Santiago, and Major A r. Appel. who
was in command Of ore OF the division
hospitals. both testified. but neither had
given especial attention to the beef used
Major Appel said he had never heard a
good word said for the canned beef.
FREIGHT CLEARING HOUSE.