Evening star., 1899-03-25
BEEF UNFIT TO EAT
Roosevelt Speaks in Emphatic Terms
to Court Of Inquiry.
TELLS OF THE "EMBALMED" MEAT
Rough Riders CoIoneI Talks Plainly
of the Rations.
MADE HIS MEN SICK

BEFORE the nearing DeSdn MdJoT Lee SSiio
he believed Governor Roosevelt would be
the only witness heard here. The court is
expected to adjourn to Governors Island to
hear the testimony of officers of the 18th
Infantry stationed there.
Any other witnesses will probably be call
ed to Washington, where the court sits
again on Monday.
Upon his arrival Governor Roosevelt
shook hands with several members of the
court and then took the stand, after Colo
mel Davis had administered the oath. The
governor described the organization of the
Rough Riders at San Antonio, Tex, and
told of the issuance of rations.
when was the first complaint you heard
of the rationsy'' asked Colonel Davis.
May answer that my own way?" asked
the governor.
Certainly"
First Complaint He Heard.
We'll, it was aboard ship at Tampa. l
saw mani think his name was Ash, L
know he came from Notwithstanding
away can Of the so-called roast beef I
asked what was the matter. and he said
he could not eat It, i told him not to be
baby and that he did not volunteer for
good time, and ought to be able TO take
what came. 1 thought no more of the mat
ter until 1 heard that complaints were be-
ing made on all sides. Then l made in
quiries and was told that the roast beef
was part of the regular ration, and that
only the volunteers We're complaining.
Il spoke to Col. Wood about it and said
1t was the regular ration. l ate mouthful
or two myself, but did not like it. l
could not eat it,
Gov Roosevelt spoke of the issue of
tons in Cuba, and said that although he
did not like the beef and his men would
not eat it, he never heard any one say it
was an unfit ration"
What did the meat look like?' asked
Col Davis.
when the cans were opened there was
a covering of slime. 1t was unattractive.
Thes1aeat- WAS stringy and it did not, agree
with ths men who ate it,
Gould you not eat it when served with
onions and potatoes?
Could Have Eaten His Hat.
Il think at that time I could have eaten
my hat if could have had onions and po-
tatoes. The men would have eaten any
thing with fresh vegetables. They stewed
the meat with mangoes and ate it, Some
of the men seemed to eat the meat with
out difficulty or distress, but it not
suitable for sick or half silk men.
Governor Roosevelt told at length of his
attempts to obtain supplies in Cuba He
repeated the statements he made to the
army investigating commission as to his
attempts TO organize a transportation train
to bring supplies to his men from Siboney.
When did you begin receiving refrser-
ated beef?' asked Colonel Davis.
About July %, when ashore about a
month"
Were the supplies regular"
Sometimes. We received them about
noon"
What was their condition when you re-
ceived them?'
Their condition. as a rule, was good
The outside was sometimes bad, but it
seemed awfully good to u.s.
What was the proportion that was bad?"
Il can't exactly say, but doubt if there
were more than two or three issues when
the proportion was large
Had you reason to believe the rafriger-
ated beef was treated with chemicals be-
fore you received it?'
Gave the Men Diarrhoea
81 never thought about it until 1 returned
home. The meat seemed good to us. We
ate it and enjoyed it. 1t did undoubtedly
give the men diarrhoea."
did you hear any complaint?"
We'll, 1 heard that some of the officers
and men thought there was something
wrong with the meat, but / have known
meat, If kept few days on hunting trip,
to have a like effect None of us was in
very good health, and it took ,ess to upset
us than it would have at another time
Did you attribute their ill-health to the
rations?' asked Col. Davis.
ITO a certain extent, l suppose yes
When we left Cuba less than 20 per cent
of the brigade was fit for active service
What issued to the men on their
voyage home as travel ration?''
THE canned roast beef
ITO what extent was 1t accepta ble?'
ut was utterly and hopelessly unaccept-
able
Was any of it eaten?'
"Sona of h,1fi pofh he
by the half-sick, and the well men did not
like it,
About "EmbaImed- Beef
Maj. Lee was about to ask a question,
when the governor interrupted to say he
wished to speak of the talk of the "sm-
balmed beef"
When we left Tampa" he said two or
three quarters Of beef were put aboard our
ship. l was told to put it in the shade 1
understood 1t was specially treated for the
tropics. 1t did not last and a board of in
vestigation decided to throw 1t overheard
Can you remember the brands or labels
on the canned roast beef complained of,
either that issued in Cuba or at Montauk?
asked Major Lee.
Il do not think can. Some were Swift's
and some Armour's, / believe
Governor Roosevelt said he had submitted
reports regarding the rations through the
regular army channels in July and again
on September 10. These reports were omit
ted from the published records of the War
Department, but were TO be prir.ed so he
said, in the next report.
Major Lee applied to the court to order a
copy of Gov. Roosevelt's report and to be
made a part of the minutes of the proceed
ings. General Wade ruled in compliance
with the motion and Gov. Roosevelt said
that there were some supplementary reports
TO the report of September 10 which he
considered very important, They include
he said, the statements OF two captains.
four heutenants, surgeon and Captain
Brown Of the regular service"
Beef EmphaticaIiy Condemned.
viii you tell u.s. asked Maj. Leh what
in your opinion is the value of the canned
roast beef issued at Cuba and elsewhere as
an army ration?''
Il wish 10 say unhesitatingly that 1t was
utterly unfit and unwholesome for troops
Ny experience proves beyond a shadow of
doubt or question that at its best the
canned roast beef was unpalatable, and at