Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-22

The s1biect. and. therefore. he asked that
the witness be excused until the meat con-
tractors could be notified to be present
Before he left the stand DR.. DaIy was
questioned by Colonel Davis with regard 10
the beef preserved by Powell, the lnveh-
tor of a secret process and exhlnted at
Tampa. Colonel Davis pointed out the mat
ter was purely experimental and no con-
tractor was involved.
DR. Daily testified that Col. Weston, a
cCmrniesary officer had called his attention
to a quarter Of beef hanging on transport,
ard had remarked that il had been there in
the sunlight for sixty hours, and he was
a1.xious to see what would be the outcome
Supposed 1t Was the Regular Beef.
Or. Daily declared that at that time h did
not know and was not told that the beef
was other than the usual meat issued to
the army OF that 1t had been experimental
ly treated with chemical preservatives. He
noticed that flies kept away from 1t, and
that they did not deposit larvae on it, He
thought II singular that it would keep so
long in the Tampa air. He cut piece
from il. cooked ii and ate 1t. Later NJ took
a horseback ride, during which he became
nauseated and vomited. He did not suspect
the presence Of chemical personalities, al
though the flavor of the meat reminded
him of an experience he had had with pre-
served antelope meat some years before
while uniting
DR.. Daily emphasized the fact that Col.
Of beef in question was preserved, and ne
had no reason to believe that the govern
ment was conducting or permitting any
such test. He said nothing about the mat
ter to any one at that time He supposed
the meat was part of consignment from
the contractors. who had warranted II to
keep seventy-two hours in the sunlight. and
that Col. Weston was anxious to learn If
the test was fulfilled. DIR. Daily said that
some years ago. while starting on a hunt
ing tour in the west. he was given at Chi
CO go a preservative, in the form of a white
powder. which was warranted to keep
meat. Later he used it in preserving an
telope meat. 1t did so. but after eating the
meat he became nauseated. Thereupon he
analyZed the powder, and found 1t con-
tained boracIc and salycilic acids.
DR.. DAILY said that the reason he had
made no report at Tampa was that he had
not had his suspicious aroused; did not re-
gard the beef in the light of government
experiment. and did not feel called on to
take any action.
He was excused temporarily
Beef Treated With Chemicals.
The next witness. Capt. R. II. Beckham
of the subsistence department. acted as
brigade cornmissary of the LIST Brigade at
Tampa June 6, 1895 He said he had no
knowledge of any experiment with beef at
Tampa and stated that he went with the
Shafter expedition to Cuba. He told of the
COmmissary work at Tampa and in Cuba.
He SAID tfdt ne never nau any OrOerS as W
what he should issue to the men and gave
them whatever rations Were issued to him
for them.
During the voyage on the Rio Grande and
after the landing he issued canned roast
beef On this vessel four quarters of beef
We're placed for experimental purposes, ne
had been informed. He admitted be had
To knowledge of any chemical treatment OF
that meat Orders were given him to see
how long the meat remained good, but ne
had no idea as to the origin of the meat
He said General Sumner gave him iuStruc-
lions to care for and watch it. Some of II
was thrown overheard the second day out
The remainder was consigned to the sea
the next day No issue of il was ever made
to the men, and the officers were given
fresh beef The troops had canned roast
beef only. He was not questioned as to
any complaints against this article OF ra-
ton
Preceding Testimony Supplemented.
Lieut.. Cole Of the 9Th Cavalry. a sum
burned. SCARED. deep-voiced. straight-fea-
tured man. in his thirties. followed in the
chair. He went to Cuba in the transport
Rio Grande which carried the 'embalmed
beef and Gen. Summers headquarters He
testified that at Tampa the day before de-
parture Capt. Beckham told him that
well-known western firm of meat packers
had confided to him some quarters of beef
treated by a chemical pTeserVatiVe process
and this meat was to be used by the SOL
diers The meat lasted three days and then
had 10 be thrown overheard. A piece Of it
was cooked before it spoiled. The witness
SAW il done, but did not eat any OF IT. Ihe
man who did consume il stated it tasted all
right ard was good meat
The witness was very clear and concise
in his statements, which brought out de-
tails apparently forgotten by Capt. Beck
ham. who preceded him witness.
Lieut. Cole said the officers discussed the
meat very freely. but knew nothing as to
the nature Of the chemical treatment, as 1t
was a secret process. When the meat
spoiled II exuded dark coagulated blood
and the Odor from it was very offensive.
He said that on the transport he ate the
canned roast beef. and it was fairly good.
Il had not then been subjected TO tropical
heat. and the men relished it a change
of diet. He said the men complained
against it because there was no salt in it
One Teaspoonful Enough.
Lieutenant Colonel H. II. Humphreys of
the Dist Infantry succeeded to the chair.
He is a small, trinity built man, with close
ly cropped iron-gray hair encircling a
small. compact head. a long iron-gray
mustache covers a large chin. He came in
fulI-dress uniform and wore the helmet
with long white plume. He was inter-
esting witness. He said that canned roast
beef had been issued to his command in
small quantities after the surrender of San
about it. He said that when the refriger-
ated beef was first furnished it was very
satisfactory. but after while large guam
titles Of il spoiled before il could be eaten.
Finally the men gave up the effort TO con-
surne il.
The canned roast beef was used in the
form of stew. but even then the men re-
fused to eat il. He could not say why
He could not tell To what cause to attrib-
Ute the great degree Of sickness among
his man He did not eat the refrigerated
beef while in Cuba He opened one can
of the canned roast beef and on top was
mass of jelly. Taking this off. he took
one mOuthful Of the meat. II did not taste
right. and he gagged as he tried to swal-
low it. He gave up the attempt and gave
the remainder of his beef away.
GEN. kcnt's Testimony
Brigadier General J. 2. Kent OF San Juan
Hill fame took the stand first after the =
O'Clock recess. He said his men complained
that the canned roast beef nauseated them,
but he took no action, considering their
complaints unavoidable incidents of the
campaign. He said he understood that
much of the refrigerator beef spoiled in
transit from the docks to the troops.