Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-05
The Army BEEF SCANDAL.
Gen. Miles, Assertions in Relation
to "Embalmed Beef Finds
Numerous Supporters.
SEVERAL ARMY OFFICERS HEARD FROM.
Mass OF Shiny. Black Stuff" that Lacked
Nutrition and sickened Those Who Ate
The Refrigerated Beef Had an 0dor
Similar to Human Corpse.

= COrn80s
Washington, Dec. 30.-The war in
vestigation commission has made pub
lie synopsis of the reports of officers
to Gen. Miles ''of the results obtained
from the use of canned fresh beef, in
campaigns in Cuba and Porto Rico"
These reports were submitted by
Gen. Miles when he gave his testimony
last week and were presented in sub
sanitation of his vigorous denunciation
of the canned beef. Gen. Miles stated
vestigation of the matter of the canned
beef supplies and the reports sub
mitted follow his official inquiry along
this line. The statement given out in
cludes 4 statement from Maj. John d.
Black, chief commissary officer, U. S.
W., and commissary at headquarters OF
the army in the field during the Porto
Rico expedition, dated December 10,
on the canned fresh roast beef re-
ceived, issued and transferred by him.
It shows the totals received from all
sources were 12,6O4 one-pound cans,
sc, 292 two-pound cans and 1920 six
pound cans. Totals issued and trans
ferred follow:
One pound cans issued, IA; one
pound cans transferred, II, AGO; two
pound cans issued, 42,168; two-pound
cans transferred, 44,124; six-pound
cans issued, none; six-pound cans
transferred, 1920.
A synopsis of the reports furnished
follows:
Commanding Officer, Fourth infan-
try, Mai. Baker: ''The beef seemd to
be of inferior quality, and was any
thing but palatable. Quite number
of men could not and did not eat it. y
Commanding Officer, Sixth infantry,
Lieut-Col. Minor: 1.-THE meat was ut
teriy unfit as an article of diet for
either sick or well. 1t had no nutri-
ment in it, and turned the stomachs of
the men who tried to eat it,
Commanding Officer, Ninth infantry,
Col Powell: 1.-THE meat produced dis
orlerd stomachs; is not nutritious,
soon became putrid, and in many of
the cans was found in course. of putri-
fication when opened"
Commanding Officer, Twelfth infan-
try, Maj. Humphreys: 'The meat pre-
scented such repulsive appearance
that men turned from it in disgust.
Nasty is the only term that will fifty
describe its appearance. Its use pro-
duced diarrhea and dysentery."
Commanding Officer, Thirteenth in
fantry, Col. A. t. Smith: ''Many COM
plants were made concerning them meat.
1t was found unpalatable, and is unfit
for isue to troops"
Commanding Officer, Seventeenth in
fantry, Mai. O'Brien: 1.-THE nutritious
juices having been cooked out of the
meat, it was neither nourishing nor
palatable. 1t was unfit for use. 1t
should no longer be issued"
Commanding Officer, Second battal-
ion, Twenty-first infantry, Capt. j. w.
Duncan: 1.-THE meat soon spoiled after
opening the cans; the men soon tire
of it, and it is not proper food. 1t is
not equal in any way to canned corned
beef"
Commanding Officer, Twenty-second
infantry, Maj. Van Horn: ''The meat
issued was nothing more than refuse.
after various kinds of soups had been
extracted from it. Further issues of it
should not be made"
Commanding Officer, Third cavalry,
Mai. Jackson: 1.-THE meat for canning
was too fat, and as an article of diet
soon became nauseating to large ma
jority of the men. If made of good beef
and properly seasoned it might be sat
isfactory."
Commanding Officer. Second artil-
1ery, Col. Haskin: 1.-The meat was gen.
orally disliked, was soft, watery and
insipid, agreeable to neither eye nor
taste. The men could be induced to
eat it only when prepared as stew"
Commanding Officer, Fifth artillery,
Lieut.-Col. McCrea: 1.-THE meat was I'M
palatable because of the excess of fat
in it; it's appearance was black and
stringy and none of the men liked it.
When prepared as a stew, it was more
palatable. If less fat and mixed with
vegetables, it would deserve further
trial"
Commanding Officer Light Battery
A, First artillery, Capt. Best: "The ap-
pearance of the meat was not inviting.
The men soon tired of it,
Commanding Officer First cavalry,
Brighten. Viele: 1.-The meat was mis-
cradle apology for food in a hot eli
mate, slimy-looking mass of beef
scraps, uipalatable TO the taste and
repulsive to the sight. Competition for
the contracts placed the price so low
that only tailings and scraps were
used for canning"
Officers, Ninth cavalry: every I'M
satisfactory; men soon tired of it, and
will only eat it when they have moth
ing else"
Commanding Officer, Twenty-fourth
infantry, Maj. Thompson: "After
few days the meat became unpalata-
BILE; the men become Disguised with it
and will not eat it"
Gen. Garretson Says That the Beef Was
Unfis for Use
Cleveland, o., Dec. 30.-Gen. George
A. Garretson of this city, who COM
manded division in Porto Rico,
agrees with Gen. Miles that the canned
beef furnished the army was, to
large extent, unfit for use.
The general said that large
amount of meat had to be thrown
away by the eommissary officers of
his division.
ssThe condition of affairs" said Gen.
twas every bit as bad as is
reported. Considerable canned beef to-
tally unfit for use of human beings
was discovered by the commissary of
ficers of the division commanded.
ssWben the matter was reported to
me ordered all meat unfit for use to
be destroyed.
..I had previously seen to it that .