Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-02
DALY'S TESTIMONY.
The Chief Surgeon Of Volunteers APP
pears Before Court Of Inquiry.
DlLY'S ENDALYED BEEF REPORT.
Ah Exanl0atloa About Il Deferred Until
Packers are PreseDt-The Other Wit
usases Examined Canned Roast
Bssf C0mplaised Or.

chief surgeon of volunteers durin
the war and testified before the CON
mission that he had discovered boraci
and salycilic acid in refrigerated bee
furnished the army, was the first wit
ness before the beef inquiry boar'
yesterday. He testified that he wa
on the staff OF Gen. Miles. He wa
with the army at Tampa and late
with Miles in Porto Rico While sicl
in Pittsburgh he received orders from
Gen. Miles to go on an inspection tOnl
TO the new regiments in the soutf
that were being filed out for tropica
service. After he had been examined
very closely Recorder Davis handed
him copy OF the famous embalmed
beef report Col. Davis addressed the
court, saying that inasmuch as the re-
port contained allegations concerning
persons who had m de government
contracts they should be present To
hear the testimony on this report
Before leaving the stand DR.. DAILY
was examined In regard to the Powell
experiment with beef preservatives.
DR.. DAILY said J. Y. Weston had called
his attention TO q quarter OF beef
which was hanging on transport and
which Col, Weston said had been for
90 hours in the open air and he WAS
waiting to see what would eventuate
He DAILY noticed that flies would not
remain on the beef and no larve were
deposited. lie thought 1t strange and
finally cut a piece from the beef,
cooked and ate II. After riding horse.
back he became nauseated. lie did
not know Weston had placed preserva-
tives on the beef aud he had no idea 1t
was an experiment II reminded him
Of q white powder he had once used TO
preserve antelope meat, which was
nothing more than boracic and sally.
ellie acids.
\ Capt R, II. Beckham, OF the subsist.
encs department of volunteers, report.
cd as brigade commissary OF the First
brigade cavalry at Tampa June Q. He
had no knowledge Of any experiment
upon beef AT Tampa lie accompanied
, the expedition to Cuba and issued
canned roast beef upon the voyage and
after landing. On the transport Rio
Grande four quarters Of fresh beef
were placed, he understood, for the
purpose Of experiment. though he had
no knowledge Of any treatment and
knew nothing OF Its origin. lie was
instructed to see how long 1t would
keep, Gen, sumner gave him instruc.
tions to care for and watch 1t. Some
Of 1t was thrown overheard the second
day out and the remainder upon the
third day. 1t had been upon the dock
several hours before being placed on
board, and when thrown overheard it
was very offensive. None of it was
eaten by anyone.
Lieut.. Cole, Sixth cavalry. who was
also aboard the Rio Grande, which
carried Gen. Summers headquarters
and the four experimental quarters OF
beef to Cuba, was much clearer In his
recollection Of the beef quarters than
Capt Beckham. 1t was, he said, from
"some firm Of meat packers" and was
sent expressly for experimental use
by the soldiers, with the knowledge
that it was chemically prepared. The
beef lasted only three days. after
which 1t decayed and was thrown
overheard. Some Of ii was cooked be.
fore it spoiled Witness saw the piece
cooked but did not eat it. 1t looked
well and the men who tasted it said
lit was all right The officers dis.
,cussed freely, but none Of them knew
how the beef had been treated, the
PsoeS'' ociHH scCTch
Lieut. Col. II, II. Humphreys, Twen.
ty second infantry, said canned roast
beef was issued to his command in
small quantities prior to the surren-
der Of Santiago, but he had heard
then no complaints about it. When
refrigerated beef was furnished it was
at first satisfying, but it spoiled in
large quantities and the men finally
ceased TO care for 1t. The canned roast
beef was then used in Il stew, but the
men would not eat IT. Witness did
not know why 1t gagged him. He
rave up,
Washington, Feb. 24.-The testi.
mouy Of Col. J. +, Weston, who was at
the outbreak Of the war assistant COM
missary general and who is now the
successor Of Commissary General
Charles ?. Eagan, together with the
appearance Of Gen. Eagan, were the
features Of yesterdays proceedings OF
the court Of inquiry investigating the
charges OF Gen. Miles as to the beef
supplied to the army while in Cuba
and Porto Rico, Each contended that
the canned roast beef wasa wholesome
and nutritious component of the
army ration which was fur.
nished the Santiago and Rorto
Rican expeditions and took issue
with the regular army officers who
have criticised it. Regarding the re.
frigerated beef the testimony yester.
day tended to show that 1t was salts.
factory. Gen. Eagan took issue with
Gen. Miles in regard to beef on the
hoof being the best supply Of fresh
beef to the army, insisting that such
source was impracticable in Cuba and
especially undesirable in any country
where the animal heat in the beef
could not disappear before cooking.
Capt Alexander Il. Piper, Of the sub
sistence department Of volunteers, was
called. He was assigned as commits