The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-17
BEEF WAS VERY ODOROUS
Captain Irvine Said It Was Put
On in Good Condition.
THE CONGESTION AT TAMPA
General Humphreys Said the Roads
Could Not Handle the Cars-Medi-
cal Department Responsible
for Many Errors.

! washington. Jan. lb-General
Charles F. humphreys, who was in
charge of the water transportation at
Tampa for Santiago. was the main
witness before the war inquiry to-day.
Prior to his appearance, Captain r. J.
c. Irvine of the 18th United States in
fantry commissary on the Panama at
the time that transport was in charge
of Surgeon DAILY, who wrote a report
on the beef, condemning it in the most
sensational language, testified that the
vessel sailed from Ponce, September l
or 2, and that on the 18th there was we'll
marked odor as of something that had
been "closed up" He was not prepar-
ed to say the odor was like that cma
mating from a dead human body, it,
jected with chemical preservatives, IS
Surgeon DAILY had reported. AS soon
as complaint was made on the beef,
it was examined and found to be very
odorous. The beef was thrown over
board The men were then put on the
rest of the rations. living without fresh
beef. After the beef was thrown over
board, he had thought it must nave
had undergone some change before it
was brought aboard or while aboard.
of survey that examined the beef con-
demned it because it was spoiled.
nothing to any other effect being ed
duced Despite this finding. witness
said he insisted that he believed the
beef was in condition for immediate use
when received, and it was used for
three or four days.
General Humphreys. the chief wit
ness of the day. said the congestion at
Df he
roads to handle the cars.
Did you assign your troops in ad-
vance of their arrival at Tampa to the
different vessels?" asked General Will
SON.
mo. SIR
When these troops came TO you,
were they then assigned for the first
time?"
Yes, sir; because that was neces-
sary."
why were no more wagons and am
i'bulances taken?' queried General Will
Eson.
Because the vessels were full" was
the answer.
Would your reply then be lack of
transportation?
Il would not like to say that"
All the wagons, said the witness. were
landed at Santiago, but all were not
set up. After the vessel was turned
over to the medical department. he
said he had nothing to do with these
ships. Asked as to serious complaints
that had been made of improper condi-
ton of the Seneca, Concho, Breakwat-
er and the City of Washington, witness
insisted the responsibility rested with
the medical department. When the
Seneca, Iroquois or the City of Wash
dngton sailed for home with the sick
he said they had no ice, unless the Red
Cross had had a little. The first ace
schooner. he said, reached Santiago Iu-
1y go
There was a long wrangle over tire
responsibility for the loading of The
transports for the sick.
IF the Concho," asked Ex-Governor
Woodbury.. was overcrowded. was il
because the government had not pro-
vided sufficient transportation, or
through an error of judgment of the
medical Department.
why, the medical department, GER
tainly," replied General Humphreys,
emphatically, because there was two
more ships. each as good as the Con-
cho, available"
He was closely questioned by DR..
Conner as to the supply of medical
stores and the transportation furnish
ed to convey them to the front. Wit
ness said that the transportation, the
pack trains used before the wagon
trains were unloaded. were under the
direction of the commanding general
with orders to get ammunition and
stores to the front. preferably ammu-
milton, but there was in his opinion
no reason why the medical stores
should not have reached the front.
, The medical corps We're" said he,
denied nothing when it was possible
to give it to them"
General Humphreys said medicine
chests belonging to many surgeons were