The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17

Gen. Humphreys and Captains Irvine
and AaninNaIl ExnmineG.

WASHINGTON, jan 16.-Gen. Charles +.
Humphreys, who was in charge of the wa
ter transportation at Tampa for Santiago
was chief quartermaster on General Miles's
staff and was with General Shafter prior
TO General Miless arrival was the main
witness before the war investigating COM
mission to-day. Prior to his appearance.
Frank +. Vogel representing the Nelson
Morris Packing Company, and vice presi-
dent Of the Fairbanks Canning Company
testified that his concern had sold about
Si50OOO worth of canned roast beef to the
government. used at Chickamauga, and said
ii was all of good quality No complaints
ever had been made to him, nor had any
beef products of his concern been chemical
ly treated.
Captain r. j. c. Irvine. Eleventh United
States Infantry, 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 on Sept. or 2, and on the 7th
there was a well-mar6ed odor, as of some
thing that had been CLOSED up. He was
not prepared 10 say the odor was like that
emanating from a dead human body inject
ed with chemical preservatives. as Surgeon
DAILY had reported. AS soon as complaint
was made of the beef, he said it was ex-
amined and found to be very Odorous The
beef was thrown overheard. The men were
then put on the rest of the rations, living
without fresh beef The witness said the
lack of It was not felt by the men. All the
beef carried was refrigerated beef The
ice taken aboard had not been sufficient to
preserve the beef. 'eVen," as the commits
sion asked, IF it had been received in good
condition. 1t was received in fairly good
condition, however. the witness said. After
the beef was thrown overheard he had
thought 1t must have undergone some
cnange before il was brought aboard, or
while aboard before it was on ice.
The board of survey that examined the
Deef condemned it because ii was spoiled
nothing to any other effect being adduced
It's report said that the beef was not re-
eeived in good condition and it exonerated
Captain Irvine from responsibility there
for. Despite the finding, witness said he
insisted that he believed the beef was in
copdition fit for immediate use when re-
cetved, and 1t was used for three or four
days He cited the absence of refrigerating
facilities aboard and admitted the beef was
not as good as could be gotter at first-class
restaurant. as 1t had not the fresh flavor
THE CONGESTION AT TAMPA.
General Humphreys, the chief witness of
the day. said the congestion at Tampa was
due to the inability of the roads to handle
the cars.
Did you assign the troops in advance of
their arrival at Tampa to the different yes
scls?" asked General Wilson.
No"
when the troops came to you, were they
then assigned for the first time?'
Yes. sir, because that was necessary
Continuing, he said that under the circum-
stances the transports at Tampa were as
we'll fitted out as they could have been Each
vessel carried its full complement of ord
nance, quartermasters' and cOmmissary
stores - in fact, all that could be taken.
taken.
why were no more mules and ambu-
lanees taken?" asked Mr.. Wilson
Because the vessels were full" was the
answer.
Would your reply, then, be lack of trans
I would not like to say that"
All the wagons, said the witness, were
landed at Santiago, but all were not set
up. LitterS, he said- should have been land
ed before the battle of FL Caney because
they were regimental and he believed they
Seneca for two days and said she looked
al right to him. Il know there We're people
aboard the Concho who ought not to have
been, ne said In reply to queries as to
passes for outsiders to come north on these
vessels. He thought duplicate issuance of
passes for foreign attaches and others might
overcrowd the vessels, and had protested
that only one person should furnish paHees.
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
conditions of the Seneca, Concho, Break
water and the City of Washington, witness
insisted the responsibility rested with the
medical department. When the Seneca, Iro-
quois or the City of Washington sailed for