Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-26

AND HUNGRY MEN, A
GREAT DEAL OF IT HAD TO BE
THROWN AWAY BECAUSE THE
OUTSIDE OF THE QUARTERS
SPOILED IN TRANSIT.
New York, March 25.-The army
court of inquiry investigating the
charges made by Gen. Miles that the
beef furnished the soldiers in the Gu
ban and Porto Rican campaigns was
unfit for use, convened in this city to-
day.
Before the hearing began Major Lee
said he believed Gov. Roosevelt would
be the only witness heard here. The
court is expected to adjourn to Cover
nor's Island to hear the testimony of
officers of the Thirteenth infantry sta
toned there.
Any other witnesses will probably be
called to Washington, where the court
sits again On Monday.
Upon his arrival Gov. Roosevelt
shook hands with several members of
the court and then took the stand, af-
ter Col. Davis had administered the
oath. The Governor described the Or
ganization of the Rough Riders at San
Antonio, Texas, and told of the issu-
ance Of rations.
when was the first complaint you
heard of the rations?" asked Col.
Davis.
MAY l answer that my own way?'
answered the Governor.
Certainly"
well, it was aboard ship at Tampa.
I saw a mani think his name was
Ash; | know he came from Kentucky
throwing away a can OF the so-called
roast beef. | asked what was the mat
ter, and he said he could not eat II.
| told him not to be a baby II that
he did not volunteer for a good time,
and ought to be able to take what
came. | thought no more OF the matter
until | heard that complaints were be-
ing made on all sides. Then | made
inquiries and was told that the roast
beef was part of the regular ration and
that only the volunteers were COM
planning.
Il spoke to Col. Wood about it, and
he said it was the regular ration. l
ate a mouthful or two myself, but l
did not like it. l could not eat"
Gov. Roosevelt spoke Of the issues
of rations in Cuba, and said that al
though he did not like the beef and his
men would not eat it, he never heard
any one say it was an unfit ration"
What did the meat look like?" ask
ed Col. Davis.
when the cans were opened there
was a covering of slime. IL was unat-
tractive. The meat was Stringy and it
did not agree with the men who ate it"
Gould you not eat it when served
with onions and potatoes?"
Il think at that time l could have
eaten my hat if | could have had onions
and potatoes. The men would have
eaten anything with fresh vegetables.
They stewed the meat with mangos and
ate it. Some of the men seemed to eat
the meat without difficulty or distress,
but it was not suitable for sick or half
sick men,"
Gov. Roosevelt told at length Of his
attempts to obtain supplies in Cuba.
He repeated the statement he made to
the army investigating commission as
to his attempts to organize a transport
tation train to bring supplies to his
men from Siboney.
When did you begin receiving re-
.frigerated beef?" asked Col. Davis.
About July %, when ashore about
a month";
Were the supplies regular?"
Sometimes. We received them about
What was their condition when you
received them?"
Their condition as a rule was good.
The outside was sometimes bad, but
it seemed awfully good to u.s."
What was the proportion that was
bad?"
Il can't exactly say, but l doubt if
there were more than two or three
issues when the larger proportion was
bad"
Had you reason to believe the re-
~frigerated beef was treated with chem
icals before you received it?"
Il never thought about it until l re-
turned home. The meat seemed good
TO US. We ate it and enjoyed it. 1t
did undoubtedly give the men diar-
rhoea."
Did you hear any complaint"
We'll, l heard that some OF the Off
GERS and men thought there was some
thing wrong with the meat, but I have
known meat if kept a few days on a
hunting trip to have a like effect. None
of US was in very good health and it
took less to upset us than it would have
at another time"
Did you attribute their i'll health to
the rations?" asked Col. Davis.
ITO a certain extent l suppose, yes.
When we left Cuba less than 20 per
cent. of the brigade was fit for active
service"
What was issued to the men on their
voyage home as a travel ration?"
THE canned roast beef"
ITO what extent was it acceptable?"
at was utterly and hopelessly unae-
ceptable."
WAS any of it eaten?"
Some of it was, but it could not be
eaten by the half-sick, and the well
men did not like it"
Major Lee was about to ask a cues
ton when the Governor interrupted to
say he wished to speak of the talk of
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