Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-02-25
DAYS TESTIMONY.
The Chief Surgeon Of Volunteers Ap.
pears Before Court Of Inquiry.


HIS Examination Absut 10 Dsssvred Untii
Packers are Prsssss-Ths Other wa.
nsasss Examinsd- Damned Roast
Bssf compislasd or.
Washington. Feb 2a DIR. william
n. DAILY, Of Pittsburgh. Pa. who was
chief surgeon OF volunteers during
the war and testified before the COM
mission that he had discovered boracic
and salycilio acid In refrigerated beef
furnished the army, was the Arst wit
ness before the beef inquiry board
yesterday. He testified that he was
on the sta6 OF Gen. Miles He was
with the army at Tampa and later
with Miles In Porto Rico. While sick
In Pittsburgh he received orders from
Gen. Miles to 20 on an inspection tour
TO the new regiments In the south
that were being filled ont for tropical
service. After he had been examined
very closely Recorder Davis handed
him Q copy Of the famous embalmed
beef report Col. Davis addressed the
court, saying that inasmuch rs the re-
port contained allegations concerning
persons who had made 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. +. 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. He thought 1t strange and
finally cut . piece from the beet.
cooked and ate It. After riding horse
back he became nauseated. He did
not know Weston had placed preserva-
tives on the beef aud he had no idea II
was an experiment. II reminded him
Of white powder he had once used TO
preserve antelope meat, which was
nothing more than boracic and sally.
ellie acids.
Capt 3. n. Beckham, Of the subsist-
ence department Of volunteers. report
ed as brigade commissary Of the First
brigade cavalry at Tampa June Q. He
had NO knowledge Of any experiment
upon beef Mt Tampa lie accompanied
the expedition to Cuba and issued
canned roast beef upon the voyage and
after landing. On the transport Bic
Grande four quarters Of fresh beef
we're placed. he understood, for the
purpose Of experiment though he had
NO knowledge Of any treatment and
knew nothing Of its origin. He was
instructed to see how long It would
keep. Gen. sumner gave him instruc'
tions to care for and watch II Some
Of IL 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 II
was very offensive. None Of II WA
eaten by anyone.
Lieut. Cole. Sixth cavalry, who wa
also aboard the Rio Grande. which
carried Gen. Summers hesdquarters
and the four experimental quarters o,
beef to Cuba, was much clearer In bill
recollection of the beef quarters thar
Capt. Beckham. Il was, he said, from
some firm Of meat packers" and wa,
sent expressly for experimental use
by the soldiers, with the knowledge
that IL was chemically prepared. The
beef lasted only three days, aftei
which IL decsyed and was thrown
overheard. Some Of II was cooked be
fore 1t spoiled. Witness saw the piec'
cooked, but did not eat It 1t looked
we'll and the men who tasted 1t sale
1T was all right"
Lieut. Col. f. Il. Humphreys, TWEEN
ty-second infantry, said canned roas
beef was issued to his command IL
small quantities prior to the surren
der of Santiago. but he had heard
then no complaints about II WheI
refrigerated beef was furnished It wa
ut first satisfying. but 1t spoiled Il
large quantities and the men fnall!
ceased TO care for il The canned roas
beef was then used in stew, but th'
men would not eat It Witness di'
not know why. It gagged him. IL
gave up
Brig. Gen. J. f. Kent. who command
ed q division in the Santiago cam
paign, said complaints Of canned roas
, beef came from the men-it seemingl.
uauseated them--but he took no &C
ton, considering these complaints nm
avoidable incidents OF the campaign
Col. Charles NJ. Woodruff. assistan
commissary general and United State
army purchasing agent and depot com
missary of Governors island, N. T.
/ who was prominent In army suppl
. purchases, testified that he bought
. total Of %, Use. 900 worth Of supplies !
, the first six months Of the war. Fl
bought between 600, 900 and 900. 90
! pounds Of canned roast beef ut COS
ranging from nv cents 70 II cents pc
, pound, according 10 the size OF Oh
, cana Principsl dealers would bi
monthly on It and when he receive
orders 70 ship canned beef he woul
sample the beef In the market acceE
> and order Il ut his discretion. A
r contracts contained clauses providin
contractors should replace any bee
that proved unfit for use without faul
Of the army officialA Each box cor
tanned certificate OF inspection an
, approval from an Official OF the ayr
cultural department approving u
cattle on hoof and after slaughter.
Capt L Howell, Of the Seventh II
fantry, said the canned roast beef WI
not palatsble. but he believed was n,
tritious and II cooked rs stew wsnl
have been satisfactory. The men Gel
orally complained about 1t. The r
frigerated heef was good when M
a spoiled and he had not suspected q