The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-05
It MADE THE MEN SICK
Couldn't Stomach Alger's En-
balmed Beef.
IT HAD A PECULIAR COLOR
The Testimony Of Private Rundas Re-
jected by Recorder Davis-Beef on
the Hoof Was Preferred by
the Soldiers in Cuba.

partment court of inquiry wound up
its weeks work with a half days ses-
sion to-day. having exhausted its list
of witnesses now on hand. There may
be some witnesses at the Monday ses-
sion, but the court will start for Chi
cago early next week. probably on
Tuesday or Wednesday. Just before
the close of the session to-day volun-
teer witness presented himself, but was
not accepted. He wore an army uni
form and said his name was Frank
Rundas. late of the Sd Nebraska (Co.
w. J. Bryan's) regiment, sand that he
had recently been 'honorably discharg-
ed from the service, and was on his way
home His story was in brief that he
had served in the company kitchen
with his command in Jacksonville and
that during a long period, when the
men We're living on refrigerated beef,
there was so much internal trouble
among the men thai the issue of this
was stopped. At another time he got
hold of some refrigerated meat in the
kitchen thai was of such a peculiar
color that the attention of the company
officers was called to it. The surgeon
in charge examined it, SO Rundas al
legged. and remarked that the meat was
all right, but had been prepared to send
to Porto Rico, and since it had been is
sued the men had as well use it, The
meat was cooked, but all the men who
ate it We're made sick. The inference
drawn was that this was some of the
same Porto Rico beef that Dr. DAILY
had analyzed and alleged to be chemi-
cally treated. Rundas said he was on
his way home, but stopped off in Wash
ington to offer this information to the
court of inquiry if it thought it worth
hearing. He presented himself to Col
onel Davis, the recorder of the court,
but was told that he would not be
wanted as a witness. On being asked
soon afterward whether Rundas was to
be called or why he had been rejected,
Colonel Davis said
Il know nothing about the man. He
has on uniform, but that is no proof
that he is soldier, or ever has been.
There are all sorts of cranks and i'm
posters who come up here and want to
testify. AS to this man, if he can iden-
tty himself and the court directs me to
call him. 1 will do So
The counsel for General Miles will in
quire into the antecedents of this man
and if he appears to be what he repre-
sents he will be called.
!, onsuar 70 }. nnastion from N.ior az
,e tn,uha+bar he had issueI oanne1 baef
TO the Cuban refugees because our
soldiers would not eat it, replied
We issued the canned beef to the
Cubans because they preferred to eat
~ , tiiu tse of.Nuii ~ W H.Gi ..t nu's
ttieS pi eAei cu tha'' we "eie s, s'iie
~. o.t -. - s,,, ~ . WIG """t 'S
mos. pr =, ieu'
oh,ph, cplliiiIeli'eu MAUI Ice,
houis L. liulltei Vi tne oth MASS Mass
chusetts ana reslhehtal corllhlssdry
"nile IN Porto Rico' salu ms experience
WIN poth canned ana relilserateu neel
on the whole mad been quite SAUSAGE
tory There had been considerable ma
tive beet issued at times but on one oc-
casion the quantity had been cut down
on the advice of the surgeon The men
liked the native beef, which was we'll
favored, but very tough. Lieutenant
Hunter said the men ate a large amount
of native fruit, and bananas, raw or
cooked. became almost a staple article
of food. Probably two per cent, Of the
sickness was due to the fruit. Cross
examined, witness said the men did not
use over five per cent of the canned
beef after reaching Porto Rico
They traded the rest to the native
storekeepers. On the march he had
seen MANY men throw away the beef
after making one meal out of the can
or else give it to the natives. Witness
had been made sick, as he supposed
by eating canned beef His general
health was good,
Mai. George w. Ruthers of the COM
missarv department. who had supplied
the 7th army corps with refrieerated
beef while af Jacksonville. said he had
never received a comnlaint The meat
hoa heen rieialv ;nsnected and sbowad
no evidence of nInrtures mr. anythirp
else that miaht siva rise to tho sus7
nicion that If had hean chemicallv
treated A. JacksonviJIe he had issued
a general circular to the IN army corps
callinp attention tn tba fact that baaf
o,. veeetah hles furnished and NOT coming
m TO snecifications were 70 he returned
to the commissary officers issuine
them even if the defect was net discnv-
cred until the food reached the com
many camp
Major Lee took IN the cross-examin-
alton and developed the fact that there