The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-03-25
GOES TO NEW YORK.
The Court OF Inquiry Completes It's
Work I'm ChicaEo-Evidcnce at
the Last Session.

rendered most damaging evidence
against the character of beef supplied
the soldiers during the war before the
inquiry board Wednesday. Not only did
some of the witnesses affirm that the
preservatives employed were dangerous
10 health, but individual instances were
cited In which illness OF the soldiers was
attributed 10 the canned beef supplied.
Lieut. j. ID. l.. Hartman. of the First
United States cavalry, which formerly
was stationed at Fort Robinson, Neb..
ana was sent TO Cuba. presented evil
dence unfayorable TO the quality of
beef supplied by Armour g. Co., and
stated that as regimental quartermas-
ter he was compelled TO reject entire
cars of beef because of the stencil. He
thought canned roast beef was un-
questionably bad ration for soldiers,
as he regarded il as unwholesoine and
not nutritious.
David +. Fleischman, formerly en-
ployed as bellboy at Hotel Morrison,
was the second witness called 10 the
stand by the board. and gave evidence
OF the experiments and Investigations
a.
at the hotel, and represented himself as
a quartermaster general.
He said he went with this man 10 the
stock yards and saw him set fire 10
light gray substance under halves of
beef in a refrigerator car at Armour's
packing house, tagged for Tampa, Fla.
He said the man explained 20 him this
was done TO preserve the meat. lie put
his finger on the meat and tasted il, and
ii burned the end OF his tongue. There
was sulphurous smell in the car.
DR.. +. D. Murdoch testified that in
June, 1898 he examined refrigerated
beef AT the stock yards and found il
treated with boracic and salicylic acid.
DR.. Carlson l.. Sterrett, OF Elgin. ILL.,.
who was assistant surgeon of the Third
Illinois, testified that on the way 10
Porto Rico the only meat ration that he
knew of was canned corned beef. There
were many complaints from both ofii-
GERS and men that II was unpalatable
and sickened them. Some OF the cans
were spoiled and had TO be thrown
overheard On one occasion he took
some OF the cans 20 Gen. Brooke and
Adjt. Gen. Sheridan and told them IL
was unfit 10 eat, and they said 10 have
anything OF that kind condemned. Aft
ar arrival in Porto Rico half Of the
meat ration was canned roast beef. Men
were brought 10 the hospital witness
had charge Of, and complaint was they
had been made sick by the canned roast
beef. In some cases the sickness could
be attributed TO no other cause.
Rev. ID. ID. O'Dell. Of Joliet, H., chap
lain OF the Third Illinois. testified that
company A was once poisoned by eat
ing canned roast beef. At first he adj
vised the men TO eat the meat. lie lost
as pounds in Is days trying to prove TO
them that il could be eaten. Then il
nauseated him and he stopped using ii,
advising the men TO do the same.
A. G.. Maus, Of Armour a. Co, and
Forest c. Gardner, OF Swift O. Co., de-
-cribed the chemicals used in the pack
ing houses and the purpose 10 which
they were applied. None was used for
beef. Frank j. Wall and w. a. Robin
son. agents for Pfciser & Co., dealers
in chemicals, New York, testified that
there was no increase in sales to pack
ers last summer. They never had
knowledge that chemicals were used
for preserving beef.
Capt. II. +. Wainwright, OF the First
United States cavalry, said in Cuba
there was no complaint by his men
about the so-called canned roas; beef
IL was generally eaten by them. There
was general dissatisfaction, however.
with IL on account OF it's unpalatable-
ness and nonappetizing qualities. As
far rs he knew all issued was eaten.
There was no complaint about refrig-
orator beef which was considered eN-
cellent. The health Of the men was
very bad, None Of the sickness. how
ever. was attributable In the opinion
OF the witness 10 the canned roast beef
or the refrigerator beef At times the
men were without the full ration, but
not starved.
After several other witnesses had
been heard the court closed It's session
IN Chicago. The members left for the
east Wednesday night, and will meet in
New York az II o'clock Saturday morn
ing.