Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-17
NO CHEMICA USED.
Packing Companies Represen-
tatiyes So Testify.
Gen. Eagan Eliminates Abuses and
Hands in Revised Testimony.
President 10 Send Special Cemmissioa 10 IN.
vestisate the Philippines.

President 10 Send Special cemnissiea 10 IN.
vestisats The Philippines.
Washington, Jan. 16.-Before the war
investigation commission. today, Frank
E. Vogel. representing the Nelson Nor
ris Packing Co., and Fairbanks Can.
ming Co., testified that his concern had
sold about $4,000 worth Of canned
roast beef to the government, used at
Chickamauga, and said 1t was all OF
good quality. No beef products Of his
concern had been chemically treated.
Captain r. ]. c. Irvine. commissary
of the Panama, at the time that the
transport was in charge Of Surgeon
DAILY, who condemned the beel in the
most sensational language, testified
that the vessel sailed from Ponce, Sept.
or 2, and on the eth there was we'll
marked odor. He was not prepared to
say that the odOr was like that COM
ing from the human injected with
chemical personalities. as Surgeon
DAILY had reported.
AS soon as complaint was made Of
the beef he said it was examined and
found to be very OdorOuA The beef
was thrown overheard. All the beef
carried was refrigerated beef. The ice
taken aboard had not been sufficient
to preserve the beef even. as the COM
mission asked If it had been received
in good condition" 1t was received in
fairly good condition. however. wit
ness said. After the beef had been
thrown overheard. ne had thought it
must have undergone some change be-
fore 1t was brought aboard, or while
aboard before it was put on the ice.
The board of survey that examined the
beef condemned it because 1T was spoil
ed. nothing to any other effect being
abduced. Its report said that the beef
was not received in good condition and
it exonerated Captain Irvine from re-
sponsibility therefor. Despite this
finding, witness said he insisted that
he believed the beef was in condition
fit for immediate use, when received and
it was used for three or four days. He
cited the absence Of refrlgerating. IA
cihties aboard and Admitted .tai< 1Alf
was not as good as could be gotten at
first-class restaurant, as 1t had not
the fresh favor. -, ~. -, ',r,..i' -,f... =
Gen. Charles F. Humphreys, who
was in charge Of the water transporta-
ton at Tampa for Santiago. was chief
quartermaster on Gen. Miie4' stan and
was with Gen. Smarter PRIOR to Gen.
Miles arrival. testified that the con-
gestion at Tampa was due to the in
ability Of the roads to handle the cars.
He said that under the circumstances
the transports at Tampa were as we'll
fitted out as they could have BEEN:
why were no more wagons and
ambulances taken?" queried Gen. Will
son.
Because the vessels were full" was
the answer.
would your reply then be lack Of
transportation" -...
Il would not like to say that"
All the wagons. said the witness, was
landed at Santiago. but all were not set
up. LVtters, he said, should have been
landed before the battle of Ell Caney
because they were regimental, and ne
believed they must have been. Witness
was aboard the Seneca for two days
and said she looked all right to him.
Il know there were people aboard
the ConchO who ought not to have
been,' he said in reply to queries as 20
passes for outsiders TO come North on
these vessels. c
Asked to serious complaints that had
been made Of improper condition Of the
Senaca. Concho. Breakwater and the
City of Washington, witness insisted
the responsibility rested witt, the med
ical department.
IF the Concho,'' asked ex-Gov.
Woodbury., was oveNrowded was It
because the government had not pro-
vided sufficient transportation. or
through an error Of judgment Of the
medical department"
why, the medical department, GER
tainly." replied Gen.. Humphrey, en-
phatically. because there were two
more ships. each as good as the Con-
cho available"
Gen. Humphreys. speaking of tho
Santiago expedition said it was easy
enough now to look back on things
which might have been done. but there
were a thousand and one things which
happened which could not have been
Witness said that the
transportation trains used before the
wagon trains were unloaded were un.
der, the direction of the commanding
general with orders to hasten ammuni-
tion and stores to the front, preferably
but there was in his opin.
ion. no reason why medical stores
should not have reached the front.
The medical corps were" said he, "de.
MED nothing when It was possible to <
give it to Them" .,..G
Gen. Humphrey said medical chests
belonging to many fsurgeons were NOT
landed with the troops as they should
have been. Il don't know what was
taken with the expedition said he,
he. land don't think any one knows.
This was the result OF the confusion in
which everything went by the board.
In the first instance. directed all the
hospital stores to go on the Santiago,
[rOQuois and Senaca. but when they did
not come. we loaded what came to the
piers at Tampa. No one knows exact
y what arrived"
He said he had seen only one order
a single division hospital 20
Join the expedition. Gen. Humphreys
explained that almost everything dur
ng the first fortnight after the landing
vas done on verbal orders or telephone.