New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
THE BEEF INVESTIGATION.
voRr ARMY SURGEONS EXAMINED BY
THE COURT.
FEW OF THEM THINK MEAT CAUSED SICK
>rss-CoNTRACTS AND USE OF
PRESERVAT1NES.

TRESERN AIlN Is
n-.sh,nrton. April 1.-The Army Beef Court Of
,rou,rv continued the examination OF members OF
! .,cacaI corps Of the Army to-day Major Blair
- 1,.Ior IN charge OF the hospital at Fort Nc
rso, said that the beef furnished 10 the hos
r,,sl was all Of excellent quality.
Nator Charles l.. Heismann. who was In COM
,,an6 ~ the general hospital at Montauk Point,
.,ood that all intestinal troubles there at
.-ibuted 10 malaria ana not 10 1000 Inc 1000
question did not arise at all
Lieutenant colonel Calvin Dewitt. in charge OF
tho general hospital at Fort Monroe. said that few
Intestinal diseases treated at that institution.
erd those were not attributed to insufficient or poor
die, No canned beef was used
Na,or W r. Hail. who was in control OF the gen
.ral hosptal at Key West. had had no experience
there with either canned roast beef or refrigerated
beef He attributed the intestinal diseases gener-
srv 10 the fact that the men had been exposed
70 a tropical climate. lie heard some complaint
that the men had been short OF rations In Cuba.
and they were much run down.
Major George H. Torney who had charge OF the
hospital ship Relief. said that about five hun
dred sick men had been transported on the YES
sci and that he did attribute any OF these
cases TO the use Of improper food or 10 the want
OF food He had never used canned roast beef
Major d NJ Appel told OF his experience at
Mobile Miami and New-York He had been in
charge Of the hospitals at the two hrst-named
places and OF the distribution OF the sick. lie
IA
surgeons concerning the meat supplied. especially
on the transports ard he thought 1t probable that
some intestinal troubles had been thus caused
EAGAN AND THE CONTRACTS.
Greenleaf w Simpson. of Boston, at present con-
tractor for supplying beef the block In Cuba.
and who is largely interested In live cattle stock
wards and refrigerator lines related his experience
in connection with the letting of contracts Tor sup
plying beef. He had been prepared TO put In bid
.l,o ,,a,fnC cff ho DIS had n
ference with General Eagan. who was personal
acquaintance. and who had telcgraphed for him to
come 10 Washington June Is. Mr.. Simpson
said he visited Cuba in 1897 as Food Commits
sioner for the United States for the purpose OF In
vestigating the supply of cattle In that country.
He informed General Eagan that he considered it
impossible 10 use refrigerated beef in Cuba, ex-
planning the conditions and difficulties and after
the first conversation General Eagan had asked
him TO remain over another day. The next morn
must purchase refrigerated beef for Cuba, but he
did not indicate that this pos,tl4n "Ss smnson
nat he had had more or less talk with General
Eagan and with the agent of Armour co. con
corning the use of preservatives. This question
was discussed in general way with Eagan, who
told him that some Investigations were beng made
in the South in that direction. He had inferred
OF the Government and the packers.
MI Simpson said that since that time he had
Ing beef the block to inland points in Cuba and and
that engaged satisfactorily IN tHaI
work securing his cattle from Texas Colombia ana
Venezuela. He had had considerable experience In
shipping beef abroad and refrigera ted beef gener-
alY brought about two cents a pound less In the
London market than the beef from the live cattle
shipped He did not believe II possible TO Keep
beef in good condition out of a refrigerator FOR
twenty-four hours. II would change in appearance
in TWO hours and mould soon afterward lie
thought the proper way 10 supply the troops in
Cuba was have refrigerator plants in the island.
and kin the cattle there each day. ~
Lieutenant William b. Conrad. OF the I'D In
fantrN. who had charge Of the cooking for the mess
~ he Indiana,
beef had kept good for about two weeks, but that
after this II became badly tainted that many
Of the men would not use it. number OF them
also objected to the canned roast beef The lndi-
ana carried fresh food for Admiral Sampsons
fleet, but much of II was spoiled by the beef inc
odor from the hold like that from a horse
that had been dead for week or two and was so
strong that the men would get out OF the way
when the door opened. Eight thousand pounds
were thrown overheard. but the remainder was
issued 10 the feet, though considerable or II was
tainted.
troops who was conmissary al Ponce. said he was
familiar with the distribution Of the beef from the
transport Manitoba. and that he had UNDERSTOOD
that the beef perfectly good. He had found
the canned beef tasteless but wholesome