The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-05
DR.. DAILY TESTIFIES
Before the Bcef Inquiry Court-Hc
Improves the Occasion to Get Even
With the War Commission


Improves the Occasion to Get Even
With the War Commission
WASHINGTON April 4.-Dr. William
II. DAILY was the first witness before the
Beef Inquiry court to-day. He was Il
medIca! member Of General Miles staff
in Porto Rico, and had previously testi-
fled before the court and was recalled
to complete his testimony then begun.
His first observations had been made on
transport at Tampa before the sailing
of the expedition to Santiago, when Col.
Weston invited his attention to Il quar-
ter of beef hanging on the deck. Col.
quarter of beef which has been hanging
here for sixty hours in the sun; we are
going to see what 1t will do" No refer
ence was made to preservativeg. His
CDR. Daly's) attention had Immediately
been aroused. II wls rather pleased"
he said. II felt that II the beef could
be preserved so long it was Il good
thing"
He then cut off n piece Of the beef
and cooked and ate II next day. After
that he became sick at the stomach. but
he had not felt convinced that the meat
had caused the sickness. After some
references to his stay in Porto Rico, DR..
DAILY detailed the particulars OF the trip
north on the transport Panama last
September, which was In his charge.
The vessel had been provided on sailing
out with the best obtainable refrigera-
tor beef, but the vessel had not gone far
before 1t became evident that 1t was
not good. He did al that he could to
quiet the complaints, but they In
creased, and the stencil soon grew so
strong that 1t pervaded the whole ship.
The odor was indescribable. He at
last suggested n board OF survey. and
on being ordered. 1t had condemned the
meat left, about 1900 pounds, and he
had 1t thrown overheard.
Attacks War Commission.
Here DR.. DAILY took occasion to pay
his respects to the war commission be-
fore which he appeared and said the
commission now had given out the i'm
preston that the deterioration of the
beef on the Panama was due to want
of Ice. This was contrary to his testi-
mony and the truth could easily have
been ascertained. AS n matter OF fact
the Panama had an excellent refrIgera-
tor and 1t carried ten tons OF Ice to one
of beef. He also referred to the crlti-
clsm In the war commission of his use
OF the expression in his report that the
smell about the beef was like the odor
OF boric acid. 1T is," he said. "as dif-
iicult to say what u smell Is like rs 1t is
for an artist to paint Il dying groan. If
the phrase was offensive" he added, II
might have adopted the language OF the
soldiers, some Of whom said 1t smclt
like the devil, while others compared 1t
to n bouquet OF cesspools." -
DR.. DAILY said he had since made en-
perlments upon beef subjected to treat
mcnt by boric acid and had found It to
give forth about as foul q smell as could
be well imagined.
Major Lee then read various reports
made by DR.. DAILY concerning official in
| spectlons of the beef at the camps at
Jacksonville, Lexington, Chicknmauga,
All these stated that the meat used gen.
orally looked well, but thnt there was IL
universal complaint OF It's smelling bad
ly. He Ind found the fresh beef to be
apparently preserved by the infection
OF some chemical which DESTROYED It's
natural flavor and which must OF neces-
slty have been Injurious to the health OF
those cnting 1t. 1t was to his mind i'm
possible to preserve the meat without
the use OF acids and apparently the
meat had been preserved by the inJec-
tlon OF chemicals to aid the work of de-
fectlvc cold storage"
Odor Of the Beef.
In one case he had found the odor
similar to that of dead human body
and In another. speaking of the odor,
he said 1T was unnatural, mawkfsh,
s!ckly. like that OF a human cadaver, nf-
ter m undertaken had Injected his en-
balming preservatlvc." lie was salts