The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-12
Dumped Into Garbage Wagons, That
Were Coated with a Shiny, Crawl
ing Mass, and Carried. .u Camp.
MAJOR SMITHS TESTIMONY
OFFICER WHO PURCHASED ALL THE
SUPPLIES AT CHICAGO.
Some of the Meat Spoiled Owing to
Negligence of Division Commis-
saries-Inspection of Beef.


CHICAGO, March I.-Lieut. Col. II. B.
Sharpe testified at the beef inquiry to-day
that wagons which had not been cleaned
after being used for the transportation of
manure, and wagons in which garbage had
been carried, the bottoms of which were
covered with slime in which maggots were
crawling, were used to carry fresh meat to
the soldiers at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga,
last summer. Lieutenant Colonel Sharpe
was stationed at Chickamauga from April q
to July 20 of last year, and was later chief
commissary with General Brooke in Porto
Rico. The blame for this condition of things,
Lieutenant Colonel Sharpe said. lies on the
shoulders of the regimental commissaries,
who sent the wagons for the meat without
having them properly cleaned according 10
orders. As soon as he learned of the matter
he ordered the wagons cleaned Immediately
The meat issued to the troops, the witness
said, was of good quality and in good con-
dition, but after it had. been carried in wag-
ons in the condition described it was of
course, impossible for the troops to use it,
Six witnesses were examined at the first
sitting Of the court, the evidence given
by Colonel Sharpe being the most inn
portant of the day. The court will recon-
vene Monday morning. There are number
of witnesses yet TO be examined in Chicago,
but it is expected that the list will have
been exhausted by Monday night
Tuesday at the latest. From the best
information obtainable the court will con-
fine its inquiries while in this city to these
points:
First-The kind of beef used in preparing
roast beef"
Second-The process of canning; the pur-
pose being to determine whether the nutri-
ment is extracted from the meat.
Third-The disposition OF condemned
animals.
Fourth-Explanation of contracts from
the packers.
MAJOR SMITHS TESTIMONY.
Major Jesse Lee. who is looking after the
interest of General Miles occupied a chair
with the board of inquisitors. The first wit
ness called was Maj. Fred A. Smith, chief
commissary of the Department of the Great
Lakes. 1t was the duty of Major Smith to
purchase all the supplies used by the SOL
diers, both while in camp in the various
parts Of this country and also the supplies
used in Cuba and Porto Rico. Major Smith
was on General Skaters staff during the
heard Of any complaints being received at
headquarters on the subject Of rations /
had in charge the unloading of the beef that
was brought 10 Cuba on the transports Mis-
sssippi and Port Victor L it every
day, and 1t made very favorable impress
sion on me. L thought the beef of excel
lent quality and had no reason TO change
my mind during all the time 1 continued to
issue 1T. In point of preservation its con-
dition was good. 1t was as good beef as 1
saw. There were no complaints re-
ceived while was there"
Colonel Davis asked: WAS any of the
meat tainted, or had decomposition set in?"
NO. SIR" was the reply. There were no
requests made TO exchange meat. 1t was
received with pleasure by those to whom 1
issued it, and / heard no unfavorable COM
ments on IL whatever. There were never
any complaints received with respect to the
canned roast beef, so far as my knowledge
goes. I saw it used frequently aud 1 ate it
myself On shipboard and on shore. Not
even any unofficial complaints reached me.
/ arrived in New York Aug. II and was
ordered to Chicago as chief commissary of
the Department of the Lakes
Major Lee asked: so far as you know
the canned roast beef or boiled beef was
tirely satisfactory to the troops?''
II did not state that in my testimony.
said that so far as l knew no official COM
plants or written complaints were made"
Was it practicable to have furnished
frigerated beef fresh to the troops in their
operations before the surrender"
"Yes, sir.''
WAS any effort made to SO furnish it?"
mot to my knowledge"
DUE TO NEGLIGENCE.
In answer to questions from Major Lee
the witness said he had heard that some of
the meat was not in first-class condition
when il reached the camps. but he always
thought il was due TO the negligence of the
division eommissaries themselves. He had
frequently seen wagons standing about for
an hour or two after issue without being
unloaded.
do you wish the court to infer that the
unsatisfactory condition of the meat was
due to the neglect of these officers. or to
the conditions under which they had 20 get
the beef out thereg
IT presume it was due to the conditions
and the difficulty of transportation.
IF under the terms of the contract that
beef was 10 last seventy-two hours were
there any facilities in this camps around
Santiago to enable the troops to carry out
that provision Of the contract?'
No sir
DO you believe IT was possible thing
for that beef to last forty-eight or seventy
two hours?"
mo SIR do not
General Davis asked: did you pass
through the camps while the troops were
engaged at Ssntiago?"
'I did"
did you see canned roast beef IN camp,"
II did"