The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-22

ana canned COENeQ DccL were H4S4 on t-4N
1 transport. He heard no complaints after
J landing and knew little OF the beef Ques-
ton. His brigade Included the Sixth and
/ Sixteenth infantry regiments and the
I Seventy-first New York
Following General Hawkins. Captain ].
/ ". Duncan. OF the Twenty-first infantry.
] was introduced. His regiment was a,
Tampa from April - until about June -,
when 1t sailed for Cuba He reviewed the
course Of his regiment IL left for Mon
tauk August II or L. Canned roast beef
according TO his recollection, was issued
as a travel ration at Tampa for the ocean
trip and at Siboney as a component OF
the fresh meat ration. II was replaced
about July 20 by refrigerated beef and was
issued as a travel ration on the home
voyage. II did not. he said. give general
satisfaction. the men generally complain
ing He saw much of il opened and IL
appeared coarse and unseasoned. tasted
fiat was in long strips and the grease.
''or whatever IL was was in globuieS.
Apparently II was preserved well. Com
plants 10 him. he said, were that the
beef was repugpant and unpaiatsele- IL
was first eaten out of the can and subse-
quently was cooked in stew form IN
tomato cans and camp kettles. and in this
latter form was more satisfactory. ne
heard no complaints on the return trip.
Referring 10 refrigerated beef, Captain
Duncan said il was very satisfactory. de
ate il, saw no difference between il and
beef issued at stations in this country.
and never suspected its treatment with
chemicals.
Captain William y. Hughes. Thirteenth
infantry. was with his command during
its stay at Tampa and the Santiago cam
paign until July 10, when ne was stricken
with yellow fever. Canned roast beef.
he said was first used after the landing
and complaints followed at once. he at
tempted personally. he said. 70 use II, but
found IL unpalatable. II did not sStisty
hunger. and he could not eat H. Sucn
was the experience generally OF the men.
II WAS stringy and without nutrtive
value He said he never saw canned roast
beef before going to CUba and knew Moth
ing of its preparation. He made on Oc-
tober l3, a report upon the rations. IN re-
Spouse 10 the call of his regimental com
msnder. but. replying 10 a question, ne
saIr- he would not have felt called upon
10 make any report had he not been re-
Quested.
Captain William Ennis. Fourth artil-
Iery was with the Shafter expedition ana
remained at Santiago until August u. he
said the canned roast beef was used on
the transport and more or less throughout
the stay Of his command in Cuba None
OF the men complained while there out
personally he had taken 1t as a stew and
was often nauseated. Since his return
he had inquired OF the men as 70 its et-
feet. and complaints were made. lie took
no action about il I'm Cuba, because ne
heard OF no notable complaints and cid
not consider action necessary. Refriger-
ated beef was furnished after the sur
render and was satisfactory. Everybody,
he said liked il. and he never suspected
any use OF the chemicals. Since he had
reflected. he was surprised that he had
been able 10 keep il "A hours after issue
a great many Of the men would eat the
canned roast beef and turn about quickly
and vomit." Captain Ennis said. and f.
naHy they refused 10 eat It at all This
was said In response 10 a question as TO
the causes Of Illness among his troops
CAPTAIN Ennis believed much OF II was
due to the beef No other food caused
vomiting Immediately after eating. ne
said but the sickness was only transient
Responding to Colonel Gillespie, witness
said he thought the inability 20 eat the
roast beef did not cause hunger. because
there was an abundance of other food
The refrigerated beef Was kept a hours
after its issue 10 the battery stationed AZ
MORO Castle.
Major Stephen Baker. retired. attach
ed TO the Fourth infantry. during the San
tiago campaign. said canned roast beef
was issued after landing and until after
the surrender. and complaints OF no very
specific character were made generally
by the men and captains. No denifte at
tempt to remedy the defects IN the rations
was made he said. because all realized
that the best possible was being done IN
der the circumstances. and they were
glad TO get anything. After refrigerated
beef was furnished no complaints were
fled. except occasionally when II was
tainted or spoiled. when boards u sur
yey were appointed and the beef con-
demned Witness said he was surprised
that the beef kept so long as &, did but
ne never saw anything unusual N IL
appearance. and never suspected the use
Of chemicals. Il was generally satisfae-
tory. Major Baker said he had made a
special report upon the ratiOns. pursu-
ant 70 the sdjutsnt generals order o.
September -, but thought had the orders
not been promulgated he would not have
felt called upon 20 MAKE any report upon
the matter. Prior 20 September .. he
had accepted the situation as being a.
good as possible. lie did not thisk the
sickness in the regiment due IN any ma
reriaI degree 20 the food. but rather 20 the
climate.
Major General Sumner. % the voiun-
feers. who was col0nel Of the Sixth cav
airy az the outbreak Of the war. ard
I commanded a brigade % cavalry through
the Santiago campaign. testified that com
paints about roast BEEF were heard IS
the lines. bat no action was takea De
cause ne declared. there was not any
use That was al we bad and 10 would
not do any good" Refrigerated berf was
furnished after the surrender ard ~ -
good. except that much % q sDgi ed nsf re
reaching camp. Eve or * hours beng re-
quired % bring g from he depot General
Sumner sid when he left tns lamps BIS
zdtutaut Captain HOWE. reported fhat
some one Rad placed On board Two quar-
ters Of beef Waica. he Claimed. - the
result ~ treatment. wou1d keaq 81 the
TROPICS tEo or ra-ee day. me second Gag
L became - offensive that - Wss thrown
overheard Re id uo- Know N1o pat
The beef On board ~ ~ East authority.
CAPTAIN Howe had been directed - Erits
particular Genera Sumner ssid - a.
tr4butsd noas % tAe sickness - 8fieelFe
food
Mar Jesse ". Iee Slnih infantrT. wao
,ssned hfs regiment a. Sa1tiaE9. Jus =
szH refrigerated beef Ass s1rrls1s1 seem
!nglv. daily. and frequently sDg..el before
Z could Be got g. Gang tEo r1les l'pT3
rae city 8slch difficulty a fFsssE1rf4F-E
4 was experience ard. as.1e from p1tfr-
1ac-i5n. there Appeared itt-e Er2s-s2 -
conp.s.ni MAJOR L. was TegY EtrosE 2
me opinion fhat ts@f Or fEe ha1f VOID
have been more ssusfsc~0Tg la c-1ta t7an
refrigerated beef. slta1Hsn - zAe -
o2,nfoa might rests i4rE@f ffoTn ~ -
iaat a. re exD@ris1ce ia ere Flyti ard III
GAR xs-r hsd Esesu zita eatt-s ln 1eF2e-
Esafr. rarafs-l 49, s-lrr.r 90. rlE.-tl.