New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-28
BEEF INQUIRY RESUMED.
\ NUMBER or ENLISTED MEN EXAM
INED BY THE COURT
ALL OF THEM SAY THEY WE'RE MADE SICK
RY EATING TIE MEAT.

CURRY into the beef charges met to-day after It's
recess # expected 70 begin tho examination OF
some ~ 'he enlisted men who had only
the beef furnished 20 the army IN the field. but
had eaten DO In quantities wherein they differed
from mos, % the officers who had previously
testified
The enlisted men slow IN arriving how
ever and the first witn' was Lieutenant Charles
+ Dwyer. 9th Infantry. now ~ Madison Barracks.
This witness had only vague memory OF what the
meat component 81 the ration was on the voyage
from Tampa 10 Santiago lie knew that after the
command landed the men had bacon corned beef
and canned roast beef There were numerous com
plants 20 the canned roast beef. but no official
action taken on these complaints. II was
difficult get anything in the way o. rations 10
the front and the men felt that the Commissary
Department was doing the best Il could After
the capture 81 Santiago the witness was stationed
in the city and his command got the refrigerated
beef early IN tine day = was always fresh and
good and ne heard no complaints TO the quality.
lie had made report on tho beef after returning
and should not have iet his duty do except
under orders Hc had been made sick
casion 10y eating canned roast beef stew other
wise his health had not suffered
GENERAL MFEELY HEARD
Rrieadicr-General Robert McFeey. retired. who
was Commissary General Of Subsistence from 1875
10 1890 testified that during bis service he had rec
commended the introduction o. regular travel
the soldiers. BEFORE that the men often had suf-
fered long trips ir toying 20 1--we for several
days on what was then known the cooked "a
ton" which usually consisted Of bread and meat.
without coffee.
Colonel Davis read the records referring these
orders dating back ISIS and showing that canned
fresh beer was included part Of the travel
ration
General McFeely said that General Sherman
In command Of the Army at that time and ne was
consulted on the Institution u the travel ration.
The witness had seen all the articles then in
cludcd IN the rations. beans cheese and canned
meats IN frequent use hunting expeditions. and
had found them good. This wGs his son for
selecting them. His recollection that general
satisfaction expressed in the reports on the
Introduction " the travel ration. Cheese was
after7vard dropped from this ration. not because
the men I'D not like IT, but because # lacked keep
ms qualities especially in not weather.
Regarding tine fresh-beef supply in the Civil war
General VI Feey said II was usually from herd
of cattle driven with tho Army. either by the GOV
eminent or by the contractors At the time OF his
retirement from Office he said. ne thought about
two-tairds OF the Army supplied with beet on
the block rather than that or tae hoof he did not
recolect having handled ans refrigerated beef for
the Army during his incumnency. In the Indian
ca npaigus in the West herds sometimes mad been
driven along and sometimes not Witness reco-
lected ono occasion where d herd Of young ''cayuse
ponies" had been driven along and killed instead Of
beef 1T was very good change from straight
bacon" said tho OLD General witn smile. "and
nobody VINO didn't know it was horse would have
had any cr4taism 20 make"
The enlisted men who were expected did not ar
rive unit, late and the court went into secret ses-
si0n.
ENLISTED MEN TESTIFY.
Six men OF the 9Th Infantry next appeared First
sereean; Howard Alexander testified that his regi-
ment used both corucj and canned roast beef on
me voyage from Tampa 10 Santiago. There were
many complaints from tAe men as 10 the canned
roast beef J. nauscated the men, had little taste
and apparently contained little nutriment. The
witness was asked 70 explain fully possible
what the objection was 20 tho meat. but evidently
was much embarrassed and had little descriptive
ability. and except that No mon ala not Ike the
meat and could not eat %. 20 hnd littie 20 ray.
He SAID that after landing three days rations
were issued 10 the men ora can ~ beef FOR one
man The rea. was u0r spoiled when the cans
were opened but they would not keep from one
meal 70 the next so the men divided into trios and
three o. them got one meal al least out % each
can The mel finally got 10 throwing The cans
away or uot hra wing hem. as the meat frequently
made then 50 .s soon taey are Il. The witness
was not wilkins io say definitely whether
canned meat or ma .arlt that caused most OF the
sickness IN the regiment. After getting into the
city where the Refrigerated bee. was issued. the
men continued 10 poe very sick uauseateI and SUI
f-ruF from boWt. trouble. The sergeant thought
This also came from the refrigerated meat. The
gravy especially that came from Il seemed 10
nauseate tie meu even more than the meat itself
Returning TO tue canned beet. witness said can
would NOT keep more t-an loui hour after OPEN
INK lie sad ais. -.at the can was an neon
frequently short Il' itnt.h hAI a Door lh VIII
slogfalr OF ratlou- had been noted. This showed
particular .aor.ase on Jane 80 on going into
sergeant Bucka2e also OF The ON was called