The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
y HICAGO. March 15.-The last wit
ness called before the army beef
court of inquiry today proved
4 to be sensational He was an

ness called before the army beer
court of inquiry to-day proved
~ to be sensational He was an
officer of the regular army,
First Lieutenant NJ. T. Davis. OF
the First Cavalry, called at the
request of Major Lee. the represen-
tative of General Miles. Lieutenant
Davis testified that in Cuba one-half
Of the canned roast beef issued to the
soldiers was thrown away because II
was unfit to eat He testified that he
had opened one can himself and found
maggots in 1t.
Major Lee asked:
How did the maggots get In there?'
They were canned in there" the
witness replied.
Colonel Davis said:
Are YOU aware that in the process
of canning this meat undergoes such
an intense heat that no animal life
could survive in it?'
'T don't mean to say they were
alive: they were dead"
The board left for Omaha tonight.
Inspection of the stock yards will be
made at Omaha and Kansas City. and
at the latter city some evidence will
be taken. The intention Of the court is
to return to Chicago by next Tuesday
and proceed with the examination Of
witnesses here.
The evidence brought forth to-day
was largely cumulative in its nature.
mainly with reference to the condition
of canned and refrigerated beef when
issued to the troops on shipboard and
in Cuba, and its effect upon the SOL
diers.
Dr. John B. Shaw Of Joliet, ILL.,, surgeon
of the Third Illinois Volunteers, testified
that on the voyage from Newport News TO
Porto Rico canned roast beef was issued
and there was great deal of complaint
nauseating, and did not seem 10 nourish
the men. Much sickness followed the use
of it.
TO ptomaine poisoning. He believed
ptomalnes would develop in the hot sun
In five or six minutes after a can was
opened. If the meat were properly steril-
lied ptomaines could not develop. While
in Porto Rico twenty-five miles from
out of the regiments hands to great
extent. General Grant seemed 10 know
more about 1t than anybody else. The
witness took no particular interest In
1t because of the action OF General
He cannot violate the law"
Did he issue orders?"
He issued whatever he saw fit"
pervise the cooking Of that which is is
sued. Did you interest yourself to as
certain what was being issued TO the en-
listed men?"
I'VE saw what was issued and took it
because we could not get anything else.
We had canned roast beef nearly all the
while and the men refused to eat 1t. II
was ordered condemned and we buried
a ton of il. one of the men said if we
did not bury it it would bury US. A board
of survey was ordered, but never heard
anything more about it. AS TO the re
frigerated beef, very little of it was
used as at least three-quarters of it
would have to be cut off. l do not think
any chemicals had been used on the meat
It was simply spoiled. The meat had un-
doubtedly been acted upon by the heat,
which had softened II. The fat and
grease and geatine had all intermingled
with the fiber
Under cross-eXamination, DR.. Shaw told
about being called one night TO look after
the men Of Company a, who were re-
ported to have been poisoned by eating
canned roast beef. He said they Vom-
tied fearfully and it seemed that hy-
podermlc injections of morphine would
hardly relieve the pain. They We're sick
for some days afterward with great
deal of diarrhea and intestinal trouble.
when the men ceased eating me me
canned roast beef was there any I'M
provement?" asked Major Lee.
Eyes; the canned roast beef generally
gave them diarrhea and castro enterlts. ,
Did you in an official way recommend
its discontinuance|
Yes, sir; 10 my immediate comman-
der"
find out how these things wereY