The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-22

Witness Canned roast beef.
Colonel Dayis--What satisfaction did 1t
| give.
Witness 1t did not give any satisfaction
| at all.
Colonel Davis--What complaints We're
| made to you as To this beef?
Witness--There We're no complaints.
| There was no chance to get anything else,
| and the men took 1t and said nothing.
| Colonel Dayis--Did they use IL, then!
Witness--I did not say they used 1t. 1t
was issued and they took IT, ] saw good
| deal of 1t thrown overheard
! Colonel Davis--What did you do toward
| getting something 10 replace itf
Witncss--l did nothing; there was notn-
ing to do. There was nothing else to be
had
TO say on the subject
WitnessYes. | have made three re-
ports.
Colonel Dayls-But why was it you
made no official representations ON this
subject while you were in the field
Wltness--For one reason, that for a long
time there was not sheet of paper In my
| command
| Colonel Viele said that the refrigerated
beef for his command received in Santiago
seemed to be good. He only remembered
one issue which was tainted. Ho had
heard no complaints of it from the men.
when YOU were at Santiago that the re-
frlgeratod beef had been treated with
chemicas?" asked Colonel Davis
II had never heard of such n thing at
the time was the reply, and such an
examination did not occur to me.
Ibid you eat any OF the refrigerated
beef yourself?"
"Oh. no: that was enough for me-"
He explained that the meat had musly
smell as though II had been shut up in
close room, and he turned against 1t,
so he took bacon in preference. tie was
In good health at the time, but many
of his men were sick. He said the re-
frigerated beef at Santiago had u yellow
jgh appearance outside that he did not
ever notice In refrigerated beef furnished
at Fort Riley. Kan, where he was sta
toned When he ale 1t at Santiago he
was inclined TO nausea Referring to
canned roast beef he said 1t seemed 10
be of scraps and the men would not
eat It,
Brigadier General Hawkins was next
called. He said complaints against canned
roast beef and canned corncd beer were
nled on the transport He heard no COM
plants after landing and knew little of
the beef question.
Captain j. W, Duncan of the Twanly-
nrst infantry was then introduced. His
regiment WAS at Tampa from April -
until about June 90 when it sailed for
Cuba. lie reviewed the course OF MS
regiment IT left for Montauk August
IL or -, Canned roast beef, according
10 his recollection. was issuel as travel
ration nj Tampa for the OCEAN trip and
at Siboney as a component Oh the fresh
meat ration. II was replaced about July
20 by refrigerated beef and WAS Issued
as q travel ration on the home voyage.
II did not, he said give general satis-
faction the men deny complaining. l.o
saw much OF II opened and It appeared
coarse unseasoLed. tasted hat, WIS in long
strips, aud the grease, "or whntevef II
was was in globules Complaints
brought TO him, he said. We're that tho
beef was repugnant and unpalatable. II
was first eaten on the ocean and subse-
quently cooked in stew formed IN to-
II alto cans and camp kettles, and In this
latter form was more satisfactory. lie
heard no complaints on the return trip
Referring to refrigerated beef, Captain
Duncan eaid II was very satisfactory. lie
ale II. saw no difference between II ani
beef issued az stations in this country,
ana never suspected its treatment with
chemicals.
Captain William N. Hughes, Thirteenth |
infantry, was with his command during It's |
stay az Tampa and the Santiago campaign |
until July 10, when he was stricken With |
yellow fever. Canned roast beef he said, |
was first issued after the landing and |
complaints came In at once. He attempt |
ed personally, he said, 10 use It. but found |
Il unpalatable; Il did not satisfy hunger.
and he could no, eat Il. Such was The
experience generally OF the men, II was
stringy and without nutrltive qualities.
Captain William Ennis. Fourth artillery.
was with the shafter expedition and re-
mained at Santiago until August a. lie
said canned roast beef was used on the
and more or less through the
campaign. The men complained while
there, but personally he had taken It as
q stew and was often nauseatcd Since his