The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-16

In answer to Major Lee the witness stated
that lots OF the men vomited after eating
canned roast beef
Thomas a. Pearce. first lieutenant OF the
Seventh Infantry, said that after landing
In Cuba canned beef and bacon were served
10 his command Il heard no complaints
about the canned roast beef. Complaints
were heard that the refrigerated beef was
not good that IL had a lnoldy appearance
and an offensive odor''
Captain ID. II. Boughton, Third Cavalry,
drew the ration as the while
In Cuba. THE complaint about the canned
beef" he said. was that the men could not
eat the meat and would not eat it unless alb
solutely compelled TO do so TO appease hun
ger. When the cans were opened the first
thing that struck the observer was the re-
pulsive, uninviting appearance Of the con-
ents. Diarrhoea broke out In my camp
some time about the surrender. and in gen
eral conversation among the officers. We at
tributed 1t in part 10 the meat"
What complaints were there as TO the re-
frigerated beef?'
well. that was bad. Sometimes one-half
OF the quarter OF refrigerated beef furnished
would be unfit for use Subsequent TO the
sufficient allowance OF food"
In reply TO Major Lee. the witness said
that canned roast beef was absolutely unfit
for ration.
DO you consider canned roast beef whole
some for the American SOLDIER"
1t Is exceedingly unwholesome. II tastes
like chips There is no substance and the
fat and grease are absolutely repulsive."
Col. Henry l.. Turner, who went 10 Cuba
in command OF the First Illinois Infantry
and became brigadier general of the Sec
ond Brigade of the Third Division of the
Fifth Army Corps, was the next witness.
a good deal of unofficial complaint about
the canned roast beef. and the result OF an
official complaint was the surgeon con-
demned a lot of it and it was thrown over
board. The cans had swollen and the meat
was very bad In Cuba there was short
age Of rations. There the principal meat
xy4 nnd CT hoo nd nf "a
refrigerator beef spoiled. possibly from the
intense heat. The greater part OF 1t came
done up in cheese CLOTH and some of 1t
looked well. but some of IL was dark.
NOT GOOD IN a WARM CLIMATE-
In reply to Major Lee the witness stated
that he had tried TO eat some of the canned
beef. but it nauseated him and he could not
do it. 1t certainly was unfit for ration
in the warm climate. He regarded 1t as a
very unwholesome ration for himself, and
from the effect on the men very unwhole-
some for them also. He regarded it as a
contributing cause of the sickness of the
men. He had also tried to eat the re-
frigerated beef. but could not. as it gave
him the diarrhoea.
First Lieut. NJ. L. Davis. of the First Cav
airy, was called upon request of Major Lee.
lie said that in Cuba the men opened all
the cans of roast beef issued 70 them, but
only consumed one-half of the contents on
an average; the rest was thrown away be-
cause IL was unfit to eat. The contents OF
the can, he said. would be about three-quar-
ters suet. not what you would call meat.
Perhaps one-quarter or one-fifth of the can
would be good fiber meat; the rest appeared
to be tailings or clippings. Sometimes a can
would be entirely spoiled Witness said he
once opened a can which smelled bad. He
examined ii and found maggots in 1t.
Major Lee-How did the maggotS get IN
there?
They were canned in there"
Colonel Davis-Are you aware that in the
process of canning this meat undergoes such
an intense heat that no animal life could
survive in Il?
II don't mean to say they were alive. They
were dead"
Major Lee-You are positive about the
identity OF the animal?
Yes, sir, quite positive"
I'm consequence of the canned roast beef
not being sufficiently sustaining and not
having nutriment in II did your men lack
for food?"
They did,
Colonel Gillespie-What was the name OF
this brand that you found with maggots
I'm it?
1T was Swift & Co.'S brand"
AAre you certain of that?"
Il am certain
The court adjourned to meet in Omaha to-
morrow.