Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-15
CAPT HOMER 7. ASPEkVALL
Vas the Chief Witness in the Beef
Inquiry Yesterday.

HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE BEEF
SHIPMENTS MADE ON THE
MANITOBA, AND WAS AT PONCE
WHEN THE BEEF WAS SAID TO
HAVE SPOILED-ASPENW
EVIDENCE WAS ALL FAVORA-
BILE TO THE MEAT PEOPLE
HE PRAISED THE REFRIGERAT-
ED MEAT AND SAYS IT WAS
THE BEST BEEF DELIVERED
TO THE SOLDIERS IN PORTO
RICO-THE HEAD OF THE
SWIFT CONCERN ON THE
STAND.
Chicago, March 14.-In the army
beef investigation to-day Captain Ho-
master and acting commissary of vol
unteers during the Spanish war in
command of the transport Manitoba,
Captain Aspenwall testified that he
took on board at Newport News 1,755
quarters of refrigerated beef. The
Manitoba left Newport News August
and arrived off Ponce, Porto Rico, Au-
gust 10. She ran around miles out
and remained there days and half.
A representative of Swift & Company
was on the ship in charge of the beef
IS refrigerator engineer. Upon arrlv-
ing at Ponce witness reported to Gen.
Gilmore the stores he had on ship tell
ing him he had large consignment OF
refrigerated beef. The chief engineer
had expressed some fear about the
safety Of the meat because OF the pipes
becoming clogged with sand on ac-
count of the grounding of the ship,
which might interfere with the opera
ton OF the refrigerator plant. When
the witness reported about the meat
to Gen. Gilmore, General Gilmore
looked up smiling and said you had
better throw it overboard we have no
Use for it; we can get all the beef we
want here" The witness continued:
81 said that it was the best of beef and
| didn't care to take any such course
as that unless ordered to-" He replied
eff necessary l will give you an order
to that eject"
WAS any beef landed there?'
Not at that time"
Witness stated that the ship went
from Ponce to Miowa. He reported to
Captain Davidson, the depot quarter
master and the depot commissary, who
said he would like
TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEEF
for the troops The following morning
a lighter came along side and an issue
Of fresh was made for the first
time. The aef was taken ashore. Wit
ness asked the commissary about it the
next day.
Tt.s commissary said that he was de-
lighted with the meat, but he said that
some had been taken Is miles into the
interior and did not res 1 its destina-
ton until o'clock in le afternoon,
when it was spoiled; but the commits
sary said lat was no FAULT of the
oeef." The beef was used there from
lay to day until the ship left, August
Il, when witness was ordered back to
Ponce.
III the office of the depot quartermas-
Ter he met Lieutenant Colonel Smith,
who said: You have some fresh beef
On board and | am here to assist you in
issuing this beef" We Immediately
proceeded to make arrangements so
that it could be issued to the troops.
We arranged to open the boxes at
O'Clock in the morning, so that the
troops would get it early, but by some
mistake the first issue was made at 5
o'clock in the afternoon the. meat was
taken ashore and kept-until the follow
ing morning before being issued to the
troops. Il made inquiries of different
commanders" said the witness, "about
the meat while | remained there, and
all that I'talked with with one excep
ton were well pleased with the beef.
Major Birmingham, in command of the
General Hospital, said it was the
BEST BEEF HE HAD HAD.
But Col. Foster, of the Sixth Illi-
nois, whose regiment was stationed six
or seven miles in the interior, said the
beef when it reached his command
about~2 o'clock in the afternoon-the
first days issue-was spoiled But he
did not consider that anything against
the beef as he said it was a long time
that it had been taken out of the re-
frigerators. Il remained at Miowa I'M
til September Z. and was then ordered
to take some troops to New York"
The witnes stated that he had ap-
proximated on board when he left New
port News 100000 pounds of meat;
about $4,000 pounds were issued.
by whose order did you make the
voyage to New York;"
81 received my order from the depot
quarters"
''Was it known to him that there was