The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
POISON IN THE
HASH SERVED TO
THE VOLUNTEERS
Fifty PriVates Made
Deathly Sick.
BELONG TO F0RTY-sEC0ND
SOLDIERS OF COMPANY z ARE
STRICKEN WHILE AT DRILL.

FIFTY prtvateS OF Company K OF the
Forty-second Volunteer Infantry were the
victims Of ptomaine poisoning yesterday
morning, and eighteen Of them are now in
the general hospital at the Preside slowly
recovering from the effects of their sud
den indisposition. The report which was
circulated through the camp Of the regi-
ment shortly after s o'clock that the en-
tire company had been poisoned caused
small panic, especially as it was strongly
tnttmated that some one had put poison
in the mems food. This last rumor, how
ever, was soon known to be false, but the
fact remained that the boys of Company
< were very sick
The first intimadon that there was any
thing wrong came few minutes after the
men had lined up for the morning drill,
when one Of the privates suddenly
dropped his rifle and staggered from the
ranks, retChing violently and evidently
suffering intense agony Almost instantly
another rifle ratified to the ground and
then the whole company was apparently
seized with commissions. The soldiers
reeled from the ranks like drunken men,
put look at their white, drawn faces
was enough TO show that they were suf-
fering from something more serious than
an oVerlndulgence in spirituous liquors.
Surgeon Major Mccall was hurriedly
summoned, and, assisted by the company
surgeons, proceeded to treat the sufferers.
our OF the soldiers were found TO be in
q dangerous condition and they were
rushed off to the general hospital They
were soon followed by fourteen others
whose condition was but slightly less
serious The other thirty men were found
70 be less seriously affected and quickly
raI4ed after being treated, although the
Ieelng or nausea did not leave them for a
long time. Nearly every man in the COM
pany showed symptoms of having eaten
something that did not agree with him.
MAJOR Mccall said yesterday afternoon
that the men We're undoubtedly suffering
from ptomalne poison, which was prob
ably contained in the hash which formed
the morning meal The cook of Company
Il is regarded as the best in the regiment
ana the company mess enjoys a like repu-
tation, so much so that the non-commis-
stoned officers Joined in it whenever pos
slole. The ingredients for the hash had
been prepared by the cook on Friday af-
ter4oon, and consisted of fresh vege-
ta6les ana meat which had been
delivered during the afternoon. The
gether until yesterday morning, in order
that there might be no danger Of fermen-
tauon II the hash were allowed to stand
over night But although the hash was
NOT mixed until morning, the, fermenta
uon that had been so carefully guarded
against occurred nevertheless. Major
Mccall is OF the opinion that this may
have been due to the dampness and the
fact that there was no Ice in camp for
the more perfect keeping of food stuffs
However, there. will be no more hash
served TO the soldiers of the Forty-second
WINE that regiment remains at the Pre-
II poison had been placed in the food
the men would have been made sick al
most Immediately after partaking, but no
symptoms OF poisoning appeared until a
full hour after breakfast. AS soon as the
quarters General Shafter appointed a
board, consisting of Major A. c. Girard.
surgeon I. 5; A; Major P. F: Harvey,
surgeon, y. 5. A, and Captain ". O.
Owen, assistant surgeon. Z. S. A.. TO
make an immediate Investigation of the
affair. The board met at p. m. yester-
report on Monday. At 8 o'clock yester-
day afternoon all the poisoned soldiers
were pronounced out of danger, but the
in the hospital
The provost guard Of the Forty-sixth
regiment has been doing good work
during the past two days rounding up
soldiers who had remained in town after
their leaves of absence had expired. and
yesterday practically all the recalcitraa
were in camp hard at work drilling. Only
Colonel Schuyler says the reports of the
trouble have been greatly exaggerated |
lie admits that large number Of his
men, who received their pay on Monday |
got drunk and failed to return to camp
until brought back by the provost guard !
but he truly says that that failing is
common among the men of all the regf-
ments provost guard from the Forty
sixth was in town last night to gather in
any members of the regiment who might
take 1t into their heads to leave canp
without the Formally Of Obtaining per-
mission. Provost guards from several
other regiments were also roaming about
town on similar mission all day yester-
day.
The parade and inspection of the volun-
teer regiments at the Preside by Cen
eral Miles, which was to have been held
yesterday, was postponed on account Of
the weather until 10 a. m. Monday. This
VIII undoubtedly prevent the departure
for Manila of the Forty-siXth and Fortv-
fifth regiments on that day, as scheduled, |
although they may be ordered aboard the |
transports Monday afternoon. Orders
were issued yesterday directing that he
number of recruits to sail on the Sen
ator be increased from twenty-five to
fifty. Second Lieutenant Henry c. White |
Eleventh Volunteer Cavalry, will accom-
pany them. in addition to Captain James
NJ. Arrasmith,- Thirteenth Infantry.
Captain S. M. Foote will sail on the
n Of the Sixth Artillery, stationed at
Honolulu. The Benmohr will also take a
detachment Of twenty-five recruits for
the Sixth Artillery, at Honolulu. At that
port the transport will take on board bat
teries A and H of the Sixth Artillery.
which have been ordered to Manila
Colonel Charles r. Greenleaf assistant
surgeon general, has been ordered to the
Philippines. He will sail on the transport
Hancock. A number of surgeons and as
sistant surgeons together with a detach-
ment Of enlisted men Of the hospital
corps, will sail on the transports which
are to take the Forty-fifth and Forty
sixth regiments to the Philippines.
General Miles made a formal call on
General Shafter yesterday morning and
both generals We're the guests of Colonel
Freeman at lunch. General Miles will
leave for San Diego at p. m. Monday.