The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-22
OF GERS Sustain Miles
ALL TESTIFYING JOIN IN CON-
DEMNTNG THE CANNED BEEF.
F wv Complaints Of the Refrigerated-Beef on
the Hoof Preferred-Wheeler and
Roosevelt Will Testify.

overheard. What refrigerated beef his
command received in Santiago seemed
to be good He only remembered one
issue which was tainted. He had no
complaints as to it from the men.
Did you have any reason to suspect
while you were at Santiago that the
refrigerated beef had been treated with
chemicals:" asked Colonel Davis.
Il had never heard of such a thing at
the time" was the reply, "and such an
explanation did not occur to me-.
Did you eat any of the refrigerator
meat yourself?"
"Once-that was enough for me-
Witness explained that the beef had
a ''close. musty smell, as though it had
been shut up in a close room, land it
turned him against the meat so he took
bacon in preference.
Witness said the refrigerated beef at
Santiago had yellow appearance on the
outside, that he had never noticed upon
the refrigerated beef formerly furnished
at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was
stationed. When he ate it at Santiago,
he was inclined to nausea. Referring to
The canned roast beef he said it seemed
TO be scraps and the men would not
eat it,
Captain J. W. Duncan, of the Twenty
First infantry. said the canned roast
beef did not give satisfaction. the men
generally complaining. He saw much of
it opened and it appeared coarse, unsea-
soned, tasted flat, was in long strips and
the grease. ''or whatever it was was
in globules. Apparently it was preserv-
ed
All complaints brought to him. he said
We're that the beef was repugnant, un-
nalatable.
Referring to refrigerated beef, Captain
Duncan said it WAS very satisfactory:
he ate it. saw no difference between il
and beef used at stations in this country
and never suspected its treatment with
chemicals.
Captain William y. Hughes, Thir
teenth infantry, testified that canned
beef was first used after the landing at
Santiago and complaints followed at
once He attempted personally, he said.
to use it, but found it unpalatable; it
did not satisfy hunger and he could not
eat it, Such was the experience gener-
ally Of the men. 1t was stringy and
without nutritive value.
Captain William Ennis. Fourth artil-
lery, was with the Shafter expedition.
and remained at Santiago until August
18th. He said the canned roast beef
was used ON the transport and more or
less throughout the stay of his command
in Cuba. None of the men complained
while there. but personally he had taken
it as stew and was often nauseated.
Since his return he said he inquired of
the men as to its effect and complaints
were made.
Refrigerated beef was furnished after
the surrender and was satisfactory.
Everybody. he said. liked it and he never
suspected any use Of chemicals Since
he had reflected, he was surprised that
he had been able to keep it twenty -four
/ hours after issue.
"A great many of the men would
eat the canned roast beef and turn
about quickly and vomit, Captain
Ennis said. ''and finally they refused TO
eat it at all.
\ number of other witnesses were eX-
amined and their. evidence was similar to
1 the foregoing.