The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-12
GARBAGE WAGONS
WERE MPLOyEO
For Hauling Fresh Beef at Camp
Thomas.
SLIME COVERED BOTTOMS
And Maggots Crawled Over the
Meat Furnished Troops.
LIEUT. .-cOL. SHARPE'S TESTIMONY
Laid the Blame on the Commissaries
of the Regiments.
Laid the Blame on the Commissaries
Of the Regiments.
THE QUALITY OF FRESH BEEF
Was Not Attacked by the Witness-Did
Not Know Whether or Not Any
Preservatives Were Employ
ed : Others Testify.

Chicago March u.-Lieutenant-Co Colonel
II. B. Sharpe testified at the beef inquiry
today that wagons which had not been
cleaned after being used for the transporta-
ton of manure and wagons in which garb-
age had been carried the bottoms of which
were covered with slime, in which mag
gots were crawling, were used to carry
fresh meat to the soldiers at Camp Thomas,
Chickamauga, last summer.
Lieutenant Colonel Sharpe was stationed
at Chickamauga from April 29 to July 2.
of last year, and was later chief commits
sary with General Brooke in Porto Rico.
The blame for this condition of things,
Lieutenant-ColonelS Sharpe said, lies on the
shoulders of the regimental commissaries,
who sent the wagons for the meat without
having been properly cleaned, according
to orders.
AS soon as he learned of the matter he
ordered the wagons cleaned immedia tely.
The meat issued to the troops, the witness
said, was of good quality and in good con-
diton; but after it had been carried in the
wagons in the condition described, 1t was,
of course, impossible for the troops to
use it.
Col Sharpe's Testimony
Six witnesses were examined at the first
sitting of the court today, the evidence
given by Colonel Sharpe being the most i'm
portant of the day. The court will re-
convene Monday morning. There are
number of witnesses yet to be examined
in Chicago, but it is expected that the
limit will have been exhausted by Monday
night or Tuesday at the latest.
Lieutenant-ColonelH H. B. Sharpe said lie
was in Camp Thomas from April 23rd un-
.rAn 10
Rico about July Goth, when he was ordered
to accompany him as chief commissary of
the First corps.
He was questioned as to the terms of the
contract with contractors who furnished
the beef as to the quantity to be delivered
or ready in stock.
1.-The orders required" said he, that
the wagons in which the refrigerated beef
was carried should be very clean and with
fresh hay or straw spread on the bottom.
When a wagon arrived that was not in
suitable condition to carry the beef 1t was
either sent back or cleaned and put in
proper shape.
There were complaints about the beef
on some occasions, but it was because the
regimental eommissaries sent for 1t in
wagons that were unfit for use. On one
occasion when there was complaint that
the beef was moldy. discolored and full of
maggots, we investigated and found that
tn cOnOltlOn Hdu Deen CduSeu ny Tie lSdi
full state Of the wagons. The men could
not eat the beef, SO, Of course, they had to
do without
Wagons in Filthy Condition
IT remember another instance where the
wagon in which the beef was carried was
filthy from manure that had been previous
ly loaded in It, Both these wagons were
ordered to be Immediately thoroughly
cleaned. In neither Of these cases that I
have cited was the fault due to the condi-
tion of the meat, but solely to the filthy
state Of the wagons"
Had you any reason to believe or suspect
during your stay at Chiclzamauga that the
beef had been treated with preservatives? ~
The witness then explained to the court
how fresh beef was furnished the troops
when they first landed in Porto Rico He
examined the beef in the refrigerator room
the Massachusetts, and the temperature
of the room, being 30 degrees above zero,
the beef was in perfect condition, and as
far as he could judge he had reason to
suppose 1t had been treated with a pre-
servative
beef" he said, adding: "A great many
complaints were received from the troops
as to the native beef"
In regard to the canned roast beef he said
he had received no formal complaint while
In Porto Rico, but he had been told that
- was hoe sSAy dPPStA1m6.
Chief Inspector Testifes
DR.. w. 8. Devore, chief inspector of the
bureau OF animal industry, department of
agriculture. was the next witness. He tes-
tilted that there were employed under him
In Chicago, twenty y-nine assistant inspect
ors. ffty-four stock examiners, forty-nine
taggers and fourteen clerks Upon the In
spectors and the stock examiners falls the
duty of being personally present on killing
days, making an ante-mortem and q post
mortem examination of the cattle and ex-
amining and tagging such as they found to
be diseased from any reason unfit for edi-
BILE use. Witness stated that in making post
mortem examinations, carcasses were ex-
amined for tuberculosis, Inflammation of
the lungs or intestines any disease caus-
lug elevation Of the temperature or any
departure from the normal condition Of the
rra The inspector must report the
OF animals condemned, the char