The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
IN THK CAns,,

CATION has brought to light surprises.
The visit 10 the big packing and STOCK
yards by b smelling committee has
net been without disclosures OF public
interest Whatever the expectations
that IL would whitewash instead Of in
vestigate and condemn.ir was impossible
10 keep back all or 10 shut out all the
light h Chicago News watching de-
velopments among other things gives
this as a warning:
Agricultural interests in Europe very
naturally regard American meats with
much Jealousy. Everything 20 the dis
advantage Of this product will be Gag
erly seized upon abroad and made the
basis of demands for prohibitory leg1s-
lation- The industry has been put on
trial in the eyes Of he world and the
army board has become the court IN
which the trial is being held. Its re-
port must be framed in the light OF that
fact as we'll as with regard TO the spec
ifc charges brought before IT.
If the investigation is honestly con-
Quoted and the report of results fairly
given the work done will prove salu-
tary. In the meantime let US give a
passing glance at some Of the more
recent evidence hat will interest all
our'readers vino would know the truth.
Lieutenant Davis. 1st L. 5. Cavalry,
saw "maggots in the cans" himself.
Such is his testimony. He says the
maggots were in the meat. We're dead
too, when he found them. Il was Swift
& Co.'S brand. An hospital attache
swore he saw maggots running out of
the cans he opened. Surgeon Shaw
attributes much sickness to "ptomaine
poisoning" DR.. Shaw said:
L do not think any chemicals had
been used on the meat. 1t was simply
spoiled. The meat had undoubtedly
been acted upon by the heat, which
had softened it. The fat and grease
and gelatine mad all in~termingled with
the fibre"
Under croSs-eXamination DR.. Shaw
told about being called out one night
to look after the men Of Company A,
who were reported to have been pois-
oned by eating canned roast beef. He
said they vomited fearfully, and it
seemed that hypodermic injections of
morphine would hardly relieve the pain.
they were sick for some days after
ward, with a great deal Of diarrhoea
and intestinal trouble.
When the men ceased eating the
canned roast beef was there any i'm
provement2" asked Maj. Lee.
Yes; the canned roast beef gener-
ally gave them diarrheoa and gaStra-
enteritis.'
Another interesting phase of the in
quiry in the beef question is that which
concerns Gen. Eagan. He made some
very positive statements TO exOnerate
him, but subsequent testimony rather
demolished his contention. According
to General Eagan, the contract speci-
fed that refrigerated beef must keep
wholesome for seventy two hours after
leaving the coolers. Gustavus F. Swift,
testifying for Swift & Co., declared en-
phatically that the clause in question
read "twenty-four'' hours. In this
averment Mr.. Swift was supported by
H. E. Gardner, the packing-house man.
ager.
Not less divergent and cOntradic-
tory are the dispositions relative TO in
spection. General Eagan would lave
the public believe that if bad beef was
passed, the fault lay with the govern
ment inspectors. According to Lieu
tenant-Col. o. NJ. Smith, purchasing
agent at Chicago for the commissary
department, all the refrigerated beef
was contracted for by telegraph from
Washington over his head. 1t is proved
that a second grade of canned meat
was popular with him. He literally
fed the troops on cheap beef. He gave
orders over the presidents head. Much
of the food bought was not examined
at all. 1t was purchased by sample
and no effort was made to ascertain if
the food furnished was as represented.
We copy a few questions and
IF there was no refrigerating plant
on shore, would the beef be expected
to keep Y hours after leaving the
ship?'
Not at all. The provision means that
refrigerators are to be built to take care
of the beef"
Horace G. Gardner, one of Swifts
managers, said that General Eagan was
mistaken"
Major Lee asked George E. Van Nor
man, a commission merchant, if, as a
rule, a portion of the poorest class of
cattle killed are not used for canning.
Yes, sir. But people ave a wrong
idea about emaciated cows going in
for Gamers; they would not be econom-
zeal for that purpose; they are all bones
and no flesh
If the light could be turned on fully
upon all the departments of the gov
inner concerning the Spanish wal
we are prepared to believe that there
would be revealed to the American
people no little TO disgust and amaze
them. Incompetency or worse marks
every stage of the war. from inception
to close.