Evening star., 1898-01-10
WON A COLONIES SPURS
Frederick Funston Returns From Cuban
War With Wounds.
Son of Former Representative From
Iowa Talks of the Situation
on the Island.

NEW YORK, January 10.-Among the
passengers who arrived today on board the
steamer City of Washington from Ha-
vana was Frederick Funston, a Cuban in
surgent leader, who comes to this coun-
try for medical treatment. Funston is
also we'll known as an Alaskan explorer.
He has been on the staff of Gen. Garcia
as chief of artillery for more than twelve
months, and was captured about four
weeks ago while crossing the railroad ut
Puerto Principe. He. gave a fictitious
name, and, having no papers on his per-
sen, was released shortly afterward. Mr..
Funston is suffering from the effects of "A
bullet wound in his thigh.
Gained RINK of Lieut.. Colonel.
Frederick Funstons rank is lieutenant
colonel. He is the son of former Repre-
sentative E. II. Funston of lola, Kan. He
told after landing an interesting story OF
how he came to attain the highest rank
held by an American in the insurgent
ranks
Il went to Cuba in August. 1885," he
said, "as a member of the Cabrera eX-
pedition, which sailed from Charleston
with thirty-siX men. On landing 1 took
command of Gomez's artillery with the
rank of captain. We had only two pieces
then-Hotchkiss guns-but they did good
service, especially at the siege of Cacorra,
and at the siege of Guenaro where Os-
good, the American foot ball player and
then chief of artillery, was killed. Upon
Osgood's death l became chief of artillery,
with the rank OF major. l took part III
twenty-five battles in eastern Cuba.
fired the Dudley dynamite gun when ii
was first used, which was at our taking of
Las TuHas, which was defended by TWEEN
ty-two forts. At the battle of Sima III
May OF last year l was shot through both
Inn IlSf T Il
the arm. Last October my horse fell
upon me. crushing both my legs. And
here 1 am on furlough and waiting to have
the surgeon fix me up.
Captured by the Spanish.
My departure, however, from Cuba was
marked by several exciting incidents. To
obtain my leave of absence 1 had to apply
to the insursent civil government, some
distance from where l was then stationed
On my journey to apply for this leave and
while l was accompanied by Lieut. Penny,
formerly of the United States, now oc the
Cuban forces, we were surprised by a
party of six Spanish soldiers. Lieut.
Penny escaped and l was captured. ! was
bound and taken to Puerto Primo ipe, where
Gen. Castellano of the Spanish forces con-
vened special board of inquiry to inveS-
ugate my case. As / was not in uniform,
had no papers with me. and had given
faise name, stating that l was Il preSen-
tado, coming to surrender 1 was released
upon my oath that l would never fight
asainst Spain. BY swearing this l saved
my life, after having fought twenty-four
battles for Cuba, being crippled for life and
ali punsed up. l am not going back 20
Cuba. l shall go to a hospital here and
then to my home in Kansas. The outcome
of the struggle in Cuba depends altogether
on the United States. The Cubans win
never give up, nor will the Spaniards'
Troops Are Not Paid.
Col. Funston said that the insurgent SOL
diers and officers not paid and cannot
be paid in full unless they win in which
case Col. Funston would receive about
$4,000. He said the food and clothing of
the insurgents are poor and their living pre-
carlo us. hut their courage anu hope are un-
bounded. He said that the Spanish soldiers
also were not paid, but were fairly well
fed. Col. Funston said that while a pris-
oner at Puerto Principe he was well treat
ed by the Spanish soldiers, and found no
evidences of discomfort in their ranks. He
declared that the atrocities upon women
ard children. reported from time to time,
were invariably perpetrated by the guer-
rillaS and not by the regular troops On
the guerrillas he admitted the insurgents
often took their revenge.