The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11
IN TwENTY-FoUR BATTLES.
Return from Cuba of Col. Funston,
Who Was Shot Through the Lungs.

VINO was ShOI InrOuSn the Lungs.
NEW YORK, JAM 1O.-Among the passen-
gers who arrived to-day on board the
steamer City of Washington from Havana
was Frederick Funston, a Cuban insurgent
general, who comes to this country for
medical treatment. Funston is also well
known as an Alaskan explorer. He has
been on the staff of General Garcia as chief
of artillery for more than twelve months
and was captured about four weeks ago
at Puerto Principe. He gave fictitious
name and was released shortly afterward.
Mr.. Funston is suffering from the effects
of a bullet wound in his thigh.
Frederick Funston's rank is lieutenant
colonel. He is the son of former Congress-
man E. H. Funston, of lola, Kan. He tells
an interesting story of how he came to at
tain the highest rank held by an American
in the insurgent ranks. Il went to Cuba
on Aug. l, 1885," he, said, ''as a member of
the Cabrera expedition, which sailed from
Charleston with thirty-six men, On land
ing 1 took command of Gomez's artillery,
with the rank of captain. We had only a
few pieces then, Hotchkiss guns, but they
old good service, especially at the siege
of Cacorra and at the siege of Gllenaro
where Osgood, the American football player
and then chief of artillery was killed On
OsgoodS death L became chief of artillery
twenty-five battles in eastern Cuba [ fired
the Dudley dynamite gun when it was first
used, which was at our taking of Las Tu-
mas, which was defended by twenty-five
forts. AT the battle of Sima in May of
last year l was shot through both lungs
Before this l had been shot through the
arm: Last October my horse fell upon me,
crushing both my legs.
My departure from Cuba was marked
by several exciting incidents. To obtain
my furlough had to apply to the insurgent
civil government, some distance from
where was then stationed. l was accom-
panied by Lieutenant Penny formerly of
the United States now of the Cuban forces
We We're surprised by party of six Span
iSh soldiers. Lieutenant Penny escaped and
| was captured was bound and taken to
Puerto Principe, where General Castellano
convened a special board of inquiry to in
vestigate my character and case. AS l was
not in uniform, had no papers with me and
had given false name, stating that 1 was
a presentado, coming 10 surrender, / was
released upon my oath that l would never
saved my life after having fought twenty
four battles for Cuba being crippled for
life and all bunged up. I am not going
back to Cuba. / shall go to a hospital here
and then to my home in Kansas The out
come of the struggle in Cuba depends alto
gether on the United States. The Cubans
will never give up, nor will the Spaniards -
Colonel Funston said that insurgent SOL
dierS and officers are not paid and cannot
be paid in full unless they win, in which
case Colonel Funston would receive about
$4,000. He said the food and clothing of
insurgents are poor and their living pre-
carious, but their courage and hone are
unbounded. He said that the Spanish SOL
diers also were not paid but were fairly
well fed. Colonel Funston said that while
a prisoner at Puerto Principe he was well
treated by the Spanish soldiers and found
no evidence of discomfort in their ranks
He declared that the atrocities on women
and children reported from time to time
were invariably perpetrated by the guer-
rillas, and not by the regular troops OF
the guerrillas,. he admitted the insurgents
often took their revenge.