The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-11
STORY OF A CUBAN SOLDIER.
LIT. COL. FRED FUNSTON RETURNS
TO NEW YORK WOUNDED.

Holds the Highest Rank of ANY
American In the Army of the In
surgents-SaiIcd From Charleston
on the Cuba Libre Expedition in
August, iS96-On Landing Took
Charge of GOmNs's ArtiIIcry with
- Rank of Captain ana Was with
Foot Ball Player Osg00d-IlnS TAX
cn Part In - b. IrIcH.
New York, Jan. 10.-Among the passen-
gers who arrived to-day on board the
steamer City of Washington from Ha-
vana was Frederick Funston. Cuban
insurgent general, who comes to this
country for medical treatment. He was
on the staff of Gen. Garcia and was cap
tured about four weeks ago at Puerto
Principe. He gave a fictitious name and
was released shortly afterward. MI Fun
ston is suffering from the effects of bull
let wound in his thigh.
Frederick Funston's rank is lieutenant
colonel He Is the son of former Con-
gresham Funston of lola Kan. He tells
an interesting story of how he came 20
attain the highest rank held by an Amer
lean in the Cuban army.
Il went to Cuba in August, 1896" he
said, "as member of the Cuba Iibra
expedition, which sailed from Charleston
with thrty-six men.
ION landing l took charge of Gomez
artillery with the rank of captain We
had only few pieces then, Hotchkss
guns, but did good service, especially at
the siege of Carorra and at the siege of
WI ~ 10, An. 81. ,.,,
foot ball player and then chief Of artillery.
was killed. Upon Osgoods death ! be-
came chief of artillery with the rank of
major. | took part in twenty-five battles
in Eastern Cuba. l fired the Dudley dyna-
mite gun when it was first used. which
was at our taking of Las Tunas which
was defended by twenty-five forts. in the
battle of Semmina last May / was shot
through both lungs. Later l was shot in
the leg. Al last my horse fell upon me,
crushing both of my legs.
MY departure from Cuba was marked
with several exciting Incidents. For my
furlough ! had to apply to the Cuban
provisional government, some distance
from which l was stationed. / was ac-
companied by Lieut.. Penny, formerly of
the United States. now of the Cuban
forces. We were surprised by a party of
six Spanish soldiers. Lieut. Penny escap-
ed and l was captured. / was bound aud
sent to Puerto Principe, where Gen. Cas-
tellano convened special board Of in
quiry to investigate my character and
case. As | was not in uniform, and no
papers with me and mad given false
name, stating that | was preseutado
coming to surrender, | was released upou
my oath that l would never again fight
against Spain. Swearing this saved my
life, for | had fought twenty -four battles
for Cuba, being crippled for life and al
bunged up. am not going back to Cuba
shall go to a hospital here and then SO
70 my home in Kansas. The outcome OF
the struggle in Cuba depends altogether
on the United States. The Cubans viii
never give up, nor win the Spaniards"
he said ihat the insurgent soldiers and
officers are not PAID and cannot be paid
in full unless they win, in which case
Col. Funston would receive about $500
He said the food and clothing of Che in
surgents are po5r and their living pre-
carious, but their courage and hope are
unbourded He said the Spanish soldiers
also are not paid, but are fairly won fec
Col. Funs ION said chat while a prisoner
at Puerto Principe he was wei treated by
the Spanish soldiers, and found no evil
depce of discomfort in their ranks
He declared that the atrocities upon wo-
men and children, reported from time to
time, were invariably perpetra led by que
riilas, and not by the regular troops.