The Portland daily press., 1899-05-06

the super lntendent.
| Whether because OF this restriction or
for other causes the young man soon ief'
the railroads employ and cast about MIN
for something else to do The chance
came in an expedition to Dakota, Ioi'
lowed by one to Death Valley. From
this latter half OF the travellers came back
permanently disabled. but 1t seemed 10
agree with Funston and he liked SO well
the exploring Of unknown countries that
he looked around for something else In
the same line. The Agricultural Depart
mept wanted some one to collect botani-
cal specimens In the interior Of Alaska
and a friend got an offer Of the place for
Funston, at the same time warning him
that 1t was perilous Job.
"That's all right, "said the young man,
"but as my botanical knowledge doesn't
extend much further than knowing VI
olet from sunfower, don't think I'D
be valuable collector.
HIS LATER CAREER.
Nevertheless. the prospect was SO allur;
ing that ne set to work to learn practical
botany, and In 1892 was In Alaska. He
went over Chilkoot pass in q late hliz-
Yard. struck for the Interior. reached the
spot where Dawson City now is and
started down the Yukon alone in canoe
which he had built. His canoe was caught
in rapids, split on a rock, and that would
have bean the end OF Fred Funston but
for q missionary who chanced to be CO.
/ In nj Nth Indians and who
saved him. That winter he spent with
Indians, hunting and exploring, and
when he retur ned 1t was with store Of
highly comprehensive and valuable bo-
tanical material. His one criticism OF
Alaska was that 1t was magnificent
country but pretty lonely.
His next venture was in Cuba, where
he went flibustering. Gomez gave hin,
"a commission and he became second In
command of artillery under Osgood, the
famous Cornell football half back. He
made record for bravery Mt Guimaro In
Octoper, 1885, where his chief was killed,
and he took command. At the head OF
bomb in his hand he charged the Span
ish works In the assault which termi-
mated in their surrender At Bayamo he
became cavalry officer temporarily be-
cause there was more for cavalry than fol
artillery to do there, and was shot three
times, but such was his endurance and
physique that he was really for more
fighting in short time. At Las Tunas
be man aged the Cuban dynamite guns
which wrought such havoc among the
Spanish troops, and was again wounded.
At the same time his horse was shot and
fell upon him, badly injuring his hips
Wounded as he was he hobbled to head
quarters on learning that fifty prisoners,
guerrillas who fought on the Spanish
side, were to be executed and begged fol
their lives. The petition was refused.
Enraged at the barbarity of the Gu
bans, Funston swore that he would neve
strike another blow In cause that per
mitted such an outrage. and thereupol
resigned his commission, having tough
in twenty two battles. With a lette
from General Garcia ordering transport,
ton to this country for him he went +
the coast and fell in with number o
Spaniaris. AS it didn't seem advisabl
J to be found with papers signed by Ga.cii
upon him, Funston ate the letter. l
gave him indigestion, which, added u
the malaria and the effects of his wounds
left him in very bad condition when hG
landed mere, the Spaniards having treate
him well and put him aboard "a ship. F0
three weeks he was in n hospital here an
when he came out he weighed but ninety
pounds.
Shortly after he had recovered his nor
NAL health and energy the war wit
Spain broke out and he offered his ser
vices, An opportunity was given hiI
to go on Gen. Miles's staff, but he CHI os
rather to accept tho command o, the
of recognition N his project to raise I
regiment of rough riders. 1t was grea
disappointment 10 him that his regi
ment did not get to Cuba, but his chsnc
came litter when they were ordered t
the Philippines. On the way there was
long wait in San Francisco. whe-
Colonel Funston met wooed and marriet
II young N uslc teacner, Ill IN TWO WeeRs
and she accompanied him to Manila
Since the lighting began he and his Kan
sans have been prominent in many bat
ties In the lighting tefore Malolos hi
found himself with part of his command
on one side of the muddy Marilao rive
ana force of Filipinos on the other side
who had good position.and were CALLING
our troops by their constant fire. Cal
ling for volunteers who could swim
Col. Funston selected twenty men, told
them to follow him, and, holding his
revolver up, swan the stream. The men
put their guns on logs and followed,
pushing the logs. On the other side the
little force charged and captured eighty
Filipin os. He was the first man to en-
ter Mnlolos after the capture Those who
have seen Colonel Funston in action say
that he has insrued his men with I'M
bounded confidence in him and that hi
has only to call for volunteers and they
| l. all RANDY follow