New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-05
FUNSTON, SOLDIER ANDM
AFFECTING SCENE ON THE DEPARTURE
OF KANSANS FOR MANILA.
rp.rrs OF THE GENERAL-REPULsE OF AN
ATTACK ON SAN FERNANDo-vITALITY
OF THE FILIPINOS.

OF THE FILIPINOS
.,, . REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuyyl
Can Fernando Luzon. Philippine Islands, June
nc TWO DAYS ago in this town a man sat on
"a. nony while a column of their way
=. the railroad station marched past him. The
.roons were going to Manila to recuperate from
campaign that they had begun February
4 when they were eleven hundred strong;
the command was not of greater strength
than six hundred. so heavy had been the tax on
a, IN those 100 days. Work worn and unkempt,
many OF them listless and tramping with drag
eing steps they looked to be anything rather
thar the most talked Of regiment in these ISL
ands
AS they caught sight Of the gray horse and his
sturdy little rider eyes frightened. a murrnur
of comment ran down the column Of fours, and
then followed cheer after cheer.
Raising his hat in response to those ringing
shouts. the man thus honored sat in silence
until the rearmost battalion, with its kitelike
tail Of Jibberng Chinese litter bearers. had dis
appeared in the dust. then replacing his hat
and with his eyes turned down he turned his
horse and rode away.
On the blue saddecloth Of the stocky gray
pony cleaned the white 100" Of the colonel Of
an infantry regiment but on the shoulders OF
his rider shone the star Of general star
won in all honor by the man while leading that
now sadly reduced regiment Of gallant volun-
teers We who had sat and viewed the above
little scene had witnessed the parting Of General
Frederick Funston and his late regiment, the
Goth Kansas.
The meeting and parting had not been pre-
arranged. The General had been riding through
the town to select and assign quarters for the
9th Regulars. who were TO replace the Kansans
in his brigade. but Of his staff who were
present felt that had seen something OF the
confidence and devotion that brave men have
for a gallant leader AS we rode away the Cen
eral turned to me and said: Il suppose II wouldn't
have been very digniied but tears not
far from the surface just now. / couldn't help
thinking Of those poor fellows that came out
with us and are gone. and to see the condition
Of that fine regiment is hard"
ANNOYANCES OF HERO
The quantity Of mail that a new hero receives
is enormous. ranging as it does through letters
Of congratulatton from personal friends auto
graph hunters would-be political advisers and
enterprising manufacturers Of cigars. who seek
permission to trade his name and fame
Quantities Of clippings from the press come and
are eagerly read, but when the praise takes
on a hue too roseate in tint ne bursts out i'm
patiently with. IF they would only not say
such extravagant things" And he is especially
disturbed when he reads, "He weighs less than
a hundred pounds" AS matter Of fact. Cen
eral Funstons weight is not far from 100, and
that shows loss Of about ten pounds since
he landed in the Philippines. The thing that
has amused him most is the cartoon depicting
him and his late regiment swimming certain
Western river to attack line Of works defended
with mock cannon of stovepipe, and garrisoned
by individuals who usually referred to as
being misguided" and who possess whiskers
principally distinguished for being luxuriant
rather than for any other quality
Warm, sincere letters from friends have given
him, Of course. great pleasure; but 1t is the let
tiers from children. and Of these there have
been many that make him most demonstrative.
That is the man of him: but few nights ago
saw the man put aside by the soldier Read
ing his letters by candle that futtered and
sputtered in the night breeze. enjoyment IN
every feature. he stopped, listened, and then
starting Ip, cried. THAT Is an attack and
even as an orderly hurried in to give the in
formation ne had ~ wn his letters aside seized
revolver and hat, and soon out into the dark
ness we rode, gathering up from out the way
side huts groups of men and hurrying them TO
the support Of the outposts. Occasionally
bump and scuffle announced that the leader Of
our party-always the Generai-ha ct)'@ 4
with some soldier in the deep shadow Of the
banana palms that lined the road. Then he
was gruffness ITSELF mincing now Of words
or soft speech. Quick. harsh words, and the
man who FIVE minutes before had sat fondling
a child's letter reading 1t over and over before
putting It aside, had become the eager rushing
man at arms. anxious only to kill and to crush.
ATTACK ON SAN FERNANDO
On June 16 occurred the most ambitious at
tempt yet made by the insurgents on this town.
At AS in the morning scattering shots, quickly
followed by clear volleys by squads, were heard
on the east line. and soon N all sides the out
posts were engaged Artillery was used by the
enemy but the fire therefrom was not damag-
ing Examination showed that force nearly
five thousand strong was engaged In the at
tack The entire CONNIE was promptly put
under arms, and when sunrise came we saw the
enemy at an average distance Of eight hundred
yards from our trenches.
vigorous fire from our lines was begun. and
the enemy's advance was easily checked ia
vorable opportunity occurring, battalion Of
two companies Of the 10th Kansas was sent 10
make a counter attack. Debouching from the
cover Of line Of bamboos. small force OF 100
men was encountered at short range. quick
fight ensued and this body OF insurgents was
utterly routed Without the loss OF single
man Of the two companies engaged In this
obliaue movement, thrty-six Of the enemy were
killed and twenty-four wounded so badly that
they fell into our hands. All this was with'n
five minutes time The officer In command OF
the insurgents at that point made three oe-
terrnined efforts to rally his men, but Kansas
would not be denied The entire affair was con-
Guided in two hours and the enemy Withdrew