Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-02
Appointed a Brigadier General Of
Volunteers.
RECOGNITION OF RECENT GALLANTRY
Highly Praised by His Commander,
Gen. Otis.
A D V E n T U r e S
NJ AN Y

One of the first acts of the President on
his return to the national capital this morn
ing was to direct the appointment of Col.
Frederick Funston of the 10th Kansas
Volunteer Infantry to be a brigadier gen.
eral of volunteers under the terms of the
army reorganization law. The matter was
talked over by the President and Adjt. Gen.
Corbin. and the latter was instructed to
cable Gen. Otis, commanding the military
forces at Manila that the President took
great pleasure in notifying him of the pro-
! motion of Col. Funston, In recognition OF
his extraordinary heroism in the recent en-
gagements that eliminated in the capture
of Calumpit and the opening of negotia-
tions for cessation of hostiities in the
Philippines. The vacancy thus created in
the command of the Kansas regiment will
be filled by the appointment of colonel by
the governor of that state, probably the
lieutenant colonel of the regiment
Gen. Otis message in regard to Col. Fun
ston received yesterday was as follows:
Macarthur strongly recommends Col.
Funston's appointment brigadier general
for signal skill and gallantry crossing Rio
Grande river and most gallant services
since commencement of war. l urge ap-
pointment; Funston able as leader of men
and has earned recognition"
ten. F'unstOns career.
Gen. Funston is well known in this city
He is the son of ex-Representative Funston
of Kansas, is about the size of Gen. Joe
Wheeler and seems to possess the same in
domitable fighting qualities.
Fred Funston has figured in many excit-
ing adventures, and. at the age of thirty
five, he stands as a type of Yankee pluck
and ingenuity. Being connected with the
Agricultural Department he has twice been
sent, for botanical purposes, to Alaska. In
the latter expedition, after his companions
had aided him in building Il canoe, he made
alone the perilous trip of 800 miles down
the Yukon river. Nearing the end of his
journey, the boat capsized and he struggled
for life in the icy water. He succeeded in
saving himself, only to be threatened with
death from cold and starvation; but fortu-
nately he came across a missionary out
post. As it was, he nearly died of pneu-
monia, and declared that he would never
again take part in any dangerous under
taking.
But his adventurous spirit led him to
Cuba. There ne enlisted in the insurgent
army and served under Gems Gomez and
Garcia for eighteen months. He soon be-
came commander of the Cuban artillery.
In leading a cavalry charge he was wound
ed in both lungs His horse, being shot,
fell upon him, crushing his right leg. In
endeavoring to crawl to the Cubans. a
party of Spaniards captured him; but
Freds ready Wit served him a good turn.
Immediately he told them that he was an
American and had Joined the Cuban army,
but had all he wanted of it and had come
over to the Spaniards. 1t was at this time
that President Mckinley issued his first
message. The Spaniards, being quieted by
It's pacific tone and believing Fred's story,
allowed him to leave the island.
On reaching the United States, owing to
his wounded condition, he obliged to
go to a hospital. where he remained for
some time When hostilities with Spain
broke out he offered his services and was
commissioned as colonel of the I'D Kansas
While the regiment was at San Francisco,
previous 10 departing for Manila, the
doughty colonel surrendered for the first
time. but this time it was to Cupid. His
beautiful bride accompanied him to Manila,
where his friends have since been watching
his course. When the news came of his
gallant conduct it was no surprise to them.