The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-17
FUNSTON'S STRATEGY.
How the Little Kansas Colonel Snug
gled His Wife Aboard.

The New York World, in it's Sunday
edition devotes page to the adventures
and achievements of Col Fred Funston,
of the Twentieth Kansas. The World
thus tells the story of how Funston got
his wife to the Philippines:
The ship is about to sail. The troops
march up the broad plank and enter
the transport. Col Funston watches
the men; he orders, directs; he is too
busy to think of brides and wedding
days and weeping wives. He notices a
handsome lad in the uniform of a trum-
peter; he orders him to follow the COM
pany. The beardlesS, soft checked, big
eyed youngster passes on board.
What a cool, brave little colonel -
the women who have heard of his mar
riage say; his thoughts are all for his
country
colonel squares his shoulders, marches
up the plank, the ropes are cast off,
and the band plays The Girl L Left Be
hind Me-
On board the troopship, pointing her
nose seaward. the colonel turns. He
notices the lad. He says: You shall
look after my things in my cabin"
He takes the yOungster to his cabin,
shuts the door and then he embraces
that youngster.
The good ship is gliding through the
gates to the Pacific and the strains of
the band are waited through the win
The ship has gone. Two days have
passed and Brig. Gen. Harrison B. Otis
is getting ready to sail A story comes
to him that the wife of Col. Fred Fun
ston has mysteriously disappeared. The
general has the highest regard for his
daredevil colonel, and he orders ques-
lions to be asked. He receives answers.
The general laughs, scOwls, frowns and
orders: Have two women taken off
and held until the Twentieth Kansas
has sailed" The general has solved
1.-The mysterious disappearance
These orders are sent by passenger
vessel to Honolulu and arrive before
the troopShip.
The colonel and captain were out
witted by their general in strategy.
And so, as the course of true love
never runs smooth, Gen. Otis orders
disturbed the honeymoon of Col. and
Mrs. Funston The colonel proceeded
with his regiment, and the brave, beau
tiful little woman, now arrayed in her
own dainty gowns, followed in a sail
ing vessel. They were reunited in
Manila.
Colonel Fred Funston. at the head of
the Twentieth Kansas, has pushed his
men to the front. They have earned the
fighting name of the kansas Demons"
and news dispatched from the Philip
deeds of valor. Day by day, they are
making their reputation, and that of
their commander; and this chapter can
only be properly written when they re-
turn crowned with the laurelS of VIC
tory.
Major General Wesley Merritt, who
was the first military governor of the
Philippines, is familiar with all the
thrilling details of Colonel Fred Fun
ston's career. Speaking of him, Gen.
Merritt said:
Colonel Funston is a real fighter
His exploits in the campaign against
Malolos stamp him as born leader, as
a man without fear. Concerning his
marriage and his clever strategy in
smuggling his bride aboard the troop
ship-Well, it was against orders, of
course. But army orders sometimes are
harsh. But Funston is a good fighter
and good fighters in all ages have made
good lovers -