New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
SCRAPPING FRED FUNSTON.
CAREER OF THE COLONEL OF THE
TWENTIETH KANSAS REGIMENT
"A RED-HEADDD NAN WITH LOW. swEErWoicH'
AND HIS BRAVE DEEDS IN CUBA
AND LUZON.


AND LUzoN.
From The Chicago Times Herald.
with 4. ds Sw
regiment now fighting the FIlpinos He only
weighs ll5 pounds bptmhs can fight. tse ,es snnvty
show it would into bankruptcy SO fsr as pos,
to endure and fight aud not with view to his
good looks. The selection Of the men was ,arge a
Sxeeptionaiiy good is proved by the terrible deeds
Bis performing on the island Of LuT SGr,v
handed type: buliwhackers from the plains. black -
smhs city , en- ts sa nEs
soand hs fHn sos wdd them
gether Funston said they would be TO LuIon ~r h,
Rooseyelts Rough Riders were 10 Cuoa' anu HE
Colonel Funston fought in Cuba with the Cuban Cuban
army until the destruction of the Maine Drousnt
him back to his own country He Is nut tn1rs
old yet he ne has enssged zo His left
arm has been mutlated for life by b sse tbi p
ernssed By horse punsns during 6s
system racked by Cuban fever He was captures a,S
but escaped While on an expedition to Alaska he
pitched into the Yukon River ana nar nc MY
Arctic Circle he was nearly frozen 70 death; and
then to S nf e feet Sr
in height his endurance and escapes make MN one
OF the most remarkable personages connected with
the American Army.
Just catch glimpse OF the character OF tne
l. sampson, nrst sergeant of the salna company
in the 3Oth Kansas: ,-,--. --,--
Colonel Funston or seraPplng Fred as as is
hS SS 6ne that to be 'f boys w
through fire and water When the fire is the hot
Mausers aside like flies He has found place in
the hearts of his men. and If he leads the regiment
will Drive the hosts into the sea.
In 1896 American sentiment in favor Of the strug-
Cling Cnbans grew very str9ns me drgs
sums o of money were raised for their aid At Mad
Square Garden, New.York City one y very large
then was a, Long S b he
U he ee sss O touched ered my services
to he Cuban junta."
HE JOINS THE CUBAN INSURGENTS.
The junta was in need Of men Of daring-men
who would risk their all to get into Cuba and join
hands with the insurgent generals and armies and
fight. Funstons recommendations for such service
%sgs Gf t9e to Ses ns The ad was gwen
hnbustering expedition was being secretly
of fs nteTnationai comfy Funston was invited to
join this and aid in an attempt to land men and
in August of 1895 the steamer Dauntless left the
United States with him on board and vast supplies
knew of the departure OF the steamer, but was
unable 10 trace is route In her cargo were LOO
"a rifles 6 Two Ho'chKss guns ana any
Thirty-seven fghting men enrolled on her
passenger list and the quietest among them
was red Funston The junta had gven him
lie could have left on five minutes warning. He
was one OF the first to leave the Dauntless and
the first two Hotchkiss guns the insurgent army
was to He gave the Cuban commander a sue;
to tn 90 f for ca6a o. He He SAID i viii deht
,h1 he Sesrea bm to b capan Of arey a1d
that he would be placed In charge Of the new Ty
to take the range Of his weapons and the measure
OF the men to be under his command. He did not
for The apnarent lack of discipline on every hand
for their uncouth ways. Instead. ne performed the
seTvceable for any fneSse boy. He Inspired the
wen h 's t f xbnr Qualities ms hey hsd
yet to learn. ,
sds@ Di that xs Of b2 three sa sa
Spanish forts, and well garrisoned. In the attack
10 play an important part. They did. They not
only paralyzed the spaniards, but gave rise TO the
story in the ranks of the insurgents that Funston
boAs hn he he mot %en h R Whtn @
ners fell MORALLY wounded he took their PLACES
wa %t and took the men with him He charged
with his sword in one hand and his pistol in the
other and he always Kept In front
ALMOST A CHARMED LIFE
After the fghting at Cascorra Captain Funston
found that the army of Gomez was ready to be
stow upon him any honor he desired. But he was
Just as modest as he was brave. He was not fight
Ing for epaulets but for the cause he had espoused
At La IN oStoSsr OF 1856 the
was in front when the attack began. He fought
laughed when they made him target. His life
must have been charmed. FOR he escaped without
wound TO receive special testimonial from Gomez
Later a shell crippled one Of lis arms; He had
the arm swathed In bandages and bound TO his side
and took to the field again. He would not wait for
Ties of 90 and the at and
then marched eastward with Garcia. Every inch
nl TEe nns Of dd
work and the young captain won new laHre els,
Canto River. and there the battles were OF almost
The Insurgents beseged Las Tunas and Funston
was made major Now there were fve guns
hs one Of the
the spaniards fell Ike sheep In the slaughter
on his head. He led charge with such galantry
lieutenant tens S eoone ieS' GARCIA Pf0"0'e0 MI"
Funston was shot through both lungs The bullet
penetrated the lungs. leaving round hole. But II
quickly close and heal But after this wound
so%eesd e Sy abandon CUBA toT rs fss sake Ike
After eighteen months service under Gomez ana
up his nc 10 He in hospital for
'tsss Ps tout e
bis plans He felt that after that incident the
10 r his swod f to his Country
TRIES TO sURPAss THE ROUGH RIDERS.
The declaration Of war was made he determined ned
OF that snd heard sad
that he believed Kansas could organize reg-
ment as good II not better than the Rough
Riders. Governor Leedy gave him authority to go
aS and epuped & IN
Cuba General Miles called Colonel Funston to
Tampa TO confer with him to the situation in
Cuba. But at this juncture the 10Th Kansas was
ordered TO the Philippines, instead of Cuba, and
left for San Francisco. where Funston ordered
to join II. He did so. and for weeks with the
regiment at Preside waited for further orders 1t
did seem as II they would come Colonel
Funston chafed and chafed.
His men were ready TO throw themselves into the
waters Of the bay. They had left home to fight,
and they saw no prospect before them but that Of
dreary camp duty.
OF a sudden General Merritt. then at Manila