Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-30
THE GALLANT FUNSTON.
Philippine Service Gives Him tho Oppor-
tunity for Daring Which he Graves.

Philippine Service Gives Him tho Oppor-
tunity for Daring Which he Graves.
Emporia. Kans., April 29.-Kansas
is proud of Col. Frederick Funston, OF
the Twentieth Kansas regiment, and
the boys of his command. Funston is
about 80 years old and little over D
feet in height. He first broke into pub
lie view in 1884, when his father was
the Republican candidate for Congress
in Southeastern Kansas. at one period
in the campaign it looked as If the elder
Funston were doomed to defeat, and
the son entered the campaign, address
ed a Democratic meeting, and by
audacity and wit so turned the tide that
his father was elected by an unprece-
denied majority.
Three years later young Funston be-
came city editor of Democratic paper
at Fort Smith, Ark. The editor went
away for few days, leaving Funston
in charge. The next day the paper
came out Republican. The editor was
summoned by telegraph and reached
home in time to save his property
from destruction by mob. In ex-
planning the matter to his friends,
Funston said: 81 didn't like my job, and
/ didn't like the town, but l thought l
might as we'll let them know that l had
been there before I quit"
A trip on government botanical eX-
petition, whichs took him through
Death Valley and involved hardships
that disabled more than half the mem
bers Of the party, next furnished Funs-
ton with the spice of danger for which
he yearns. He was next sent to
Alaska on a collecting expedition.
There are a lot of people who know
more about botany than Fred Funs-
ton," said the head of the bureau, who
recommended him, "but nobody will
come nearer getting what he goes
after" After going through Chilkoot
Pass alone in blizzard, being cap
sized in canoe in rapids and enjoy
ing many other adventures, Funston
came back with the finest collection of
botanical specimens ever brought from
Alaska.
His next adventurous undertaking
was to join a filibustering expedition
to Cuba in August, 1896. Gomez gave
the young Kansan a prominent COM
mand and whenever fighting was to be
done Funston was in the thick of it.
mounted Cubans against $500 mounted
Spanish infantry, and was wounded
three times. His horse was shot under
him, but needless of the hail of bullets
around him he stripped the beast of
saddle and bride and walked with them
off the field. After engaging in %
battles in Cuba, and being once cap
tured by the Spaniards, he returned to
New York-the 80 pounds that was left
of him-on January 10, 1897 physical
wreck, and. as he himself thought,
crippled for life. But when war with
Spain was declared he had so far re-
covered that he was able to offer his
sword to the President, and was COM
missioned colonel of the Twentieth
Kansas
Last Thursday he was the hero of
the fighting before Calumpit With two
companies OF volunteers he crossed the
Rio Grande river on a raft and charged
the main body of the insurgents in
their trenches, driving them out by an
enfiladed fire. On Tuesday he swan
the Bagbag river under fire of rebel
sharpshooters and reconnoitered the
enemy's position before Calumpit.