The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-26
COL. FRED FUNSTON.
He Inherits His Adventurous Spirit From
Daniel Boone.

Frederick Funston, the gallant colonel
of the Twentieth Kansas volunteers, who
made for themselves a place in history
by their heroic charges at Manila and
Caloocan, has had an amazingly adven-
furious career From the day he left
Lawrence University in the suntiower
state, fifteen years ago or whereabouts,
Funston has been at one time or another
reporter, editor botanist, explorer, trap
known the two greatest extremes of liv-
ing in torrid heat and frigid cold. He
has tramped Alaska in snowshoes in q
temperature of 20 degrees below zero and
has slept on the burning sands of Death
valley. Possessed of the same wiry en-
durance as the broncho of the plains,
Funston never knew fatigue and never
knew such a thing as failure.
Colonel Funston is a direct descendant
of Daniel Boone, which may in a measure
account for his adventurous spirit. He
left the ancestral farm on Deer creek in
Allen county Kansas, about fifteen years
ago. Too restless by nature to remain
long in any one place. after a two years
stay at Lawrence University, he decided
he had enough schooling to warrant his
getting along in the world. So he started
to hunt up job. Gifted as a speaker and
writer he aspired TO newspaper work.
One day he happened in Fort Smith.
Ark and applied for a position on the
Tribune of that city. There was to be a
convention at Little Rock. and the editor
had to go, He gave the aspirant a chance
to run the paper, and Funston took hold,
and the next day there was a double
loaded editorial stating that the Tribune
had supported the democrats of Arkansas
and Pulaski county in the past in spite of
their blunders, but that now its~patience
was exhausted. Henceforth it would deal
out republican doctrine. Well, that edi-
toriai shook the town" The editor lost
no time in returning, and when he got
home the young man from Kansas was
without job.
several expeditions organized by the gov
eminent for scientific purposes. 1t was
such an expedition that led him to Death
valley, and later to the Alaskan coast to
gather specimens of its flora. He went
alone, lived with the Indians, cultivated a
taste for strawberries smothered in wal
rus oil, learned the trick Of riding the
surf erect in quivering kyack, and Incl
dentally gathered the finest collection of
Alaskan fora ever sent to Washington.
'The next summer he penetrated the inte-
rlor Of Kiondikeland, lived there eighteen
months slept outdoors most of the time,
rora borealis while traversing several
thousand miles of unexplored country
Along, IN 1895 Colonel Funston decided
that while all these things did offer a
little sport and recreation, vet the excite
ment was not quite up to his expectations.
He went to Cuba, saw Gen. Garcia, en-
gagged as an insursent and fought the
Spaniards. In short time he was given
charge Of the artillery of the patriots. He
fought in scores Of engagements with
such vigor that the exploits of Eel Inglese,
as he came to be nicknamed, became
known to every Spaniard. He was the
friend not only of Garcia, but of Quintn
Bandera, Jesus Rab Gomez and other
famous chiefs. Ultimately captured by
the Spaniards. he was sent back to this
country on parole When the war broke
out he rendered his services to Governor
Leedy of Kansas, who promptly made
him colonel Of the Kansas regiment.
ton f.f cd ga I.,af
sturdy of build The adventurous life he
led for dozen years has left him still a
gentleman. The worth of this veteran of
Cuban campaigns was not overmeasured
when Governor Leedy gave him his COM
mission. Everybody who knew anything
OF Funston knew he would distinguish
himself II ever he was given the oppor-
demonstrate how we'll his friends under-
stood the man. Colonel Funston is bare
ly 80 years old.