The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
COL. FUNSTON STRANGE CAREER.
Although n Young Man, He HIS Had Many
Remarkable Adventures.

Although n Young Man, He Has Had Many
Remarkable Adventures.
Col. Frederick Funston. who led the three
companies Of the Kansas regiment In their
gallant charge against the Filipinos last Tues
day. is one Of the youngest Colonies In the
United States Army. He is % years old.
Col. Funston was born in Kansas and is the
son OF an e1-Congressman from that State.
He was graduated from the State University
Of Kansas and then became a newspaper man
at Fort Smith. Ark. While there he saw hard
fighting during the Indian outbreaks. joining
the troops on several occasions and remaining
with them through a winter campaign. After
leaving Fort Smith he Joined a Government ex-
petition to Death Valley, in southern Calf
fornia. sent out to make n geological investiga-
ton. Death Valley is said 20 be the most DESC
late waste in this country. The expedition
suffered every kind of privation for nine
months. in which time Col. Funston took the
record Of the highest temperature ever meas
ured for any Government. which was 1852
Fahrenheit.
Returning from this expedition he took a
there alone After a rest Of several months
private venture. it being his object to get op-
1I9ns on nsa iaad m for E Nee 1lantatlons Ths
could seizure in the Vest. and FOR this real rsas IN IN
he visited New York. The SUPPORT. however,
was not forthcoming. and Funston became
assistant secretary for the Topeka and Santa
Ft RAILROAD.
The routine OF this post was monotonous to
him. and three months later he surprised his
friends by enlistinR as a private in the Gu
ban. Army. His promotion in that service was
rapid., soon he was made Lieutenant. then
OF all the artillery force east OF Ha-
vana.. During the eighteen months he spent
IN Cuba he was In twenty-three battles. had his
left arm mutilated by a shell. received O Maui
ser bullet in his left lung. and was sick Of the
fever for two Tonths. Once while leading a
battery to n point Of vantage. he had his horse
shot. under him. The horse rolled on Fun
ston's right leg, ,cruehinR the thigh. His cam
ptiEning had. by this time. rendered him a
physical wreck. and not feeling able to con-
tinue In the service he asked to be retired. His
request was granted. On the wav TO the coast,
no wever. he was captured by the Spanish. He
was condemned to die. but later. being put on
parole. escaped aDd came tn New York.
When var was declared against Spain ne was
commissioned by Gov. Leedy nf Kansas as Colo
mel Of the Twentieth Kansas Regiment.
Later Gen. Miles sent forhim 10 take a place
on his stan. Col. Funston insisted on keep
ing MS regiment, but he sper.t several weeks
eHt of mis- knowledge Of Cuba, His regiment
was stationed at San Francisco for two months.
Six weeks before 1t sailed for Manila the Colo
ne, met a beau Lful young woman Of high so
cial position In Oakland. whom he married the
day the transport sailed for the Philippines.
Col. Funston arrived In Manila With his reRi-
ment on Dec. 8. Most Of the officers are grad
uaies Of the Kansas State University. Tne
colonel is a short man with broad shoulders,