The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-28
WHO SWAN RIVER
Twentieth Kansas Controversy
Re0pened BY Capt. Hardy.
Demands That the New Kansas
History Be Changed.
CREDIT TO FUNSTON.
The Ex-Captain Relates Details
of the Episode.
He and Two others Swan the
Marilao For a Boat.
Funston Told Hardy That He
Gould Not Swim.

Capt z. J Hardy. Of Salina, a mem
ber of the Twentieth Kansas, denounces
the publication. in the new history of
Kansas. of the statement that Colonel
Frederick Funston SWAN the Marilao
river and captured 80 prisoners, during
the Twentieth's campaign in the Phil
ippines.
Captain Hardy has taken the matter
up with Frank Nelson, state supeTin-
tendent and chairman of the state text
bo k board, under the authority of which
the official history of Kansas now in use
in the public schools was adopted, and
asks that proper credit be given to
and Wiley of H company, who swan
the river and returned with a. boat in
which Colonel Funston later crossed
Mr.. Nelson has written to the pub
fisher of the history, B. p. Greer, of
Winfield, stating the nature of Captain
Hardy'S complaint, and suggests an in
vestigation, and if Captain Hardy's con-
tention be sustained Mr.. Nelson hopes
later editions of the history will be SO
revised as to give proper credit where it
is due.
Mr.. Nelson has also replied to Captain
Hardy, stating that he personally has no
authority in the matter, but states that
he will call the attention of the commits
sion to the error alleged by Hardy, and
hopes to have the controversy settled
by bestowing the laurels upon the per-
sons entitled to them.
Mr.. Nelson had no connection with the
publication of the history, other than to
go over it when it was being prepared
for publication This was at a time when
the people were wrought up over the
gallant deeds of the Twentieth Kansas,
and there had been no question raised
by an individual concerning the actual
encounter with the waters of the island.
People were watching the exterTnina-
ton of the Tagals in which the Kansas
regiment was taking part of 50 much
Importance as to make it the most IA
nous on the firing line
Hardy is now a resident of SaIina,
travelling in the interests Of the Missouri
Pacific railroad, Of which his father is
quarters at Sedalia, having Jurisdiction
of the system between Kansas City and
St. Louis and the Lexington branch.
Captain Hardy, who is a Republican,
the following letter to Superintendent
Nelson:
"saIina, Kas, Nov. %. 1900.
''Hor. Frank Nelson, President State
School Book Commission, Topeka
Kansas:
Dear Sir-Afy attention was today for
the first time directed to the discussion
of the record of the Twentieth Kansas
infantry, U. S. ", in history Of Kan
sas, published as I understand under
your direction and by your authority
This work I told is used in the
schools of Kansas. recognized by your
board as perhaps I might say, an Off
cia1 history of the state and therefore
of this regiment Therefore 1t becomes
a matter of considerable Importance,
verv different from the ordinary news
paper gossip, to which I have taken no
exception, and indeed paid little atten-
tion.
IT find there that Colonel Frederick
Funston at the head of 20 men swan the
Marilao river" and I believe it says
captured 80 prisoners" If Colonel Fun
ston and his friends are particularly de-
sirous of having credited to him achieve
n1entS which he never accomplished and
deeds of other men, I have no DISPOSE
ton to interfere though I might not
entirely admire his taste However,
Colonel Funston did not swim the Ma
rilaO or any other river. L am certain
of this for two reasons, because
First, Edward ]. Hardy, at that time
second lieutenant of company H of the
Twentieth Kansas, Pr1vates Jack Hunts-
man and Wiley of company ii, We're
the only soldiers who swan the Mar1iaO
river, except the numerous members OF
the regiment who were in bathing at the
time Colonel Funston crossed in the boat
which Hardy, Huntsman and Wiley
brought back from the other side; and
Second, Colonel Funston informed me
personally at the time that he could not
swim, and would swim the river hlIn-
self if he could swim
Therefore of course it is quite i'm
possible that he should have swan the
Marflao or the Bagbag, or any old river,
unless ne pTacL1GG0 SW1IlL44AS DSIWSo1
the time we crossed the Marilao and the
ssAs long as Colonel Funston and his
friends. confined their remarks about the
swimming of the Marilao to mere news
paper ard magazine declarations, which
gave him the credit of that affair, and
said nothing of Hardy, Huntsman or VIII
lev 7 remained silent, because did not
care to enter into any idle newspaper DIS
c4lsSiOn nor did desire to secure a lot OF
cheap advertising in regard to a matter
in which / had only done my duty
soldier should, happening to swim the
Marilao with Huntsman and Wiley and
bring the boat back under rather inter-
esting conditions. simply probably because
we happened to be on hand and TO be able
to swim
record as a soldier, having been promoted
from the ranks to a second Heutenancy
and from there to a first Heutenancy and
to a captaincy in the Twentieth Kansas,
as feel because had done my duty and
because happened to participate in every
engagement in which that regiment took
part as well as in several others, as an
officer of scout under MaJ0r Bell detailed
regiment at MaIoloS, by order OF General
Macarthur.
II have a boy of my own and doubtless
/ shall tell him as other old soldiers do of
my life as a soldier in the Philippines and
I propose to be able to tell my boy that
it was not Colonel Funston, but Hunts
man, Wiley and 1 who swan the Marilao
river. and L do not intend that any his
tory published under the auspices of the
state of Kansas shall give the credit to
another man and tell my boy that his
this kind of business has been carried
far enough, and if Colonel Funston lacks
that appreciation of soldierly courtesy
which would lead him to decline to wear
it is my intention to make an effort to
see that such credit as belongs to these