Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-07-17
FUNSTON IN CUBA.
The Bluff He Put Up in Orier to Enter
the Artillery Service.

The Bluff He Put Up in orier to Entel
the Artillery Service.
In spite of all his pleas, Funston wa
all but.frozen from the presence OF III
Cuban Junta. The story that | am nov
going to tell was that related TO me b.
Funston himself during the ten day
1 that | was his gnest al San Fernando
immediately after he had received tn
single star that raised him from col
onelcy to a brigadiership in the yolln
teers. As he toll the story on himself
and as 1t Illustrates The extremely quie
audacity of the 'Bantam7 general iron
Kansas, there can be no harm In retell
| ing the narrative to-day.
I'VE don't need recruits" said thu
head of the New York Junta, land W.
can't avail ourselves of your services
but we are looking for competent
highly competent artillery officer. l.
you know Of such man we will fee
deeply grateful II you will send hin
to u.s. -9s# ~ tseaE
Funston's eyes became alight as Il
by magic.
IAN artillery officer?' he repeated
"Then think, gentlemen, that perhaps
l may suit you"
DO you know anything about the
management of cannon?" questioned
the head of the Junta.
In twinkling Funston had his
watch in hand.
Gentlemen" he answered regretful
ly, 81 have an appointment that de
mands the rest of to-day and much Of
tomorrow. May ask another meeting
with you for the day after tomorrow
If this suits your convenience, shall
then be glad to prove my qualifications
as an artillery officer"
Receiving the assent of the CubaI
Junta, Funston withdrew. On the fol
lowing morning he visited Fort Hamil
ton, believe 1t was, where he made
the casual acquaintance of some Of thu
artillery officers there stationed. Will
the skill of one somewhat accustomed
to journalistic interviewing, he sue
ceeded In gaining from the officers
some vague ideas of the theory of bal
listics. OF each item of information ht
made mental note. At the same tim4
he secured list of the best works OF
the subject of artillery manipulation.
Thus scantily equipped, yet with al
the assurance of the man who know,
his opportunity, and who knows he car
seize it, Funston presented himself be
| fore the Junta at the appointed hour
He came In with the breathless air Of
one fresh from previous and almos
conflicting appointment. Obeying tn,
request Of the Junta to explain what BIZ
knew about artillery practice, The
young Kansan ratified off all the prattlt
about big guns that he had picked W
the day before. So glibly did he tall
of matters Of which he did not possess
even an academic smattering that hs
was commissioned ON the spot as al
artillery officer In the Cuban service
He was given passage on the next fill
clustering steamer that left this coun
try s ge5 $3.50 sa1 e
"On my way to Cuba,' Gen. Funstor
told me at San Fernando, in the earl,
summer of 1899, II locked myself In IN,
stateroom, spending all my waking
hours in devouring the works hat
been recommended to read by Unitet
States artillery officers. Before reach
ing the Cuban coast tossed all but on,
or two of the smaller books overheard
and went ashore. In our first serious
engagement against Spanish troops
found myself in charge of two small
pieces Of field artillery. The fellow
who handled the other guE was for
mer non-commissioned officer in tn,
Spanish army. | directed him as bes
could, and sighted the other piece.
THAT battle resulted in Cuban vic
tory, but l felt sure that | had made ,
dismal failure. Gen. Gomez came stalk
ing up to me with the same stern al
that always struck terror into tn,
hearts of his subordinates. Guilt,
conscience made me feel certain that
for wasting ammunition, was to b,
shot dead within an hour. Gen. Cones
extended his hand, compllmenting m,
upon my splendid service of the guns
You see, most of the Cubans had les
knowledge of artillery practice than
had contrived to CLEAN on my few days
voyage to Cuba. That sergeant of min,
was genuinely good fellow. He hell
his tongue. III. I. Hancock, in Leslie'
Weekly. a zsf5ss
rs