The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-07
FuNSTON'S TRIP
TO DEATH VALLEY.
Washington Members of Party Re.
call Early Adventure OF
Hero of Kansas.
COMPANIONS VOTED Him GAME.
Must Have Acquired the Art CT
Swimming Rivers After He
Went to the Phil
ippines.


REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, D. c.. April 6.-Aside fro-
his desire to serve his country. Il was un-
doubtedly General Fred Funston's love OF
adventure that led him to undertake the en-
erprise to the north OF Luzon to capture
Aguinaldo. 1t was this same love OF adven-
ture that led him to seek an appointment
as assistant botanist tc accompany the De
partment OF Agriculture's expedition to
Death Valley in 1891. He had previously
served the Government for a short time as
a bontanical collector in the Dakotas.
On the Death Valley expedition a number
of men now in Washington were with Frns-
ton. Doctor A. X. Fisher was in charge or
the expedition. Others in the party were
Doctor c. Hart Merriam. 7. 5. Palmer and
Vernon Bailey. Professor Frederick v.
Coy,,le, now chief of the division of botany.
was the botanist of the expedition. and
Funston was his assistant. In their work
they were thrown much together and be-
came mueh attached
THE subsequent career OF Funston was n
surprise to us who knew him in the Death
valley exredi.ion,' said Professor Covil!e.
..Not that he was lacking IN courage. for he
was always willing 70 undertake any enter
prise that gave promise of adventure. but 1t
did not seem TO US that he was bu;lt lor 4
rough and strenuous life. He seemed never
to have rou-hed it any. and his ineEpefi-
ence was often the cause OF jest"
The Death Valley expedition was one OF
the most severe ever undertakef %! ihe tvI-
Sernment. The expedition was formed ~
southern California December ls. ls9V' ana
nine months were spent in the desert and
surrounding mountains. Most OF the men
we're older than Funston, at least in eNpe-
rience as explorers. but the young Aatsan
held up his end and was generally r-Ga1Hsc
as game" He had not been long Win me
marty before he won the nickname OF me
narson.- This was not because of any re-
iirious tendencies. but because OF the lorcs-
ful and vigorous, oftti;nes picturesque, IAN
ruage in which he expressed himself.
II Funston really swan q rNer N 1he
philippines. he mus: have learned the &C
complishment after the Death NaIiey eN-
nedition, for at that time he coud not
svim a stroke. One time, when SoiEit!e
and Funston were out aloae in the noun
taius a heavy storm came up at might,
and when tney s"nke LeAt mo u a. - ~
beneath a sea OF water. Professor Coyilie
admits that he was considerably worried at
the nrospect, but he kept still, trying TO
ngure out some way to ayoia s%innfht ING
across. Funston, tco, remained silent IoF
. time. hut finally he asked. his voice be-
traying uneasiness:
doesn't that water down there worry
you, Coville?"
at does look kind of bad" Coville re-
sponded, but l don't see any eo'u !" Wv"
rying about it ~
Then. az if rompte by an aiterthoush1'
he added: 1T worries me ike neil.
The first of the Easter weddings VIII be
that of Miss Blanche Allen Bates ana Cap
tain Robert Seweil, L. S. a. which VIII
take place at noon Monday. Miss Bates Is
the daughter of Lieutenant CoioneI ana
Mrs. James a. Bates. and the p4iaesfooni
the son of Senator and Mrs. Niiiiaih d
Sewell of New jersey
IN "Wednesday, April 10, at noon. Miss
Keats-Roucers. daughter of the late cap
tain John r. Rodgers, L.. S. ~, ana horace
a. westcott Of Washington Will be mar
riea.
There are many other prospective we'd
dinss. but the dates have not yet peeh
collected. Miss Florence Foraker. whose
engagement to Mr.. Matthews OF Cincinnati
Was announced some time ago. VIII nos
be married until next tal at me edfiSs..
Miss Ju1a Foraker, the youngest OF sen
ator Eoraker's daughters, Is engaged 10 Air.
Of Philadelphia, nut the Weu-
ding will probably be postponed unti next
winter. MISS Texas Bates, Daughter OF Tue
Paymaster General OF the army, ana Dunn
Mckee OF this city are anotner couple VINO
will not wed tor Il year or nioie. 1hlss Cen
Lieutenant William 4. Liebei, I. >. a., son
OF the Juuge Advocate OF the army. WA not
announce their wedding cay Uhin ntAa WIN
Charles NJ. Pfouike, a banker OK TINS city,
and Edward Chapman smith OF fHAaoei-
phia will be married early IN June.
The Russian Ambassador. Count Cassini.
and his adopted daughter, Countess Mar
~,,a~,A@ 80, -rtl, col an Ahr1i "a mi III
Is the opinion of many diplomats that they
will not return to Washington. Count CAS-
SIM has applied tor a continental posi- ana
has the promise of the first vacancy. Last
year. when he returned here after an alb
sence OF nearly six months, IL was an
nounced from the embassy that the Car
had conferred the title OF countess on the
Ambassadors niece and adopted daughter.
and that she would hencetorth have all the
prestige of an AmbassaGress. The other
ladies of the diplomatic corps resented this.
and there ensued a v~erltable tempest IN
and 1t formed the basis OF his determine
ton to ask for another post.
Mr.. and Mrs. Letter entertained at dinner
Monday evening IN honor OF the French
Ambassador. NJ. Cambon.
Senator Depew. whose hospitality is pro-
verbal. has been giving a series of small
dinners during these solemn Gays OF Lent.
Some of the Senator's friends are telling a
story about some marvellous brandy which
he brings out on occasion. This brandy.
the Senator says, is of the vintage of lis6.
His friends say that when the genial New
Yorker first told the story he said he got
but six bottles. Now they declare this
brandy. besides being historic, has the
property Of multiplying itself. for u has
been produced many times during the past
winter and still more frequently the winter
before. and the Senator says that he still
has six bottles.
Those summer resorts which rely on the
Diplomatic corps for their prestige are
doomed to losses this year. With few eN-
ceptions the foreigners will spend tie neat
90 term in their own countries. The Bit
ish Ambassador and suite, whose presence
has done SO much for the popularity Of
Newport will go to London early in June
ana will remain until next winter The
French and Russian Ambassadors sail for
Europe not later than July. Senior Aspiroz.
the Ambassador from Mexico, Will so to his
native land this spring and. will remain
Tor several months. The Belgian, Austrian,
Hungarian, Danish and Swiss Ministers
have engaged their passage for Europe.
The exodus to Europe. which ordinarily
begins about this time, promises TO be
larger than last year, with the result that
many of the matrons and maids who have
taken active parts in the affairs of the
past season will next be heard from in
London. Paris. or at the various German
resorts.
Nrs. Choate, wife of the Ambassador to
eAeJ court OF st. James, will shartly leave
~ for Switzerland. in the hope of re-