Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1901-07-19
FUNSTON IN CUBA.
The Bluff He Put Up in Or Ter to Enter
the Artillery Service.


The Bluff He Put Up in Or Ter to Enter
the Artillery Service.
In spite of all his pleas, Funston was
all but frozen from the presence of the
Cuban Junta. The story that am now
going to tell was that related to me by
Funston himself during the ten days
that l was his guest at San Fernando
Immediately after he had received the
single star that raised him from a col
onelcy to brigadiership in the volun-
teers. As he told the story on himself,
and as 1t illustrates the extremely quiet
audacity Of the bantam" general from
Kansas, there can be no harm In retell-
ing the narrative to-day.
I'VE don't need recruits" said the
head Of the New York Junta, land we
can't avail ourselves Of your services,
but we are looking for a competent
highly competent artillery officer. II
you know of such man we will feel
deeply grateful If you win send him
to u.s."
Funston's eyes became alight as IL
by magic.
IAN artillery off1cer?'' he repeated
Then think, gentlemen, that perhaps
! 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-
~, II 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?
II this suits your convenience, shall
then be glad to prove my qualifications
as an artillery officer"
Receiving the assent of the Cuban
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 the
artillery officers there stationed. With
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 he
made mental note. At the same time
he secured a list Of the best works on
the subject Of artillery manipulation.
Thus scantily equipped yet with all
the assurance of the man who knows
his opportunity, and who knows he can
seize 1t, Funston presented himself be-
fore the Junta at the appointed hour.
He came in with the GREATNESS air Of
one fresh from a previous and almost
conflicting appointment. Obeying the
request of the Junta to explain what he
knew about artillery practice, the
young Kansan RATED off all the prattle
about big guns that he had picked up
the day before. So glibly did he talk
of matters of which he did not possess
even an academic smattering that he
was commissioned on the spot as an
artillery officer in the Cuban service.
He was given passage ON the next fill
clustering steamer that left this coun-
try. ~s5
ION my way to Cuba" Gen. Funston
told me at San Fernando, in the early
summer Of 1899, II locked myself in my
stateroom, spending all my waking
hours in devourins the works l had
been recommended to read by United
States artillery officers. Before reach
ing the Cuban coast tossed all but one
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 gun was a for
mer non-commissioned officer In the
Spanish army directed him as best
could, and sighted the other piece.
"That battle resulted in Cuban vic.
tory, but felt sure that had made a
dismal failure. Gen. Gomez came stalk
ing up to me with the same stern air
that always struck terror into the
hearts of his subordinates. Guilty
conscience made me feel certain that
for wasting ammunition, / was to be
shot dead within an hour. Gen. Gomez
extended his hand, complimenting me
upon my splendid service of the guns!
You see, most of the Cubans had less
knowledge Of artillery practice than
had contrived to CLEAN on my few days
voyage to Cuba. That sergeant of mine
was genuinely good fellow. He held
his tongue. "-H. 1. Hancock, in Leslie's
Weekly.