Evening star., 1901-03-28

Nondike 1t was In the district where
gold has been found in greatest quantities
since He heard of gold in the vicinity
from the Indians, but he was busy with
the duties of his office and paid no heed to
the stories further than to make them
subject Of his report He had a companion
In the lonely camp in the person of an
Episcopal missionary.
After his return from Alaska Funston
became in turn promoter of a coffee plan
tation scheme in Central America, lecturer
on Alaska and clerk in a railroad office in
New York. He was also a newspaper re-
porter in Kansas City for a time,
Next he became an inSurGent In Cuba,
leaving New York in the spring Of 1895
for that exciting work The first filibus-
tering expedition was then being QUILTED.
The tug Dauntless was the craft that was
to carry arms and men in the first expedi-
ton from the United States to aid the
force of General Garcia.
When the Dauntless sailed Funston was
aboard. After cruising about for several
days a landing place was found. Funston
soon became leader Of the Cuban artil-
lery, and stories of his bravery in that ca
pacity are still fresh in the public mind.
War between the United States and Spain
came on and Funston was offered the post
of colonel of the goth Kansas. He ac-
cepted and was sent to the Philippines.
After his appointment as colonel he re
turned to lola in his uniform. He was
aware that his small figure was not par
ticularly military one, and that folks
were not likely to be daZzled by his ap-
pearance but he was still proud OF his uni
form.
How does 1t feel to wear a uniform like
that? one friend asked.
"I don't know how 1t feels to others, but
feel awkward in it.
do you feel you can fight In it?"
well, If can't can take it on and do
some fighting"
The Goth Kansas was formed of COM
panies from different towns In the south
eastern part Of the state, and while it was
being gotten together Colonel Funston was
ordered by General Miles to report to him
at Tampa. 1t was believed he would he
assigned to the staff of the commanding
general. He went to Tampa, where lie
gave General Miles the benefit of his ex-
perience and information relating to Cuba,
the insurgents and the Spanish forces. He
wanted to go back and join his regiment.
After remaining IN Tampa for about a
month he was ordered back to his regi-
ment
Just before he sailed from San Francisco
on his first trip to the Philippines, romance
peeped into the life of Funston One day
a messenger came to the farmhouse in
Kansas, with a telegram for his mother
She opened it and found that 1t contained
a brief statement to the effect that Fred
had been married to Miss Ella Blankard,
a young woman Of Oakland, Cal
In the campaign that eliminated In the
capture OF Molalos, the first Filipino capt.
tai Funston was a leading figure. He
swan river, pistol in hand, with few
of his men and turned the tide of "a battle.
That feat made him a national figure.
When he returned home with his Kansans
and was mustered out his state gave him
an ovation.
When the new volunteer army was form
ed Funston was appointed a brigadier gen.
eral and went back TO the islands. His
services have been Invaluable to General
Macarthur In organizing scouts and plan
ming expeditions.