The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-04-12

full of rum became rampageous In his
car, and. lying on his back I'm the
aisle, began shooting holes In the cell
ing. The little conductor kicked the
revolver out of his hand, yanked him
along the aisle, and threw him OF the
back platform. The cowboy got up and
hurled piece of ballast, which broke
an end window, then started and ran
down the track. with Funston in hot
pursuit, flinging ballast as he ran. un-
til the fugitive distanced him. BY the
time he got back to his train, sweating
and breathless. half an hour had been
dropped on the schedule. The superin-
tendent made an inquiry shout 1t, and
the conductor explained.
ut was all right to throw him on.
said the superintendent, but what did
you go and chase him for?
II suppose I was mad said Funston.
Wouldn't you be mad II a man threw
a rock through your Window"
probably, but don't do 1t again." said
the Superintendent.
Whether because of this restriction or
for other CAUSES. the young man soon left
the railroads employ and cast about him
for something else to do. The chances
came in an expedition to Dakota, fol-
lowed by one to Death Valley. From this
latter half Of the travellers came back
permanently disabled. but 1t seemed to
agree with Funston, and he fiked so well
tho exploring of unknown countries that
he looked around for something else In
the same line. The agricultural depart-
ment wanted some one to collect botant-
cal specimens In the interior of Alaska,
and friend got an offer of the place for
Funston. at the same time warning him
that 1t was perilous job.
That's all right" said the young man,
but as my botanical knowledge doesn't
extend much further than knowing vio-
let from sunfiower, don't think I'd be
q valuable collector
In Alaska Before Gold strike.
Nevertheless the prospect was so allur-
ing that he set to work to learn practical
botany, and in 1899 was in Alaska. He
went over Chilkoot pass in late bliz.
zard, struck for the Interior, reached tho
started down the Yukon alone in q ca
noe which he had built. His canoe was
caught In rapids. split on a rock, and that
would have been the end of Fred Funs-
ton but for missionary who CHANGED tc
be going along with some Indians, and
who saved him. That winter he spent
viii. Indians hunting and exploring, and
when he returned it was with store of
highly comprehensive and valuable botan-
ical material. His one criticism Of Alaska
was that 1t was magnificent country
but pretty lonely.
His next venture was in Cuba, where he
went filibustering. Gomez gave him a
commission and he became second in com
mnnd of artillery under Osgood. the fam
oas Cornell football halfback. He made a
record for bravery ut Guimaro in Octo-
Der, 1896, where his chief was killed and
he took command At the head Of his ar
tillcrymen and with a dynamite bomb In
his hand he charged the Spanish works
In the assault which terminated in their
surrender. At Bayano he became cav
airy officer temporarily. because there
was more for cavalry than for artillery to
do there. and was shot three times, but
such was his endurance and physique
that he was ready for more fighting in a
short time. At Los Tunas he managed
the Cuban dynamite guns which wrought
such havoc among the Spanish troops,
and was again wounded. At the same
time his horse was shot and fell upon
him, badly injuring his hips. Wounded
as he was, he hobb!ed to headquarters on
learning that fifty prisoners, guerrillas
who fought on the Spanish side were to
b. executed and begged for their lives.
The petition was refused.
Couldn't Stand Cuban Barbarity.
Enraged at the barbarfty OF the Cubans.
Funston swore that he would never strike
another blow IN a cause that permitted
such an outrage, and thereupon resigned
his commission, having fought in twenty
two battles. With u letter from General
Garcia ordering transportation tc this
country for him, he went to the coast and
fell In with a number Of Spaniards. Az 1t
didn't seem advisable to be found with
papers signed by Garcia upon him. Funs.
ton ate the letter. 1t gave him indiges
ton, which, added to malaria and the eff.
fects Of his wounds. left him In bad con.
dition when he landed In New York, the
Spaniards having treated him well and
put him aboard q ship. For three weeks
he was in a hospital in New York city.
and when he came out he weighed but
ninety pounds.
Shortly after he had recovered his nor.
NAL health and energy the war with
Spain broke out and he offered his serv-
ices. An opportunity was given him tc
go on General Miles staff but he chose
| rather to acc>2t the command Of the
Twentieth Kansas, after. he had failed OF
recognition in his project to raise regi-
ment OF rough riders. 1t was great dis.
appointment to him that his regiment did
not get to Cuba. but his chance came
| later, when 1t was ordered to the Philip
pines.
His WooinR and Wedding.
On the way there was long wait In
San Francisco. where he met, wooed and
married. a young music teacher all in two
| weeks, and she accompanied him to Ma
nilla Since the fighting began he has
been prominent in many battles. In the
| fighting before Malolos early in the insur.
| rection he found himself with part OF his
command on enc side of the muddy Mari
, lao river and force of Filipinos on the
other side, who had good position and
! were calling our troops by their constant
fire Calling for volunteers who could
| swim Funston selected twenty men, told
them to follow him, and, holding his re-
vclver I'D, swan the stream. The men
put their guns on logs and followed,