The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-30
manner had, concealed from them his ad-

manner had. concealed from them his adj
venturous spirit.
1t was the report written by Frederick
Funston of his exploration of Death VAL
ley that earned for him an appointment
by the Democratic Secretary of Agricul-
ture under Cleveland's second administra-
fion in 1898 as commissioner to explore
Alaska and report on the fora of that
country.
The second daring adventure of Funston
was thatw which followed his appointment
to visit Alaska. He penetrated the frozen
regions wherever his presence was need
ed in the discharge of his commission. On
one occasion he took some Indian guides
and Travelled 200 miles over the snow and
ice to the rescue OF a ship that was ice
bound. He went as far up the Yukon
river as any man has gone since and he
visited the places where gold has since
been found to excite the whole country.
He camped the winter of 1884 in the
Klondike. 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 COM
panion in the lonely camp in the person
of an Episcopal missionary.
<alNCh AiAS AGluIll AIOtll AldSkd uuSIOu
became in turn promoter of a coffee plan
tation scheme in Central America lectur-
er on Alaska and clerk in a railroad Of
flee in New York. He was also a news
paper reporter In Kansas City for a time.
Next he became an insurgent in Cuba,
leaving New York in the spring of 1896
for that exciting work. The first filibus-
tering expedition was then being outfit
ted. The tug Dauntless was the craft
that was to carry arms and men in the
first expedition from the United States to
aid the force of General Garcia.
When the Dauntless sailed Funston was
aboard. After cruising about for several
days landing place was found. Funston
soon became leader of the Cuban artil-
lery and stories of his bravery in that
capacity are still fresh in the public
mind.
War between the United States and
Spain came on and Fusion was Offered
the post of colonel of the Twentieth Kan
sas. He accepted 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
uniform. .e
How does it feel to wear a uniform
like that?' one friend asked.
II don't know how it feels to others,
but I feel awkward in it,"
DO you feel you can fight in t?''
well, If 1 can't, / can take it off and
do some fighting"
The Twentieth Kansas was formed of
companies from different towns in the
southeastern part of the state, and while
it was being gotten together Colonel Fun
ston was ordered by Gen. Miles to re-
port to him at Tampa. 1t was believed
he would be assigned to the staff of the
commanding general. He went to Tam
pa, where he gave Gen. Miles the benefit
of his experience and Information relat-
ing to Cuba, the insurgents and the Span,
ish forces. He wanted to go back and
joint his regiment. After remaining in
Tampa for about a month he was order
ed back to his regiment
Just before he sailed from San Fran
cisco on his first trip to the Philippines
romance peeped into the life of Funston.
One day a messenger came to the farm
house in Kansas with a telegram for his
mother. She opened it and found that it
contained a brief statement to the effect
that Fred had been married to Miss
Ella Blankard, a young woman of Oak
land, Cal.
IN the campaign That eliminated in the
capture of Malolos, the first Filipino cap
bal, Funston was leading figure. He
swan a river, pistol in hand, With a
few of his men and turned the tide of
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
formed Funston was appointed a briga-
der general and went back to the islands
His services have been invaluable to Gen.
Macarthur in organizing scouts and plan
ming expeditions.