The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-10
Battle of NIarIiao.

Battle OF MarliaO.
Extract from history of the Fight
ing Twentieth: "At Marliao the rebels
made a determined stand on the north
side of the Rio Grande, and it was
necessary for the Kansans to cross to
the other side in order to engage
them The river was too deep to
ford, so General Funston and a few
picked men swan the river. charged
the works on the other side and took
eighty prisoners. 1t was the publica-
ton of this exploit that made Col.
Funston famous and had much to do
with his reward-a brigadier generals
commission. 1t was an instance of
daring that justly delights the public
mind and in popular fancy made Fred
Funston, like Hobson, one of the pic
turesque heroes of the war;
At the reunion of the Twentieth
Kansas held here today the reproduc-
ton of the battle of Marliao was made
the feature of the days entertainment
at the state fair grounds. About two
hundred members of the Fighting
Twentieth were here and all took part
in the sham battle. The quarter
stretch of a Kansas race track, the
grove of trees beyond the creek and
the creek itself. which flows through
taken the color and outlines of a
Philippine jungle scene, with its rich
tropical foliage, cane brakes, beer
COlOred river, squat block house and
all the smells and sounds and dazzling
heat Of the forest country around
Malolos. It was doubtless easy for
the little general to hear the sound of
the Filipino tomtoms and their shrill
yells of defiance, soon to be turned
into squeals of dismay as the big
hot inn I've,
colonel emerged dripping from the
stream right under the caves of their
block houses, laughing at their fool
ish rife fire.
Capt. Pattison and his Kansas light
battery played the part of the insur-
gents and were posted at the west end
of the quarter stretch to represent the
enemy fortified in their block house.
The Twentieth crossed Topeka avenue
from the east and advanced to the east
side of the quarter stretch, where they
left a screen in the form of one line of
sharpshooters to engage the fire from
the block house, while the main body
marched south across Shunganunga
creek and advanced west into the grove
of trees just south of the creek. They
crossed the creek (the Rio Grande) at
this point and advanced on the battery
at double quick from the south. This
flank movement was successful and the
Jayhawkers soon had possession of thu
flaming battery
Thus. considering the nature of the
country. was the detail of the battle
of Marliao CARED out as nearly as pos
sible to the great delight and interest
of the immense throng of people as
sembled on the fair grounds today.
In the agricultural tent at the fair
grounds can be seen farm and fruit
displays from the Valley of the Palli-
sades in Colorado, from Green river
valley in Utah and from the fertile up
lands of Canada. For comparison with
these finest products of celebrated
farming countries the spectators have
display from Shawnee county, Kan
sas. The home display does not suffer
from the contrast, even to the most i'm
partial observer.
There were 10000 people in attend
ance at the fair yesterday and a crowd
of at least $4,000 is expected today, To-
peka day. Most of the places of busi-
ness in the city were closed all day to-
day and the shops and offices sus-
pended business after the noon hour.
The Red Cross station at the north
end of the grounds had work to do
yesterday, some six or seven cases of
sickness or accident being cared for
there. Two nurses from Christ hospi-
tai, Misses Myers and Henry, are in
attendance at the station day and
night. This Introduction of Red Cross
station at a great gathering. especially
IN hot weather. is a necessity that is
fully appreciated by the general public
The best of care and attention is al
ways given at these stations and the