Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-25
funston TELLS
OF ALASKAN
EXPERIENCE

Speaking to an audience which pack
ed Cooke Hall, General Frederick
Funston last night told OF his Early
Days on the Yukon Famous for his
ospture of Aguinaldo in the Philip
pine rebellion, this adventure in the
snow and ice of the Arctic circle Is a
not widely known chapter in the IA
nous fighters life, but one which for
hardships suffered and bravery de-
manded should bring him greater re
known
I'm 1891 | was appointed a special
agent for the Department Of Agrieui-
ture and assigned to investigating
work in new country. What my quar-
Iilcations for this position we're, is
hard to determine, unless that my
father was a congressman, and chair
man of the committee of agriculture.
After a years work in the Northwest
General Funston received orders TO do
some special work in the then little
! known territory Of Alaska. While in
The north he was also to collect sor's
trash and other objects of interest
for the Smithsonian Institute.
Sailing at once from San Francisco
on the ''City Of Topeka, he arrived at
Nome, the only city In all Alaska at
that time. Securing his companions,
couple OF old adyenturers. General
Funston set out on the long and te-
dious Journey up the Yukon over Nc
Dougan Pass and down the Mackenzie
river to the Arctic ocean, being the
first white traveller to ever accomplish
this feat
Far uu in tie mountains where a
small spring Is the source OF the
mighty Yukon the party left the vail
ley Of the river and headed for the
great divide. His white comrade had
left him at this time, and he must pro-
cure Indians to 60 with him. The Indi-
ans were afraid of the "Huskies or
Esquimaux who lived along the
shores Of the Arctic ocean. and it was
with great difficulty that General Fun
ston induced few Of them to make
the trip with him.
The most unique baseball league in
the world was the one which General
Funston found far in the northland
with its diamond on the Ice Of the
frozen Arctic ocean To keep their
men in condition during the winter
months of otherwise inactivity. the Of
ficers had organized a baseball league
from the men of all the ships -The
Shippers" the First Cooks" Head
Stewards Master Harpooners, First
Oficersy and Chief Engineers were
some Of the names Of the teams in the
league The thermometer always being
from twenty to forty-five degrees be-
low zero. the players were always
forced to wear their heavy fur mittens
during every minute of play. Conse-
quently the fielding Of the athletes
was not such that the big league
scouts would snap them UP and sign
them on. The slippery ice and hung
ling mittens made long drives fea-
tur, so that score ran UP into big fig--
ures, and sixties or eighties were not
unheard of scores.
The Esquimaux never ceased 10
wonder at the sport and activity OF
| the white men. Such crowds Of them
would gather that it was found nee.
essary to rope OF the side lines of the
iamond and keep tile rooters from in
lterferlng with the game. Thus with a
regularly organized league, rooters.
bleachers and an impartial umpire
there was full iiedged baseball
League holding regularly scheduled
games far up in the Arctic circle.
Four deaths roe,,lfad from tha haat al