Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-03

'stELuetDIr ~ uLtl .tAFtutSU Tue ttltlt-
known and rluch-dreaded territory OF
! Death Valley. California. Funston was
hotaRist OF this party, Two years
after facing desert heat and drouth.
! he tackled the snow and ice OF Alaska.
as commander OF Ga expedition sent
ny the department CT agriculture 10 eX-
D!o7e Alaska and report on. its flora.
He eamped in the klondike during the
winter OF '93-A. making his memorable
solitary canoe trip in the spring.
! Civilization couldn't hold Funston
fer long, and in 1885, We find him
( esDousing the cause Of oppressed Gu,
ta and serving through the. grades of
captain. major and lieutenant colonel
ia the insurgent army. He served With
distinction for eighteen months. Was
Eounded, and returned TO the United
States to recuperata.
Colonel of Volunteers.
When the war between the United
States and Spain broke out, Funston
was commissioned colonel of the 2ath
Kansas volunteer infantry. consider
ably TO his own surprise. He went TO
the Philippines at the head of his regi-
mCnt and took. part in q number of
big battles and innunerable Skin
mishes. making name not only for
personal bravery, but for sagacity as
& military strategist. Among other
noteworthy feats was the crossing Of
the Rio G-ande at Calumpit on a
small bamboo raft in the face of a
heavy fire, and establishing rope
ferry by which the T. s troops were
enabled. to cross and win a decisive
battle. For this act he was made a
brigadier general of volunteers on
May 20, 1899, and awarded the medal
OF honor February II, 1900.
Caught Willy Emilio.
The feat for which General Funston
is probably best known was the cap
ture of Emilio Aguinaldo, which he
planned and accomplished while cam
paigning in Luzon. The story is IA
miliar to every reader OF modern his
tory, being one of the most brilliant
strokes of daring, as we'll as one of
the seVerest tests of nerve and STAN
ina. ever recorded Briefly stated,
Funston learned through captured cor
fespondence of the presence of Emilio
Aguinaldo in remote village. He
conceived the plan Of Disgusting a
company of Macabebe scouts as in
surgents, and, paving the way by
forged correspondence, to have them
march to AguinalGos hiding place as
achievements, himself and four
other American officers accompanying
them disguised as prisoners. The de-
tails OF the expedition were most care
fully thought out, and it was neces-
sary for more than eighty men to play
part within the enemy's lines for
more than a week. The chances Of
success were slim, but after almost
unbelievable hardships, the little band
finally reached the insurgent chief
tain, and throwing aside their disguise,
effected the capture. II
In his intensely interesting book,
Memories of Two Wars" General
Funston opens the chapter on the cap
tilre of Aguinaldo as follows: r.
> 1T was the Sth day of February,
1901, and in the room that served as
an office in the headquarters building
at San Isidro, Il was going over the
mornings work with the adjutant
general Of the district, Captain E. V.
Smith, when there arrived telegram
that for the moment disturbed our
equanimity-a brief message that was
10 have no small part in the making of
the history of the Philippine insur-
rcction.. III 49,. ~. 49,.
This was the message telling of the
voluntary surrender of some insurgent
messengers bearing important dis
patches. which eventually led to the
capture of Aguinaldo. The Captain
Smith referred TO is Major Erneste V.
Smith, of the Second Infantry, now
stationed at Fort Shafter. General
Funston gives Major Smith great
credit for his part in solving the DIFF
ficult cipher in which the communiea-
tions were written. .~.<
A few days after the capture of
Aguinaldo, and the return to Manila
with the prisoner, Funston was made
brigadier general in the regular
army, in recognition Of his feat, and
former service. ~ f. ~