The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-06
Romantic Career of Our Fighting Hero of Fortune
NOtU In Command In Mexico Gen. Fred Funston


Cruz. is an example OF natural sol
der who came TO his profession
through love OF hghting and the needs
OF distressed nation.
Funston was born in CarttsleTo., IN
1865 and moved TO Kansas with the
rest o, the family when ne was three
years old. His father became con
gresham from Kansas. giving prece-
dent for services TO the nation.
The boy. Fred Funston was gradu
ated from high school and attended
the University OF Kansas Tor two
years. He LETT there and. took II job
on railroad. But the life was mo-
notonous. There was too much OF the
adventurer in the boy to remain at
prosaic pursuits He went TO Kansas
City and became a reporter
In 1893 the department OF agricul
ture sent out the Death Valley expe-
dition TO Alaska 70 report on the fora
OF that country Fred Funston &C
companied the expedition as botanist.
II was the start OF his adventuresome
career.
In June, 1896 Fred Funston was
wanderer in New York city. a news
paper man and botanist, just back
from Alaska, out OF his element in
the big city and waiting Tor Opportu-
nifty 10 knock at the door
A little later in the same year he
was with the Cuban junta in New
York. learning the mechanism OF a
Hotchkiss 12-pounder. breech.loading
rife in dark little room over a sa-
loon well up on Third-aye. ~
1t was strange the way he got his
chance.. He went TO Mr.. Palma. after
wards president OF Cuba but then IN
charge OF the junra in New York, He
asked the Cuban patriot to give him
chance to lend his services 10 the
suffering republic as a filibuster. the
Cuban politely refused his offer. He
was afraid that Funston was spy.
Gen. Funston went to friend and
got letter OF recommendation TO the
old Cuban. Mr.. Palma looked him
over. told him to buy a cannon and
learn the art OF handling it.
Fred Funston made good. He learn
ed every detail of the construction OF
the Hotchkiss. He demonstrated be-
fore the members OF the junta A few
weeks later he embarked for Cuba as
filibuster, right under the noses or
Spanish spies and United States Sc
cret service men. He was launched
ON his career as a fighter.
In Cuba he and five other Ameri-
cans made up large part OF the ar
tillery of the comic opera army of Gu
ban patriots. He had charge OF the
same Hotchkiss gun. He saw action
Immediately on his landing under Gen.
Gomez and later under Gen. Garcia.
Both these men were veterans or the
Ten-Year war, the hopeless struggle
for Cuban independence, which was
finally closed by United States inter
vention. He was given a commission
as captain. In the fall OF Guaimoro,
Funston and his gun took an import
ant part, opening the way in the for
tifications through which the victo-
rious Cubans took the town.
He was made observation-disclosures
the Cuban army. Toward the end OF
the struggle he was wounded. captured
by the Spaniards and. wrecked by
tropical fever. his recovery was con-
sidered doubtful.
Through the courtesy OF his captors
he was sent home to the United States
with the laurels of a hero upon him.
When the army of occupation en-
barked for the Philippines, Funston
accompanied the Twentieth Kansas
Volunteers as colonel At Calumpit
he came into his own through a deed
OF daring. Calumpit is on the Grand
river.
The brigade OF which the twentieth
Kansas was part came upon the Fill
pinos there There were 5000 OF
the enemy under Aguinaldo's own
command. They were lodged across
the river and seemed impervious OF
successful attack and dislodgement.
The Americans opened continuous
fire, covering the Filipino trenches
with dead line" of lead so that no
Filipino dared lift HIS head to take
aim. Protected by this dead line"
Funston with a few men crossed the
river on a fragile raft. carrying Colt
repeating gun.
They landed at the head OF the Fill