The Robesonian., 1917-02-22
GENERAL FUNSTON PASSES


San Antonio, Texas, Dispatch, Feb.
19.
Maior-General Frederick Funston,
commander of the Southern de-
partment of the United States
army since February, 1915, died sud
denly at hotel here tonight few
minutes after he had finished dinner.
He collapsed while seated in the lob
by Of the hotel talking with friends,
and was playing with little 1nez Sill
verberg, Of Des Moines, Iowa, a guest
with her parents at the hotel, VIII
he fell unconscious. Death was a.
most instantaneous. General Funs-
ton was 81 years old.
Worked at Unusual Pace
Ever since March, 1916, When he
was placed in command OF all United
States forces on the Mexican border,
General Funston had worked at ar
unusual pace. AT critical times in
border developments he frequently
remained on duty 20 hours Of the, "a:
The handling OF regulars disposed. Of
at various stations on the border,
the Pershing expedition and, of late,
re-arrangement of regular troops
while providing for the return of Ma
tional guardsmen, have entailed an
! enormous amount Of detail work,
probably exceeiing that which fell to
any commanding general OF the Unit
ed States army since the Civil war.
Only today General Funston COM
pleted orders for the return of the
last of the guardsmen., Because of
the amount Of work which has fallen
to him, General Funston's only re-
creation or relaxation for nearly a
year has been an occasional dinner
party with few friends.
Only recently General Funston re-
turned from an inspection trip which
took him as far as Nogales, Ariz
That, with one trip to Brownsville
Texas, and a brief visit to Austin
! Texas, last year, were the only oc-
casions when he has been absent from
his desk since the border trouble de-
veloped.
Not until 1895 when the Cuban in
surrection was at it's height did Fred
erick Funston become known through
out the United States as first clas!
fighting man, but his friends in Kan
sas-where he spent his early man
hood-long had so classified him.
As a student at the university O.
Kansas, when he weighed less thai
100 pounds, he conquered 2OO-pount
"bad man" who threatened him witt
razor. To add to the giants hu
initiation Funston marched hin
through the streets of Lawrence
! Kas., at the point of a revolver, t.
: police station.
A few years later, while city ed
itor of a paper in Fort Smith, Ark
5 young Funston stirred up intens
= feeling by attacking editorially tn
, publications own political party lead
:. :. ers during the absence of his editor
have been made against Funston an
:, the newspaper property, but he re
Il mained on guard until his superio
returned and then turned over tn
plant unharmed. Incidentally, Funs
: ton also resigned.
Along the Santa Fe railroad the
still recall how Funston, as a pas
5, senger train conductor, threw
: drunken cowboy off a train and late
/, when he hurled a rock through
q coach window, pursued him sever
J. miles on foot while the train waite
II Funston's first experience on tt
II firing line came in Cuba, where l
!.ee commanded General Gomez's arti
IL lery with remarkable results. Aft,
:. engaging in % battles and beir
IL I'll wounded three times, he resigned h
III command because SO guerillas vi
had aided the Spaniards were >execu
rs ed against his wishes. Captured
IN IN Spaniards on his way to Havana,
le escaped death by swallowing lett
'e to the President of Cuba which wou
y have proved his identity.
- - While a colonel Of the famous 20
[k Kansas Volunteer Infantry IN II
he Philippine war, Funston preform
nc feats Of bravery that brought hi
> the title Of brigadier general. H
capture of Aguinaldo and his fordil
of the Rio Grande river at Column
under fire featured his work.
" VI Funston has been describd by
10 superiors as absolutely fearless. E
~ er ready to plunge into danger,
"a a. cared little whether his force equ
'.e ed that Of his opponent. One ds
'.e the stroy goes. when it appeared c.
Le tain the Filipinos would destroy thu
80 companies under Funston's commal
az General Harrison Gray Otis inuui1
W of the colonel how long he could h,
,u his position.
a "Until l am mustered out!" Fu1
ID 10 ton replied; and he made good by
III III pulsing the Filipinos.
"a "a Wren the volunteers were discha.
lve ed Funston retained his rank as
in in &o ~ ~