The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-02-23
SOLDIER WAS STRICKEN AT
SAN ANTONIO LAST NIGHT
United States Army Has Lost One Of Its
Most Picturesque and Well Known
Characters; He Possessed Military
Genius; Favored BY Fortune; Not
West Pointer, But He Knew the
Fighting Game Thoroughly
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
San Francisco, CAL, February 20.
The body of Major General Fred
erick Funston, who dropped dead at
San Antonio last night, is to be bur-
led in the national cemetery at the
Preside. Major Franklin Bell, COM
mander of the western department
of the army, is authority for this
statement. All the troops in and
around San Francisco will partici-
pate in the funeral ceremonies.
Washington, February 20.-Major
General John J. Pershing, the latest
man in the United States to acquire
that title, succeeds automatically,
through the death Of General Fun
ston to the Iatter's command in the
southern department of the army.
In the death of General Funston,
the army has lost one of it's most
picturesque and best known charac-
tiers. He was a little more than five
feet high, slightly under the present
minimum height for enlistment, but
his career Mas most active and SEN
s%ationaI. He had to do with events
that keeniy interested the general
public. His speed, zeal and military
genius are well known to all who
were associated with him. Fortune
favored General Funston in placing
him right on hand where active du-
ties On a large scale in matters of
nationwide interest were required.
San Antonio, Tex, Feb. 20.-"Fight-
ing Fred Funston" beloved of every
member of the regular army and idol
lied by every man who served in the
Philippines, died suddenly in a hotel
here. He was fifty-one years old.
The death of the man made famous
by the capture of Aguinaldo, was in
Simultaneous. He collapsed while play
ing in the lobby of the hotel with Inez
SilVerberg, baby daughter Of guests
at the hotel. He fell unconscious and
eve revived. 1o0 -
General Funston's last words before
he became unconscious were: e
How beautiful it is" :fGTD e
He referred 20 the %Beadtffdl Blue
Danube" waltz which the hotel or.
chestra was playing. t"lS"1 pa
Two weeks AGO General Funston
suffered an attack. Of Indigestion. To
use his own eexpfession,O 81 fought it
out alone.' ''""'"
Later, he placed himself under. the
care of Lieutenant Colonel M. w. Ire
land Of the medical corps, Southern
department. Under his guidance he
regained normal health and spirits.
Duties Have Been Exacting.
Ever since March, 1916, when he
was placed in command of all United
! States forces on the Mexican border,
General Funston had worked at an
unusual pace.
At critical times in border develop
ments he frequently remained on duty
twenty-four hours of the t%wenty-four.
The handling of regulars disposed
of at various stations on the border,
I the Pershing expedition and Of late re-
arrangement of regular troops while
providing for the return of the nation.
al guardsmen has entailed an enor'
nous amount of detail work, probably
exceeding that which fell to any com
handing general of the United States
army since the Civil war.
General Funston had just complet.
ed orders for the return of the last of
the guardsmen.
Because of the amount Of work
which has fallen to him General Fun.
ston's only recreation or relaxation
for nearly a veal has been an occa-
sional dinner party with friends.
Last Official Order.
UNITED Press Dispatch.l
San Antonio, Texas, February 20
The last official order of public in
terest given out by General Freder-
ick Funston, who dropped dead here
last night, was for the departure of
the $4,000 national guardsmen still
remaining on the border for their
several states.
From Tuesdays Daily.