The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-20
General Fred Funston, the Captor of AguanaIdo,
Dies Suddenly of indigestion While With Friends
PLA LAYING WITH CHILD
WHEN HE COLLAPSED
Began Distinguished Army
Career in Spanish
American War.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. IL.
Ma .jnr General Frederick Funston,
commanding the Southern Depart
nlcnt OF the United States army,
and one ct the leading figures in
the country'S military history
since his capture OF AEulnaIdo
while commanding Il KANSAS vol
uutrrr regiment in the Philip
pines. died ni acute indigestion to-
night. He collapsed in Il hotel
soon after dining with friends,
and did not regain coilSciuu>nrSS
before his death a short time after
ward.
General Funston was at his vi
flee to-day, with no sign Of ill.,.
health. During dinner he seemed
in his usual good spirits, and after
the meal began to play with IL.
child of one OF the guests. He fell
over unconscious before anyone
could reach him.
Had Been III.
L.ieutenant-Colonel NJ. ". ireland.
medical corps. [. $, ~. General Fun
Sioas physician. said tonight:
General FunsIml'S death was caused
by angina &clerosis nj the arteries "t
the heart. Death was almost .nl-
mediate and without pain"
Colonel Ireland said General Fun
ston had been under his care for thr
last TWO weeks and for several da:&
had been virtually well. Two weeks
ago he had an attack OF acute indi@eS'
ton.
General Funston was 81 years oil.
Ever since March. 1916. when he
was placed in command oil all United
States forces on the Mexican border.
General Funston had worker unusually
hard. At critical times in border de-
relopments he frequently remained III
duty
Continuously for 81 Hours.
The Pershing expedition and. Of
late. rearranSement of regular troops
while providing for the return Oi Ma
tional Guardsmen. eXaCted an enor-
nous amount Of detail work, probably
exceeding that which fell 10 any other
commanding general of the United
States army since the civil war.
Only today General Funston com
pleted orders for the return OF th" last .
Of the guardSmen. Because of the
amount Of work which has fallen IN
him. General Funston's only recrca-
ton or relaxation for nearly a year has
been occasional dinner parties with
friends. Recently General Funston re- ,
turned from an inspection trip which .
took him as far as NOCales. AriZ. That
with one trip 10 BroW1Srlllr, lex.
and a brief visit TO Austin. Tex. las
year, was the only occasion when ha
has been absent from his desk since
the border trouble developed.
Two weeks ago when General Fun
ston suffered an attack Of indigestion.
he fought it out alone" TO use his
own expression. Later. he placed him
self under the care Of Colonel ireland
and regained normal health ami
spirits. Nevertheless at dinner to-ligh. ,
General Funston was particularly al
stemious and ate only sparIngIy OF the
simplest dishes.
Colonel Malvern Hill Barnum. Cen
eral Funston's chief Of Staff. IN
mediately notified the war department.
Of General Funston's death. News also
was dispatched to Mrs. Funston. VINO
IS visiting friends in California.
No ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral
have been made.
General FunSton'S last words were:
How beautiful it is" He referred 10
the "Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz.
which the hotel orchestra was playing.