Arizona republican., 1917-02-20


Kansas, at the point OF a revolver,
to police station.
A few years later. while city editor
of a paper in Fort Smith, Arkansas,
young Funston stirred up intense feel
ing by attacking editorially the pub
lcatlon's own political party leaders
during the absence of his editor in
chief. Many threats are said to have
been made against Funston and the
newspaper property, but he remained
on guard until his superior returned
ard then turned over the plant I'M
harmed. incidentally, Funston also
resigned
Along the Santa Fe railroad they
still recall now Funston as a pass
enger conductor. threw a drunken
cowboy off a train and later. when
he hurled q rock through a coach
window, pursued him several miles
ON foot while the train waited.
funstons first experience on the
firing line came in Cuba, where he
commanded General GOmezs artillery
with remarkable results. After en-
Saging in twenty two battles and being
wounded three times, he resigned his
command because fifty guerrillas
Who mad aided the Spaniards were
ed by Spariard on his wayto Havana.
he escaped death by swallowing a
letter to the president of Cuba which
would have proved his identity.
While colonel of the famous
twentieth Kansas volunteer infantry
in the Philippine war, Funston per-
formed feats of bravery that brought
him the title of brigadier general His
capture of Aguinaldo and his fording
n he
under fire featured his work.
Funston has been described by his
superiors as absolutely fearless. Ever
ready TO plunge into danger, he cared
little whether his force equalled that
of his opponent. One day, the story
goes, when II appeared certain the
t1lipinos would destroy three COM
panies under Funston's command
General Harrison Gray Otis, inquired
of the colonel how long he could hold
his position.
Until l am mustered out" Funston
replied; and he made good ny re-
pulsing the F'ilipinos.
When the volunteers We're discharg-
ed Funston retained his rank as "A
member OF the regular army. As q
regular he made mark by maintain
ing order in san Francisco during the
disaster of 1906. Temporarily in
charge of the troops at the Preside.
when the disturbance came, he quick
ly declared martial law and set about
obtaining accommodations for the
homesless, keeping down the cost of
food and arresting trouble makers.
1t was while he was in command of
the troops of Vera Cruz in 1914 that
ne was raised to the rank of major
general lie then was As years old.
The ambition of Funston's youth
was to go to West Point but he
failed in an entrance examination.
IN later years he repeatedly outrank-
ed West Pointers who We're in school
when he failed of admission.
Physically. Funston was one of the
smallest men in the United States
army. He was barely five feet and
five inches tall and usually weighed
less than 100 pounds. In civil life he
was modest and retiring.
Life Continual Adventure
KANSAS CITY. Feb le.-Maior
General Funstons life was one of con-
tinual adventure from the time he had
mind Of his own His father, Ed
ward ii. Funston. a prominent Kansas
democratic politician, early learned this
although II was not displayed in any
sense of disohedience. Young Funston
wanted to go To the University of Kan
sas where The majority Of his high
school classmates had entered. His
father had selected another school. To
Kansas Funston went-Hith no allow
ance. He did all kinds OF odd Jobs
around the school to pay for his board
and room until his father perceiving
the lads serious intention, commenced
sending generous remittances
When out Of school he took W news
paper work. being employed on the old
Kansas City Times and later on Fort
Smith. Ark and New York nublica-
tons. His newspaper career was
stormy In spots, his Kansas City posi-
ton terminating after he injected some
wild tale into supposedly staid mar
ket report and his Fort Smith adveH-
ture ending with his resignation" after
running the paper in high handed fash
ion during absence of the managing
editor.
General Funston was a featherweight
as far az physical dimensions were
concerned. When he was appointed
colonel of the Kansas regiment. Fun
ston was told by J. w Gleed. an old
time friend. that he would have a hard
time passing the doctors.
Then III dodge the doctors" i'm
mediately replied Funston.
Funston led his troops through the
campaign which terminated with the
capture Of AGuinaldo. The taking Of
the famous insurrecto was laughingly
characterized as dirty trick" by Cen
eral Funston in talking Of the event in
later years.
The report that he deserted the Gu
ban army, after having enlisted and
fought with the rebelling natives of
that country. was brought back to New
York. General Funston telling of his
Cuban experiences, said he had fought
through the vicious campaign, enduring
every hardship that an unequipped ar
my can endure. After serving as ex-
pert gunner for more than a year with
out pay. he asked for a leave of an
sence: THIS request was not comnlied