Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-02-23
Gen. Funston Dies
Without Warning
In San Antonio.

w 1tuOuO V0luAuS
In San Antonio.
.oMMANDER OF uNIrED STATES
TROOPS ON MxxIcAN BORDER
STRICKEN WITH HEAkr
FAILURE.
San Antonio, Texas. Feb. 49,
General Frederick Funs-
ston, commander of the Southern
Department, dropped dead fol-
a dinner at the St. An
thony Hotel tonight. 4 COM
panion of the general stated.that
he ate very sparingly and de-
clined rich foods.
Shortly after dinner. General
Funston, accompanied by friends.
proceeded to the lobby. where
his companion suggested that
they sit down and listen to the
music.
His companion noticed that
one of General Funston's feet,
which was resting against a post,
slid from its position. General
Funston closed his eyes. and his
companion supposed. as that is
the custom with many people,
General Funston had relaxed his
position and closed his eyes in
meditation.
The General bepan to breathe
heavily and acted as if he were
trying to sneeze, says his com
panion, who asked if he were ILL
General Funston did not reply
and his companion called doc.
tor. When the physician arriv'
ed, General Funston was dead.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The
death of Major.General Frederick
Funston was announced to the
War Department tonight in a
telegram from Colonel Barnum,
General Funston's chief Of staff,
1t read:
General Funston died of heart
failure at 9:15 tonight.
The telegram reached Wash
ington while the chiefs of thu
nation's military establishment
we're at a formal cabinet dinner
given by Secretary of War Baker
The news cut short the dinner
and War Department officials a
once issued statements eulogiz
ing the dead officer.
President Wilson. Chief o
Staff General Scott, AMI the re
mainder of the dinner party ex
pressed their deep grief at thu
death of the officer. who has beer
looked upon by the War Depart
ment as one of the creates
fighters the United States Army
has known Later, Secretary
Baker issued the following state
ment
General Funston's death is :
loss to the army and to the whole
country. During the trouble OF
the Mexican border his work ha.
been exacting and difficult. Hi'
conduct has been that of a soldier
and he has exemplified the high
traditions of the army by hi.
quick. intelligent and effective
action. Throughout it all, the
sympathy between General Fun
ston and the War Department
has been complete, and no shadow
of disagreement has arisen. ]
am deeply grieved personally at
his death, and l feel that his loss
to the country is very great"
Major-General Funston was
born November 9, 1865, at New
Castle, Ohio, and in point of
years was the youngest major
general in the army, being in his
ffty-second year.
His military career began in
1895, when he entered the Cuban
insurgent army, serving as cap
tain, major and lieutenant-colo-
mel in the cavalry corps. When
the the Spauish-Ameriean war
broke out. Funston entereA the
volunteer service of the United
States as colonel of the Twentieth
Kansas Infantry and was sent to
the Philippines. 1t was there
that he won his greatest distinc-
ton as a soldier.
On February "a, 1900, he or.
ganized and commanded the ex-
petition that captured Aguinaldo
in chief of the Phil
Lippine forces. He was appoint.
ed brigadier-general in the
regular army in April 1901. He
commanded the army forces
which followed the naval expe-
dition into the city of Vera Cruz