Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-02-23
GEN, FRED FUNSTON
DIES SUDDENLY At
SAN ANTONIO HOTEL
Drops Unconscious While Playing
With Child.
ACUTE INDIGESTION, CAUSE
Commander of American Troops on the
Border Was Captured by Spaniards
in 1896 and Escaped Death
by Swallowing Letter.

San Antonio, lex, n D. ZU.--TeIl.
Frederick Funston, commander of the
southern department, died here last
night, a few minutes after he collapsed
while in a local hotel, where he had
gone with party of friends. Attend
ing physicians say the cause of death
was acute indigestion.
General Funston had just finished
dinner and was playing with a child
when he fell unconscious.
Funston Always a Fighter.
Not until 1896, when the Cuban in
surrection was at it's height, did Fred
erick Funston become known through
out the United States as first-class
fighting man, but his friends in Kan
sas-where he spent his early manhood
long had so classified him.
AS a student at the University of
Kansas, when he weighed less than
100 pounds, he conquered a 200-pOund
bad man" who threatened him with
a razor. To add to the giants humilia
ton, Funston marched him through the
streets Of Lawrence, Kan, at the point
of a revolver, to police station.
A few years later, while city editor
of a paper in Fort Smith, Ark, young
Funston stirred up intense feeling by
attacking editorially the publications
own political party leaders during the
absence of his editor in chief
Held. on Despite Threats.
Many threats are said to have been
made against Funston and the news
paper property. but he remained on
guard until his superior returned and
then turned over the plant, unframed
incidentally, Funston also resigned.
Funston's first experience on the
firing line came in Cuba, where he
commanded General Gomez artillery
with remarkable results.
Captured by Spaniards.
Captured by Spaniards on his way
to Havana, he escaped death by swal-
lowing a letter to the president of
Cuba which would have proved his
identity.
While colonel of the famous Twen-
| tieth 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
| of the Rio Grande river at Columpit
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 equaled that
of his opponent. One day, the story
| goes, when it appeared certain the
| Filipinos would destroy three COM
| panies under FunstOn's command,
| Gen. Harrison Gray Otis inquired of
| the colonel how long he could hold his
| position.
Repulses Filipinos.
Until / am mustered OUT" Funston
replied: and he made good by repuls-
ing the Filipinos.
When the volunteers were dis
charged, Funston retained his rank
| as member of the regular army. AS
a regular, he made mark by main
tanning order in San Francisco during
| the disaster of 1906. Temporarily in
| charge of the troops at the Preside,
| when the disturbance came, he quick
l'ly declared martial law and set about
| obtaining accommodations for the
homeless, keeping down the cost of
f! food and arresting trOuble-makers.
| IT was while he was in command of
| the troops at Vera Cruz in 1914 that
he was raised to the rank of major
general. He was then forty-nine years
| old.
The ambition of Funston's youth
was to go to West Point, but he failed
i'm an entrance examination. In later
years he repeatedly outranked West
Pointers who were in school when ne
failed of admission.
Commanded Border Forces.
General Funston was born at New
Carlisle. O.. November 9, 1865. He was
tbe son of Edward HOgue Funston.
Physically, Funston was one of the
smallest men in the United States
army. He was barely feet inches
fall and usually weighed less than 12C
pounds. In civil life he was modest
and retiring.
When trouble in Mexico made II
necessary to send an American ex
pedition TO Vera Cruz in April, 1914
General Funston was put in com
mand of the troops. He was military
governor of Vera Cruz until Novem
Der, 1914.
Late in 1914 he was made major
general and appointed commands
of the southern department.
In March, 1916. he was given com
mand of the United States troop:
along the border of Mexico and als'
of the troops sent into Mexico II
| r11rS11if of Villa