Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-02-20
FUNSTON 'SDEATh
PUTS PERSH|NG
At TROOPS HEAD

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Feb. 20.-Pre-
parations are being made for the fun
eral services and interment of Major
General Frederick Funston, comman-
der of the Southern department of the
United States army, who died sud
denly here last night
The body of Gen. Funston will be
taken tonight to San Francisco for
burial in the National Cemetery at the
Presidio A brief funeral exercise
will be held at Fort Sam Houston this
afternoon, and the remains will be ac-
companied to California by Captain
Fitzhugh Lee and a guard of six en-
listed men. Mrs. Funston, who was at
her home in San Francisco when in
formed of her husbands death, re-
quested that the body be sent there
for interment.
Maj.-Gen. Funston died suddenly at
hotel here a few minutes after he
had finished dinner. He collapsed and
fell unconscious while seated in the
lobby of the hotel, talking with friends
and playing with little Inez Silverberg,
Of Des Moines, Ia, a guest of her par
ents at the hotel. Death was almost
instantaneous. Gen. Funston was 81
years old
Ever since March, 1916, when he
was placed in command of all United
States forces on the Mexican border,
Gen. Funston had worked at an un-
usual pace.
At critical times in border develop
nents he frequently remained on
duty 20 hours of the "a. Only yester-
day, Gen. Funston completed orders
for the return of the last of the
guardsmen.
Two weeks ago Gen. Funston suff-
cred an attack of indigestion. To use
his own expression, Il fought it out
alone" Later he placed himself un-
der the care of Lieut.-Col. M. w. Ire
land of the medical corps, Southern
department, and regained normal
health and spirits.
Nevertheless at dinner last night,
Gen. Funston was particular abstem-
ious and ate only sparingly of the
simplest dishes.
Sketch of FunstOn's Career.
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 a first class
fighting man, but his friends in Kan
sas-where he spent his early man
hood-long had so classified him.
AS a student at the University of
Kansas, when he weighed less than
100 pounds, he conquered 2OO-pound
bad man." who threatened him with
a razor. To add to the giants humil-
iation, Funston marched him through
the streets of Lawrence, Kansas, at
the point of a revolver, to a 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. Many
hnaF n1a0n
against Funston and the newspaper
property. but he remained on guard
until his superior returned, and then
turned over the plant to him. Incl
dentally. Funston also resigned.
Along the Santa Fe railroad, they
still recall how Funston, as passen-
ger train conductor. threw drunken
cowbov off train and later, when he
hurled a rock through a coach win
dow. pursued him several miles on
foot while the train waited.
Fought With Gomez in Cuba.
Funston's first experience on the
firing line came in Cuba. where he
commanded General GomeX's artillery
with remarkable results. After engag-
inc in twenty-five battles and being
wounded three times, he resigned his
command because fifty guerrillas who
had aided the Spaniards were eXecut-
"a AGAINST dis wishes. Captured by
Sraniards on his way to Havana, he
sscaped death by swallowing a letter
TO the president of Cuba which would
have proved his identity
While colonel of the famous Twen-
fieth Kansas Volunteer Infantry in the.
philippines war, Funston performed
feats of bravery that brought him the.
title of brigadier general. His cap
trre of Aguinaldo and his fOrding of
The Rio Grande river at Columpit un-