El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-20


On the arrival of the Kansas troops
from the Philippines. Funston was pre-
scented with q sword, the grit or 5pun
Kansas The sword was said at the
time 10 have been the handsOmest gift
Of its kind ever given an American war
hero
Gen. Funston never forgot Kansas
and had planned 10 spend his last days
If the sunflower state
Should Have stayed on Farm.
On recent visit 10 Kansas. he was
GOinS over some OF the country IN
which he spent his boyhoOd days and
said to companion on the trip:
I surely made a fool Of myself when
7 didn't stay Oh the farm He hesl-
lated a moment and added: But then
think OF the fun 1 would have missed
Conquered bad Man
New York. FEB 2o.-NOt until 1896,
when the Cuban Instruction was at its
height. did Frederick Funston become
known throughout the United States
as a first class fighting man. but his
friends in Kansas-where he spent his
early manhood-long had so classified
him.
As student at the University OF
Kansas. when he weighed less than 100
pounds. he conquered a zee pound bad
man. who threatened him with a razor.
To add TO the giants humiliation. Fun
ston marched him through The streets
Of Lawrence, has-. al the point OF
revolver. 10 4 police station
\ few years later. while city editor
OF a paper in Fort Smith. Ark. young
Funston stirred up intense feeling by
attacking editOrially the publication
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 un-
Ill his superior returned and then
turned over the plant unframed In
cldentally. Funston also resigned
Was santa Re Conductor.
Along the Santa Re railroad they
still recall how Funston as a passeu-
ger train conductor. threw drunken
cowboy off train and later when he
hurled a rock through a coach window,
pursued him several miles on foot while
Tie train waited
Funstons first experience on the fir
manded Gen GomeZS artillery with re-
markable results. After engaging in
- battles and being wounded three
times. he resigned his command be-
cause 50 guerrlllas who had aided the
Spaniards were executed against his
wishes Captured by Spaniards on his
way TO Havana. he escaped death by
swallowing a letter 20 the president
of Cuba which would have proved his
identity.
While colonel OF the famous goth
Kansas volunteer infantry in the Phil
ippine war, Funston performed feats of
bravery thar brought him the title Of
brigadier general His capture OF
Aguinaldo and mis- 1ording OF the Rio
Grande at Columpit under fire, featured
his work
He Held His Position.
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 il appeared certain the
FilipinOs would destroy three compa-
MES under FunstOn's command. Gen. |
Harrison Cray Otis inquired OF the col |
onel how long he could mold his pO- !
sition-
Until I am mustered out" Funston !
replied; and he made good by repulsing /
the Filipinos.
When the volunteers were DISCHARGED !
T Funston retained his rank as member |
OF the regular army. As a regular he !
made A mark by maintaining order IN
san Francisco during the disaster OF /
1906 Temporarily in charge Of the (
troops at the Preside. when the dis /
turbance came, ne quickly declared /
martial law and set about obtaining /
accommodation for the homeless,
keeping down the cost Of food and ar
resting trouble makers II was while I
ne was in command Of the troops m I
10 the rank Of major general he then l
was - years old.
Couldn't Get Into West Point.
The ambition OF Funston's youth was
10 90 to West Point. but he failed in an 4
entrance examination. In later years
he repeatedly outranked West Pointers
W no we're IN school when he failed Of
admission.
Physically, Funston was one OF tho
smallest men IN the United States
army lie was barely five feet and five
inches tall and usually weighed less
than 120 pounds.
Was Repeatedly Passed over.
When Funston won mis- rank OF brig
adler as A reward for his spectacular
capture OF Acuinaldo. he speedily !
reached the top OF the brigadiers. but /
when there were vacancies in the list /
II major generals he was passed over I
Roosevelt and Taft At times Funston /
almost despaired OF further promotion.
'ut with his characteristic tenacitv he [
stuck TO the army
lie MithstOOd the Pressure
W hen Neracruz was occupied. Mai.
zen. Wood. chief OF staff Immediately /
selected Funston As the logical man for
he field command. Every army off
;er expected there would be fighting
II the hard guerrilla kind learned in
he Philippines and everyone agreed !
hat when Funston landed in veracruz
Re would start something"
But when Funston unloaded his |
roops and relieved the navy Of posses
non OF Inc city ne learned that preSi- /
lent Wilson's orders were that there
vas TO be no aggressive movements, I
hat the army was 10 watch and wait.
The pressure on the little commander |
an only be realized by those who were
With him in Neracruz in those crucial
lourS. Thousands Of Americans !
hrOnged the city with the most ex-
rene stories Of conditions in the inte-
Tor and urged that the army move on:
for finishing the job" was
Ugh among the young officers The
utposts were insulted. even fired up |
n American troops were kidnapped by
ne Mexicans. one soldier was killed I
nd burned; the camps were raided by
larauders- Every precaution to spur a ] ]
oh i'm MN 70 actic-. IL - L.