Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-09
Mrs. Funston Frustrated.

was informed by Maj. Gen. j. Franklin
Bell. commanding the western division.
of the death of General Funston. She
is Frustrated with grief.
Mrs. Funston was entertaining he-
sister. Mrs. William o.. cullen, of this J
city. at the Presidio residence when the
news of the generals death Wa
brought to her.
The children are Frederick, jr.. 10;
Barbara. s, and Elizabeth, 3 years old.
Mrs. Funston. who was Miss Eda
.Blankllart before her marriage, has w
sisters here. Mrs. William c. Cullen and
Mrs. Frank Hewlett. Mrs. Funston !
came here a month ago from Fort Sam !
Houston with her children to avoid the
approaching hot weather there.
His Picturesque Career.
Genera Funston was born in Carlisle.
Kansas farm. He had a remarkable ca
reer before he became a soldier. Few
people knew that his first work was as
a scientist with a ben toward botany.
AS an agent of the department of agri-
culture in 1891 he took part in the
Death valley expendition; then he ex-
plored Alaska and the British north
west and crossed Alaska to the Arctic
ocean and travelled from Mckenzie river
to the Bering sea-, a journey of about
$500 miles. He camped in the klondike
during the winter Of 1898 and then
alone fIoated down the Yukon in a
canoe, a journey OF hundreds OF miles
another living o Soon after that he
resigned from the department of agri-
culture and Travelled in Mexico.
When the asst Cuban Instruction
broke out Funston applied to the
l%utionary junta in New York for service
suspected him Of being a spy or an
agent of the United States running
down %violators of neutrality laws.
Finally he convinced them of his inten-
tons and for many weeks in rooms on
an out of the way street in the lower
east side OF New York Funston in
.structed recruits in the handling Of ma
chime guns, Of which the Cubans were
ignorant. Soon afterward he was AXE
into the Cuban army with a commits
sion.
He Never Knew Fear.
AS a student at the University OF
Kansas, when ne weighed less than 100
pounds. he conquered a 200-pound bad
man VINO threatened him with a razor.
To add to the giants humiliation.
Funston marched him through the
streets 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
threats are said to have beer made
against Funston and the newspaper
property, but he remained on guard un-
til his superior returned and then
turned over the plant unframed. In
cidentally, Funston also resigned.
Along the Santa Fee railroad they still
recall how Funston, as a passenger
Train conductor. threw Il drunken cow
boy off a train and later. when he
hurled a rock through a coach win
dow. pursued him several miles on foot
while the train waited.
Escapes Death as Spy.
Funston's first experience on the fir
ing line came in Cuba, where he com
manded General Gomez's artillery with
remarkable results. After engaging in
~ battles AID being wounded three
times he resigned his command because
SO guerrillas who had aided the Span
iards were executed against his wishes.
Captured by Spaniards on his way tc
havana. he escaped death by swallow
ing a letter to the president of CUB
which would have proved his identity.
While a colonel Of the famous Twen-
tleth Kansas volunteer infantry in the
Philippine war, Funston performed
feats of bravery that brought him the
title of origadier general. His capture
of Aguinaldo and his fording Of the Rio
Grande rives at Colurhpit under fire
featured his work.
Funston has been described by his
superiors as absolutely fearless. Ever
little whether his force equalled that of
his opponent. One day, h story goes,
when it appeared certain the Filipinos
would destroy three companies under
Funston's command. Gen. Harrison
Gray Otis inquired Of the colonel how
long he could hold his position.
Barred from West Point.
Until / am mustered out!" Funston
replied; and he made good by repulsing
the Filipinos.
When the volunteers were discharged
Funston retained his rank as a member
OF the regular army. AS a regular ne
made a mark by maintaining order in
e Francisco during the disaster OF
1906. Temporarily in charge Of the
turbance came he quickly declared
martial law and set about obtaining ac-
commodations for h homeless, keep
ing down the cost Of food n arresting
trouble makers.
The ambition of Funston's. youth was
to go to West Point. but he failed in an
entrance examination. In later years he
repeatedly outranked West Pointers
who were in schoo when he failed OF
admission.
Physically, Funston was one OF the
smallest men in the United States
army. He was barely 5 feet and 5 inches
tall. and usually weighed less than 120
pounds. In civil life he was modest and
retiring.
Burial at Preside.
San Francisco. Cal, Feb. 20.-Definite
arrangements for h burial in the ma
tional cemetery here at the Preside Of
Mai. Gen. Frederick Funston. who died
suddenly last night at San Antonio.
Tex. had not been completed here early
today. Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, com