Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-20
A "Fiqhtinq Man"

T'SutiH9 wan
| Not until 1895, 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 passed his early man
hood-long had so classified him.
| AS student at the University OF
Kansas, when he weighed less than 100
pounds, he conquered a 200pound bad
man" who threatened him with a ra-
zor. To add to the giants humiliation,
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, Arkansas,
young Funston stirred up intense feel
ing by attacking editorially the publi-
cations 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 until his superior returned
and then turned over the plant I'M
harmed. incidentally, Funston also re-
signed.
Along the Santa Fe Railroad they
still recall how Funston. as passenger
train conductor, threw a drunken cow
boy off a train and later, when the
cowboy hurled a rock through a coach
window. pursued him several miles on
foot while the train waited.
In Cuba
Fufston's first experience on the fir
ing line came in Cuba. swhere he COM
manded General Gomez's artillery with
remarkable results. After engaging in
% battles, and being wounded three
times, he resigned his command be-
GAUGE so guerrilias 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 to the President
Of Cuba which would have proved his
identity.
In the Philippines
While a colonel Of the famous goth
Kansas Volunteer Infantry in the Phil
ippine war, Funston performed feats
Of bravery that brought him the title of
brigadier general. His capture of Agui-
naldo and his fo1ding 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 euualled that
of his opponent. One day, the story
goes. when it appeared certain the
Filipinos would destroy three compa-
MES under Funston's command. Cen
eral Harrison Gray Otis, inquired of
the colonel how long he could hold his
position.
Until | am mustered OUT" Funston
replied; and he made good by repuls-
ing the Fflipinos.
At San Francisco
When the volunteers were discharged,
Funston retained his rank as a member
of the regular army. AS a regular he
made a mark by maintaining order in
San Francisco during the disaster o. 1906
Temporarily in charge of the troops at
the Preside, when the disturbance came
he quickly declared martial law and set
about obtaining accommodations fer the
homeless, keeping down the cost of food
and arresting trouble-makers. 1t 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 then
was 40 years old.
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
We're in school when he failed of admis-
sion.
Physically Funston was one of the
smallest men in the United States army.
He was barely five feet and five inches
tall and usually weighed less than 100
pounds. In civil life he was modest and
retiring.