Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 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. Tex, Feb 20,-Gen.
Frederick Funston, commander of the
southern department. died here last
| night, few minutes after he collapsed
while In a local hotel, where he had
gone with a party of friends. Attend
ing physicians say The cause OF death
was acute indigestion.
General Funston had just finished
dinner and was playing with child
when he fell unconscious.
Funston Always a Fighter.
Not until 1896. when the Cuban in
surrection was at It's height, did Fred
erlck Funston beco,ue known through
out the United States as first-cIass
| 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 20 pound
bad man" who threatened him with
a razor. 10 add to the giants humlliR-
/ ton, Funston marched him through the
streets of Lawrence, Kan, a. the point
of revolver, to police station.
A few years later, while city editor
of 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.
- n or 5ssrite Threats.
Many threats are said 10 have been
made against Funston Snd the news
paper property, but he remained on
guard until his superior returned, and
then turned over the plant. unharmed.
incidentally, Funston also resigned.
FunstOns first experience on the
firing line came in Cuba. where he
commanded General Gomez artillery
with remarkable results.
Captured by Spsnlsrds.
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 q colonel Of the famous Twen-
tIeth Kansas volunteer infantry in
formed feats Of bravery that brought
him the title of brgadier general. His
capture of Agnnaldo 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 equaied 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.
RepuIses Filipinos.
Until am mustered out !" Funston
replied and he made good by repuls-
ing the Tjlipinos
When the volunteers were dis
charged Funston retained his rank
as member of the regular army. AS
a regular, he made a 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
~ declared martial law and set about
obtaining accommodations for the
homeless keeping down the cost of
food and arresting trouble-makers.
IT was while he was I'm 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 20 to West Point. but he failed
In an entrance examination. In later
years he repeatedly outranked West
Pointers who were in school when he
failed of admission.
Commanded Border Forces
General Funston was born at New
Carlisle, O.. November 9. 1869. He was
the san Of Edward Hogue Funston.
Physically. Funston was one Of the
smallest men In the United States
army He was barely feet inches
tail and usually weighed less than 100
pounds In civil life he wss modest
and retiring.
When trouble in Mexico made It
necessary to send an American ex-
petition to Vera Cruz in April, 1914.
| General Funston was put in com
mand Of the troops. He was military
T governor of Vera Cruz until Novem.
Der, 1914 -