The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-20
FUNSTON'S BODY
CONTINUED from page one)

(Continuel from page onel
General Funston was seated in the
lobby of a local hotel after dinner
with friends, talking to acquaintance
and playing with a little girl among
the hotel guests, when he suddenly
collapsed from an attack of angina
| sclerosis or hardening of the arteries
of the heart. Altho quickly removed
| to room where restorativeS were at
tempted, death. according to Lieut.
Col. NJ. w. ireland, General Funston's
physician. was practically instantane-
Gus.
Two weeks ago General Funston
suffered from acute Indigestion and
placed himself under Colonel Ire
| lands care. According to the latter,
| he had fully recovered and was in the
best of health and spirits yesterday.
| nevertheless, he was particular at
| dinner last night to eat sparingly, say
ing that he feared another attack.
Heart Trouble Years Ago.
The heart affection which caused
| General Funston's death first APP
| peared. according to Colonel Ireland.
| in 1910, but had not been considered
| alarming.
Pending General Pershing's arrival.
Colonel Malvern-Hill Barnum General
Funston's chief of staff, will be in
charge of the southern department
and movement of national guardsmen
to their homes will not be delayed.
Only yesterday, General Funston had
completed and approved plans for re-
turn of all the guardsmen.
General Funston was 81 years old
and came to San Antonio from San
Francisco in February, 1915, as south
ern department commander. Since
mobilization of the National Guard
following Villas raid on Columbus
N. NJ, in March, 1916, General F'uns-
ton had commanded the largest army
gathered in single department since
the Civil war.
General Funston saw active ser
vice in Cuba, both in the Cuban army
and with the United States volunteers,
in the Philippines and at Vera Cruz,
Mexico, where he commanded the
American expedition.
To Receive Body at Ell Paso.
Ell Paso, Feb. 20.-Major General
John J. Pershing announced here to-
|. day that he would remain here act
|. ing commander of the southern de-
partment pending the receipt of or
ders from Washington. He will also
retain command of the Ell Paso patrol
district for the present.
1t was announced at military head
quarters that the body of General
Funston would pass thru here at $3.50
: p. m. tomorrow and. General Pershing
has his staff preparing a memorial
program to be given while the body
is here
Burial in the Preside.
.
: arrangements for the burial in the
National cemetery here at the Pre-
sidio of Major General Frederick
Funston who died suddenly last night
at San Antonio. Texas. had not been
completed early today.
Major General j. Franklin Bell.
commanding the Western division tel
egraphed last night at Mrs Funston
request, it was understood. to have
the body sent here. 1t was expected
| 70 Eytd that a full mill
tary funeral would be accorded the
late general The funeral will be held
Saturday or Sunday. the cay not hav-
ing been formally decided on. r
Mrs. Funston, who is living at the
Preside here with her three children
was notified of the death of her hus-
band by General Bell shortly after the
! news was received in press dispatches
The children are Frederick, Jr, ID
, Barbara, s, and Elizabeth. years
J old.
Mrs Funston, who was Miss Edna
f Blankhart before her marriage, came
: here a month ago from Fort Sam
Houston with her children. to avoid
5 the approaching hot weather there.
President Expresses Sorrow.
Washington, Feb. 20. - President
wilson and other high officials as
we'll as army officers generally ex-
pressed deep regret today over the
sudden death of Major General Fred
erick Funston. at san ANTONIO, las'
5 night. Many of them sent messages
of coincidence to Mrs. Frederick Fun
$ ston now visiting in San Francisco.
= War department officials and army
= officers stood ready today to assist ir
= bestowing the highest military honors
r at the burial of General Funston
: which will take place in the nationa
f cemetery at the Presidio, San Fran
cisco, next Saturday or Sunday. 1t is
believed that Secretary of War Baker
may send a personal representative tc
attend the funeral.
The death of General Funston re-
moves one of the most picturesque
l characters from the United States
army whose record included the cap
ture of Aguinaldo, the Filipino rebe
chief. command of the forces which
i seized Vera Cruz and direction Of this
border movements.
General Pershing. who commanded
the column just withdrawn from Mex
/ leo succeeds General Funston temper
arily as commander of the southern
= department.