Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-28

Gen. Funston's horse, pail bearers,
officers Of Gen. FunstOn's staff and
OF the Southern Department. The
procession reached the Alamo at All
O'Clock and the casket was carried
inside by six nOn-commissioneh OFF,
GERS.
Cen. Funston's personal popularity
with San Antonio citizens extended to
all classes. as was evidenced In the
floral offerings which almost filled the
Alamo. Costly floral pieces were side
by side with the simple tributes Of
workmen who, hats in hand and with
bowed heads. filed into the building
Plans to send the body Of Gen.
Funston straight through to San
Francisco have not been changed, it
was announced at department head
quarters a: 8 o'clock this afternoon.
Wilson's Tribute.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-President
Wilson wrote Mrs. Frederick Fun
ston to-day expressing his personal
sympathy for the loss Of her husband
and paying tribute to the gallantry
and the patriotism OF the dead major
general. The letter follows:
My Dcdl MIS-. II FuuSIOu--Nuy l
not tell you with what genuine grief
| have learned of the death of your
distinguished husband. feel conf
dent that am expressing the feel
ing Of the whole country when | say
that we have lost in him an officer
Of unusual gallantry, capacity and
loyal devotion to the interests Of the
country. He has repeatedly in very
recent months proved his ability to
handle situations OF unusual delicacy
and difficulty with discretion and
success.
May not express my warm per-
Sonal sympathy for you in your ir-
reparable loss?
"Cordially and sincerely yours.
"Woodrow Wilson,
Funston's Military Career.
Not until 1896. when the Cuban in
surrection was at its height did Fred
erick Funston become known
throughout the United States as Il
iirst-class fighting man, but his
, friends in Kansas-where he spent
his early manhoOd--lOng had classi-
fled him.
AS a student at the University OF
Kansas, when he weighed less than
100 pounds. he conquered ZOO
pound bad man" who threatened
him with Il razor. To add to the
giants humiliation, Funston marched
him through the streets Of Lawrence,
kans., at the point Of Il revolver, to a
police station.
A few years later, while city editor
of Il 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 tC have been made
against Funston ana the newspaper
property, but he remained on guard
until his superior returned and then
turned over the plant unharmed In
cidentally. Funston also resigned.
Along the Santa Fe railroad they
still recall how Funston, as passen-
ger train conductor, threw drunk Ell
cowboy off a train, and later, when
he hurled rock through coach
window, pursued him several miles on
foot while the train waited.
Funston's first experience on the
lring line came in Cuba, where he
commanded Gen. Gomez's artillery
with remarkable results. After en-
gagng in % battles and being
wounded three times, he resigned his
command because so guerriallas who
had aided the Spaniards were execut-
ed against his wishes. Captured by
Spaniards on his way to Havana, he
escaped death by swallowing letter
to the Presiden. of Cuba, which
would have proved his identity.
While colonel OF the famous
twentieth Kansas Volunteer Infantry
III the philippine war, Funston per-
| formed feats OF bravery that brought
him to the title Of brigadier-general.
Ills capture of Aguinaldo and his
| tcrd!ng Of the Rio Grande river a..
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 equaled that
of his opponent. One day, the story
goes, when it appeared certain the
| Filipjnos would destroy three COM
panies under Funston's command.
| Gen. Harrison Gray Otis inquired Of
the colonel how long he could hold
his position.
Until am mustered Quit" Fun
ston replied, and he made good by re-
puising the Filipinos.
Captured Agninaldo.
When the volunteers were dis
charged Funston retained his rank as
a member of the regular army. AS a
regnlilr he made a mark by maintain
ing order in San Francisco during the
disaster of 1906. Temporarily in
charge Of the troops at the Preside,
when the disturbance came, he quick
| Ia nd Ia