The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-02-22
CEN. FUNSTON
DIES SUDDENLY
BEST TWo-FIsTED FIGHTER IN
WORLD FOR HIS INCHES.
.CoLLAPsEs IN SAN ANTONIO
Flags at Half-mast and Every Soldier
is a Mourner.-Remains Viii be
Sent to San francisco for
Burial Beside Son.

San Antonio, Tex, Feb 20.---FlagsI
at half mast and every soldier a
mourner, the body of the late Major
General Funston was in Fort Sam
Houston to-day.
Tonight the remains of the best
two.fisted fighter in the world for his
inches will be transferred to San
Francisco. Then ON Saturday he will
be buried with full military honors
at the Preside.
Interment will be made at the side
of the little son who died some years
ago.
Indigestion Causes Death. a'l91I
San Antonio, Tex, Feb. 20.-Gen.
Frederick Funston, commander of the
southern department, died here last
night, few minutes after he collapsed
while in local hotel, where he had
gone with 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 Its height, did Erred.
erick Funston become known through
out the United States as first-class
Auhtipo man hut hfc friandc I'm Lnn.
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 compound
bad man" who threatened him with
a razor. To add to the giants humilla-
ton, Funston marched him through the
streets of Lawrence, Kan, at the point
of a 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 editorialIy the publications.
own political party leaders during the
absence Of his editor in chief.
Held on Despite Threats.
Many threats are said to have been
made against Funston and the news
paper property, but he remained on
guard until his superior returned, and
then turned over the plant, unframed.
incidentally, Funston also resigned.
Funston's first experience on the
firing line came in Cuba, where he
commanded General Gomez artillery
with remarkable results.
Captured by Spaniards.
Captured by Spaniards on his way
to Havana, he escaped death by Swal-
lowing Il letter to the president of
Cuba which would have proved his
identity.
While colonel Of the famous Tween
tieth Kansas volunteer infantry in
the Philippine war Funston per-
formed feats of bravery that brought
him the title of brigadler general. His
capture of Aguinaldo and his fording
Of the Rio Grande river ut 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
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. pr
RepuIses FiIipinos.
Until l am mustered out - Funston
replied; and he made good by repuls-
ing the Filipinos.
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
ly declared martial law and set about
obtaining accommodations for 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 was then forty-nine 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 were in school when he
failed of admission.
Commanded Border Forces.
General Funston was born at New
Carlisle, o., November 8, 1866. He was
the SON of Edward Hogue Funston.
Physically, Funston was one of the
smallest men in the United States