Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-20
SERVICES FOR
GEN. FUNSTON AT
SAN FRANCISCO
Leading Military Figure in U. S.
Dies Suddenly in San
Antonio Hotel

/
body of Major General Frederick
Funston who died here suddenly last
night, will be taken to San Francisco
tonight for burial.
| Short services will be held at Fort
sam Houston late this afternoon and
the body will then be transferred to
southern Pacific train for the West
II Will be accompanied by Captain
t1tzhugh Lee, aid to General Funston,
and q guard of six enlisted men.
Mrs. Funston, at her home in San
francisco. requested the body be sent
there for burial.
According TO Lieutenant Colonel II.
W. Ireland. General Funston's physic-
ian, the death of the general was prac-
tically instantaneous
Although he was quickly removed
to room in the hotel where he had
collapsed and restorative measures at
tempted they were of no avail The
heart affection which caused death
hrst appeared, according TO Colonel
ireland, in 1910, but had not been con-
sidered alarming.
Pending General Pershing's arrival
Colonel Malvern-Hill Barnum. General
Funston's chief of staff, will be in
charge of the southern department
ana movement of National Guardsmen
to their homes will not be DELAYED.
only yesterday General Funston had
return of all the guardsmen.
General Funston came to San An
tonic from San Francisco in February,
1915, as southern department COM
mander. Since mobilization of the
National Guard, following Villas raid
on Columbus. \. NJ. in March, 1916.
General Funston had commanded the
largest array gathered in single de-
partment since the Civil War.
Born Fighter
Though only feet inches tall and
weighing about 120 pounds, Major
General Funston was fighter by birth
and breeding, but not by training. for
he was not a graduate OF West Point.
A descendant of Daniel Boone. the Le-
loved hero of every schoolboy, Funs-
ton career was equally as picturesque
as that of Boone. Destiny as we'll as
desire. seemed to have marked him
as fighter, and ever since the Span
ish-American War he was to be found
wherever there was trouble.
Born in Ohio in 1865, Funston was
more of a Kansan than n Buckeye
boy, as his father moved to a farm
near lola, Kan, when Frederick was
only years old. Never an extremely
apt pupil, he got through the public
schools, but could stand only two years
at the Kansas University at Lawrence
His most notable exploit there was not
in the line of his studies. II was his
conquering of a 200-pound bad man"
who threatened him with a razor.
Only half his assailant's weight. Funs-
ton went for him and when he had re-
duced him to subsection, added to his
humiliation by driving him through
the streets 10 a police station ahead
of a revolver.
Newspaper work claimed Funston
when he left college, and in 1887 he
was employed as city editor of the Tri
bune in Fort Smith, Ark. 1t was Dem
ocratic in politics and Funston was a
Republican. So when the editor-in-
chief absented himself for a period.
Funston amused himself by doing
what he thought was right and lust
in attacking the Democratic leaders Of
that region. Summoned home by tele-
graph, the editor-in- chief arrived lust
in time to save the building and plant
from a mob.
Il didn't like my job, and 1 didn't
like the town." Funston said. but l
thought ] might just as we'll let them
know that l had been there before I
quit.
A trip on a government botanical
expedition which took him through
Death Valley and involved hardships
that disabled more than half the MEM
bers of the party next furnished Funs-
ton with the spice of danger which
for him constituted the chief charm
of life.
He was next sent to Alaska on COL
lecting expedition. There are a lot
OF persons who know more about
botany than Fred Funston" said the
head of the bureau who recommend
ed him, but nobody will come nearer
getting what he goes after"
After going through Chilcoot Pass
alone in blizzard, being capsized in
a canoe in rapids that had claimed
scores of victims and enjoying many
other hazardous adventures, Funston
came back from Alaska with the finest
collection of botanical specimens that
ever came out of it.
Along the Santa Fe railroad the old
residents still recall how Funston, as
a passenger train conductor threw a
drunken cowbov off a train and later,
when he hurled a rock through a
coach window, pursued him several
miles on foot while the train waited.
Picturesque Character
AZ mere resume of Funston's eX-
ploits will show that he was one of
the most strenuous and picturesque
men of modern America. Here are
some of his spectacular accomplish
ments:
Served as commander of Gomez's
artillery in the Cuban revolt, his first
military work. and in twenty-five bat
ties was wounded three times.
Became colonel of the Twentieth
Kansas, Volunteer Infantry at the out
break of the Spanish-American War.
Swan the Rio Grande River in the
Philippines under fire before the bat
tie of Columpit.
Captured Aguinaldo, the leader of
the Philippine insurrection, by a 90
mile march through mountainous
country without the loss of a man.
Directed the work of relief at San
Francisco after the great earthquake.
Commanded the American expedi-
ton which landed at Vera Cruz when
Huerta refused TO salute the American
colors.
Commanded the American troops
on the Texas border when the attitude
of Carranza threatened to provoke
war.
President and Hioh