The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-07-17
From the Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE.

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Arctic expeditions intended to search for the missing
Sir John Franklin, has been fitted out by the NUM-
hcence of Mr.. Grinnell, u New York merchant, and
has started under auspices of the general govern
ment; which, by authority Of Congress, has consen-
ted that the officers of our navy shall lead the dar
ing enterprise. Among these officers we observe
the name of Surgeon Elisha X. Kane, son of Hon.
John X Kane, of this city, who volunteered for the
service, and is now principal surgeon OF the expedl-
ton. We the announcement of his name
among the officers with surprise He has long been
suffering from a combination of iniirmtes, the result
of series of adventures, such as few living
have undergone, and such as still fewer would vol
unfairly embark in out of pure love of danger, and
the spirit of seeing the wonders and the peculiaries
Of other parts of the globe. Having enjoyed the ac-
quaintance of this brave young man, we are able to
state what follows of his career, even if we should
use that which was communicated to us in semi
confidential intervals. No American, of his age has
ever seen so much of the perls of the world, or of
the world ITSELF lie was surgeon Of the American
legation to China, and his way to the celestial re-
gions, he spent some weeks on a footramp through
the orange groves of Brazil, and about month In
tlger-huntlng near Bombay.
Hence, after, dozen unsuccessful attempts to
smugge himself into the forbidden lands of China he
went over to the Philippines and by the aid of the
good menks of the interior of Manilla explored its
Businesses and volcanic wonders. He was the first
man to descend into the great crater Of the Tael,
lowered down two hundred feet over the brink by
bamboo rope tied round bis middle, and brought
back bottle full gifts sulphur waters, burning off
his boots in the lava cinders. Leaving China after
second visit, in which he encountered shipwreck
he passed to India as physician of the Dremendhar
Dagore, and was palanqaned for some three months
through the wonders Of its mountain architecture
the ancient gores of Candy, the stupendous passes
of the Chant country visiting Madras, Pondicherry,
and every spot that we have read of in the trial Of
Warren Hastings.
Next, to Upper Egypt, and Abyssinia, crossing
the desert on his camel to the basis of Jupiter Am
mon, climbing at break-neck risk to the topstone of
sounding Colossus Of Memmon, and exploring the
tombs Of the Pharaohs for fortnight OR three weeks
with Professor Lepsius and his associates Wreck
ed again while passing down the Nile, and wound
ed in encounter near Alexandria, he pushed across
to Greece, and traversed every scene of classic in
terest, climbing to the Hlppocrene Spring, and sleep
ing on the shore ofMarathon He returned by Italy,
France, and England, only to rest few weeks, be-
fore cruise on the coast of Africa Renewing here
some acquaintance which had been formed in Brazil
he was allowed to inspect the entire machinery of
the slave trade, and to pass up into the Interior
der the frman OF Desouza, the great intermediary
between the chiefs of the slave making districts and
thO Did CuiitCiSs nc Quasi newer was HIS pay
for this trip, and he was sent home by Commodore
Read, an invalid Imperecty patched up from the eff
fects of this visitation, he volunteered for service
with the army In Mexico, and was ordered, with
dispatches, dare devil race, through the coun-
try our troops had left, to oyertaEe Gen. Scott
Awaiting HIMSELF at Perote of miscreant escolt of
Jail birds, that Gen Worth had employed as a spy
company he got into series of fights in the last of
which he received the swords of Gen. Gaona and
Gen. Torejon, and had his horse killed under him,
and was himself desperately wounded, while pro-
tectng the lives of his prisoners against his own men,
Since then he has been cruizng, and practising
photography on the coast survey, up to the moment
of receiving his telegraphic DESPATCH accepting his
urgent profer of services for the Arctic expedition
He had the rice fever in the Canton river the plague
in Egypt the yellow fever at Rio, the congesive at
Pueba, and the African fever on the coast. These,
and wounds, and an organic disease of the heart,
which he has had from boyhood, have been his pre-
parations for the hazards he is encountering now.
Altogether his history is eventul and thrilling for
so young man, and induces US cordially to hope
that he may return from his last adventure with new
honors and restored constitution.