, 1853-08-13
American Enterprise,


will afford the public another subject Of anx
iety for many months 10 come. With tue
experience of so many attempts to elucidate
the physical peculiarilies Of the polar seas,
we may anticipate the most efficient prepa-
ration. We may also anticipate that the re-
sources Of the enterprise will be applied di.
rectly to its great object, without any waste
Of energy in doubtful exploration. The
amphiblous provision for rcsorting 10 the
land, where the ocean may no longer an
swer Inc purpose Of the enterprise, is an
emnenlly American feature. It proposes
TO adopt the means by which the inhabitants
Of that inclement region would undertake
the same service. We have always thought
that a signal advantage possessed by the
Americans over the English consists in the
freedom from prejudice which permits the
former TO combine, with the results OF their
native ingenuity, the improvements of 9th.
ers so far as they may be adapted 10 the
purpose in view. Thus, Braddock carried
into the forests Of the Monongahela the tao
tics Of Marlborough. Washington saved
his command by the mode of fighting copied
from the Indian and perfected on The font
ier. In like manner, the Texan ranger will
live on the prairics as independently as a
sea-gull upon the ocean. lie relies upon
the same supplies that support the Canaan
che, and adopting the mode of warfare shown
by the experience Of the savage TO be best
adapted 10 the country, proves his superior
in prowess, skill, and endurance.
The Arctic expedition is admirably pre-
pared for the difficulties which The expedi-
tion must encounter snow shoes and furs
will protect, sleds to be drawn by dogs will
convey them 10 the limits of human exist
ence. Provisions and fuel in the most con-
deDSed form in which warmth and nUiri-
ment can be prepared. Add to this that
the personal organization is unexcePtiona
BILE. 1t is chiefly private enterprise
There are, then, no political or official in
huences 10 designate the individuals. There
is no direct or incidental profit in the expe-
diiiOn sufficient 10 tempt the mcrcenary cal
culator. There is no reward anticipated,
except the glory of doing what no others
could.
We give the biography of Dr. KANE, who
heads the expedition, as we find it in the
New York Herald. We have read nothing
more animating 10 those who believe in the
self wrought superiority Of men born Of
American mothers. We can only say, af-
ter perusal Of this narrative, that il Or.
KANE does not find Sir JoHN FRANKLIN,
dead or alive, the excellent Lady FRANKLIN,
if she should be of connubial age and in
clned, may safely enter again into wedlock
without the fear Of offending the most con-
scientious scruples against bigamy:
REMARKABLE LlTE AND ADvENTUREs OF DIR.
join KANE.
He was born in Philadelphia on the 2d
Of February, 1922, so that he is at present
about thirty-one years old. In lS43 he
graduated, af(er a seven years course Of
studics, at the Pennsylvania Medical Uni
versity, and soon after he entered the Uni
ted States navy as assistant surgeon. While
acting in this capacity he was appointed as
physician in the first embassy 10 China from
this country. His naturally adventurous
disposition he'd him to project a visit TO the
interior, but the difficulties were so numer-
Gus that he could not accomplish his pur-
pose as fully as he desired. He, however,
succeeded in travelling over large section
Of the country and before his return be
visited the Philippines, CeyIOn, and other
islands in that region, and even succeeded in
into the interior Of India His
travels through those regions were full Of
adventures and perils; but perils to man
Of DR.. kane's temperament appear only to
have the effre, Of making them more at
tractive. While in India, he descended the
crater of the Tael of Luzon, suspended by
bamboo rope, from projecting crag which
lowered above the interior scoria and debris
over two hundred feet. This act of daring
nearly cost him his life, for the natives re-
garded it as a sacriligious act, which could
only be efssed by the death Of the impious
of5ndeT. DIR. Kane, however, escaped their
pious vengeance, and afterwards went 10 the
LadFone' Islands with the celebrated Baron
Loe, Of Prussia, where he was attacked by
a whole tribe Of the savage inhabitants OF
those islands. Against these he successful
ly defended himself; but the hardShips he
and his companion subsequently underwent
were more than the latter could endure, and
he sHnk under them. DR.. Kane alone pass
Ell over 10 Egypt, assembled the Nile as far
as the confines Of Nubia, and remained du-
ring a whole season sinOng the ruins of an
cienI Egypt, IN antiquarian research. Leav-
ing Egypt he visited Greece next, which he
traversed on foot, returning to the United
States in 1916. When he arrived, his love
of adventure would no, allow him TO remain
inactive, and ke applied almost Immediately
afler his return to the Government Cor
to Mexico. Failing to obtain
this, be accepted an appointments on board
of a United States vessel bound 10 the Afri-
can coast. Arriving there, he could not re-
sis the temptation to see the slave marts Of
Whydah, but was met in bis journey by that