The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-05

SKETCH OF Dr. .KANE.-We consider this
particularly appropriate time to give brlef
sketch of the life Of dr.. Kane, now that he
before the world in more conspicuous position
than he has ever occupied before. He was
born in Philadelphia. on the Sd OF February,
1925 that he is al present about thirty three
years old. In 184S he graduated, after seven
course of studies, at tile Pennsylvania medical
university, and soon after he entered the United
| States navy as assistant surgeon. While acting
| in this capacity he was appointed as physician
in the first embassy to China from this country.
His naturally adventurous disposition led him
to project visit te the interior, but the difficult
ties were so numerous that be could not accom-
plish his purpose as fully as he desired. He
however, succeeded in travelling over large
section of the country, and before Il return he
visited the Philippines, Ceylon and other
islands in that region, and even succeeded In
penetrating into THE interior OF lndahls travels
through which were full of adventures and
perils, but perls TO a man OF DIR. hane's tem-s
perament appear only 70 have the effect OF ma
| king them more attractive. While IN INDIA, ne
descended the crater of the Tael of Lerzon,
| suspended By a5bamboo rope from projecting
| crag which hovered above. the interior scorlas
| and debris. over two hundred feet This act
| of daring nearly cost him his life, for the ma
| tives regarded it as sacriligeous act, which
could only be effaced by the death Of the sus-l
! picious offender. I Doctor Kane, however, elu-t
/ ded their piousvengeanee and afterwards went
4 to the Sandwich Islands with the celebrated
/ Baron Loe of Prussia where he was attacked
4 bv a whole tribe Of the savage inhabitants OF
! those islands. Against these, he successfully
4 defended himself, but the hardship he and his
companion subsequently, underwent were more
than the latter could endure, and he sunk under
them. DR.. Kane alone passed over to Egypt,
ascended the Nile as far as the confines OF the
/ Nuba. and remained during a whole season
among the ruins Of ancient Egypt, he visited
i Greece next, which he traversed on foot return
i inc to the United States in 846. When hear
4 rived his love of adventure would not allow
4 him to remain inactive. and he applied. almost
i Immediately after his return, to the govern
l.ment for commission TO Mexico Failing to
obtain this. he accepted an appointment on board
i of a United Statcsivessel bound to the African
coast. Arriving there, he could not resist the
i temptation to see the slave marts of Whydah,
but met in his journey by that terrible enc
my of the white man, the African fever. He
was brought home in state of extreme Ill
health and emaciation, but although almost un-
:, able TO move, he made his way to Washington
from Philadelphia, against the earnest entrea-
ties of his family, presented himself with shaven
head and tottering limbs to president Polk and
demanded what had before been refused him, a
commission to Mexico. The president could not
; deny his request, and entrusted him with I'M
r. portant dispatches for the commander chief.
general Scott. He was given as an escort
E through Mexico the notorious company OF col.
: Dominguez. who started with him from Vera
; Cruz, AS they were approaching Nopal1ca,
: near Puebla, they were informed by Mexican
that large body Of Mexican soldiers were on
) their way to intercept them, and at that time
, but short distance off. Dominguez refused
y to proceed any further and was about retreat
. ing when dr. Kane commanded him to remain
= with him, threatening the vengeance Of bis gov
d ernment if bis company should leave him. Hav-
; ing succeeded in preventing him from turning
e his back to the enemy, he finally induced him
! to attack them. Placing himself at the head of
! his escort, dr.. Kane took advantage of rising
! ground to sweep down upon the Mexcans, who
were then thrown into the confusion by the in
II trepidity of his charge. Rallying, however,
& they made a stout resistance, and 1t was not
n until after severe skirmish that they were de-
n feated, and the principal part of them taken
y prisoners. These consisted of a number of dis
/ tnguished officers in the Mexican army, who
: were on their way to join their commander.
!? Among them was general Toorejon, who led
e the cavalry at Buena Vista. and major general
d Antonia Gapna and his son. The latter was
Q dangerously wounded by dr. Kane, who in a
: personal encounter, ran him through the body
r with his sword When the skirmish was over
II the doctor. finding that his antagonist was seri
$ ously injured had recourse to his surgical skill
Il to his life, and the result proved that was
.. of no ordinary character. With no other in
e strument than the bent prong Of a fork and a
1t piece of pack thread, he tied up an artery from
d which the life of young soldier was fast ebbing
fe and placed him in condition that he could be
e conveyed safely to Puebla. No sooner, how
d ever, had he concluded this humane act, than
he was informed by yong Gaona that he over
heard Doninguez say that he would take the
n life OF his father, because he had at one time
; put him in prison. Dr.. Kane instantly inter
y tered, placed himself between his escort and
: his prisoners, and threatened to shoot the first
Al man who attempted the life of major Gaona
n Dominguez became infuriated, ordered his men
y to charge. but the first man of the company.
/ named Pallaseoz, fell before the fire of doctor
IS Kane, who piled his revolver with fatal effect
d upon all who came within his reach. With a
SEVERE IdlCc " OuIu w
> keep thern at bay and saved his prisoners from
d their fury until he arrived at Puebla, where
% they were placed under the charge of col
e Chlds. Dr.. Kane, whose wounds were very
7 serious, was detained here for many days, du-
e ring which he was attended and nursed with
:, the most tender care by The family Of major
IS Gaona, who is now among the most ardent
8 friends and admirers of our noble and gifted
e countryman. There is one thing in this roman
y tic adventure, which We should not omit to men
/ ton Dr.. Kane thought, and still thinks, more
y Of the surgical skill which be displayed at that
0 skirmisb than of his capturing the prisoners, or
defending them from the treachery Of his escort.
n .tTal ,----O~~~-1~-@~~-~e~0-0~~ & -... @-.-HE
: Born ORATORS rs. S. Prentiss,' says
It Putnam Magazine '*was born orator. Such
e was not the testimony of the late Alexander Il.
/ McClugg, whose intimacy with Mr. Prentiss
IS during the most glorious part of his life, gave
n Kim ra,n,ar adranfapas for forming correct