Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-02

| brought with him his portrait of this hideous
cavern, and the specimens which it afforded
Before he returned from this trip he had
assembled the Himalayas, and triangulated
! Greece, on foot he had visited Ccylon, the
Upper Nile, and all the mythologic region of
/ Egypt trayersing the route, and making the
acquaintance of the learned Lepsus, who
was then prosecuting his archaeological re-
searches
At home again, when the Mexican war
broke out, he asked to be removed from the
Philadelphia Navy Yard to the field of more
congenal service but the government sent
him to the Coast of Africa Here he visited
the slave factories, from Cape Mount to the
river Bonny, and through the infamous Da
Souza, got access to the baracoons of Dahonl-
ey, and contracted, besides, the Coast Fever,
from the effects of which he has never entirely
recovered.
From Africa he returned before the close of
the Mexican war, and believing that his con-
stitution was broken, and his health rapidly
going, he called upon President Polk, and de-
manded an opportunity for service that might
crowd the little remnant of his life with achieve
ments in keeping with his ambition the Pre-
sdent, just then embarrassed by temporary
non-intercourse with General Scott, charged
the Doctor with dispatches to the General of
great moment and urgency, which must bc
carried through a region occupied by the enc
my. This embassy was marked by an advcn-
ture so romantic, and SO illustrative of the
character of the nIan, that we are tempted to
detail it.
On his way to the Gulf he secured horse
in Kentucky such as a knight errant would
har OH for hn nj oi,o of
his adventures Landed at Vera Cruz, he ask
ed for an escort to convey him to the capital,
but the officer in command had no troopers to
Spare-he must wait, or he must accept, III
stead, a band of rufian Mexicans, called the
Spy Company, who had taken TO the business
Of treason and trickery for livelihood He
accepted them, and went forward. Near Puc-
bla his troops encountered a body of Mcxicans
cScortng number Of distinguished officers to
Orizaba, among whom were Major General
Gaona, Governor of Puebla his son, Maxi
milan, and General Torcjon, vino commanded
the brilliant charge of horse at Buena Vista
The surprise was mutual, but the Spy Compa-
ny had the advantage of the ground At the
first instant of the discovery and before the
rascals fully cOmprehended their involvement,
the Doctor shouted in Spanish, Bravo . the
capital adventure, Colonel, form your line for
the charge :" And down they went upon the
enemy Kane and his gallant Kentucky char
ger ahead. Understanding the principle that
sends IL tallOwcaadlc through plank, and that
the momentum of Il body is its weight multi
piled by its velocity, he dashed through the
opposing force, and turning to engage after
breaking their line, he found himself fairly sur
rounded, and two of the enemy giving him their
special attention. One of these was disposed
Of in an instant bv rearing his horse who with
a blow of his fore foot, hoorcd his man and
wheeling suddenly the Doctor gave the other
a sword wound, which opened the external lilac
artery, and put him hers de comJot This sub
ject Of the Doctors military surgery was the
young MaXman. The brief melee tcrmna-
ted with a cry from the McxicanS, I'VE sur
render" Two of the officers made dash for
an escape, the Doctor pursued them. but soon
gave up the chase When he returned, he
found his rufiians preparing to massacre the
prisoners. As he gaIloped past the Young Of
fcer whom he had wounded, lie heard him cry,
" Scnor. save my father \ group of the
guerrilla guards were dashng upon the Mexi-
cans huddled together, with their lanccS in
rest He threw himself before thcm-onc of
them tran>fixed his horse, another gave him
severe wound in the groin lie killed the first
lieutenant, wounded the second-lieutcnant aud
Llew part of the cOloncls beard off with the
last charge of his SiX-shooter then graphing
with him, and using his fists, he brought the
party to terms. The lives of the prisoners
were saved, and the Doctor received their
swords AS soon as General Gaoma could
reach his sop, who lay at Il little distance from
the scene Of the last struggle, the Doctor found
him sitting by him, receiving his last adieuS-
Shifting the soldier and rcsuming the surgeon,
he secured the artery and put the wounded
man in condition to travel. The ambulance
got up for the occasion, contained at once the
wounded Maximilian, the wounded second
lieutenant, aud the man that had prepared
them for slow travelling, himself on his litter
from the lance wound received in defence of
his prisoners When they reached Puebla
the Doctors wounds proved the worst in the
party. He was taken to the government house.
but the old General in gratitude for his gen.
erous services. had him conveyed TO his own
house General Childs, American commander
at Puebla, hearing of the generosity of his pri-
soner, discharged him without making any
terms, and the old general became the princi-
pal nurse of his captor and benefactor, dvd-
ing his attentions between him and his son,
who lay wounded in an adjoining ROOM
This illness of our hero was long and doubtful,
and he was reported dead to his friends at
home.
When he recovered and returned, he was
employed in the Coast Survey. While engag
ed in this service, the government by its CORE
spondence with Lady Franklin became COM
mitted for an attempt at the rescue of Sir John
and his ill-starred companions in Arctic disco
very Nothing could be better addressed to
the Doctors governing sentiments than this
adventure The enterprise of Sir John ran
exactly in the current of one of his own enthu-