Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-31

literature, and achieved the usual honors, az
well as though his college studies had re-
ceived no divers on,his mus les and nerves
werei educated, and his b ain lost
nothiog by the indfectness Of its develop.
ment, but was rather cOrroborated for all
the uses which it has served since.
He graduated at the University of Penn.
sylvana--frst in its collegiate, and after
wards in itsmedcal department. His special
relishes in study indicated his natural drift:
chemistry and surgery: natural science its
most intimate converse with substance. and
the medical art in its most heroic functions.
He went out from his Alma Mater a good
classical scholar, good chemist, mineral
ogst, astronomer and surgeon. But he
lacked, or thought he lacked, robustness OF
frame and soundr ess Of health. He So
lcted an appointment in the navy, and
upon his admission demanded active service
lie was aT7oia:cl Upon the diplomatic stat.
! as surgeon to the first American Embassy
to China. This position gave him an op-
portunity to explore tho Philippine Islands,
which he effected mainly on foot. He was
the first man who descended iuto the era
ter of Tael; lowered more than hundred
feet by bamboo rope from the overhang.
ing cliff, and clambering down some seven
hundred more through the scorie, he made
Typographical sketch of the interior OF
this q eat Volcano collected bottle of
su! hu 'ous acid from the very mouth of the
crater; and, although he was drawn up al
most senseless. he brought with him his por-
trait of this hideous cave N, and the spec-
mems which it afforded.
Before he returned from this trip, he
had ascended the Himalsya, and triangu-
lated Greece, on foot: he had visited
reylon, the Upper Nile, and all the my
thologc region Of Egypt; trayerSing the
roue, and making the acquaintance Of the
l,arned Lepsius, who was then prosecuting
his archaeological researches.
At home again, when the Mexican war
broke out, he asked TO be removed from
the Philadelphia Navy Yard to tho field of
more congenial service; but the govern
ment 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 Dahomey, 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
! constitution was broken, and his health
rapidly going he called upon the President
| Polk, and demanded an opportunity for
| service that he might crowd the little rem.
nant of his iife~ with achievements in
keeping with his ambition; the President
just then embarrassed by temporary non-
intercourse with general Scott charged the
Doctor with dispatches to the General, o.
great moment and urgency, which must be
carried through region occupied by the
enemy. This embassy was marked by an
adventure SO romantic, and So illustrative o
! the character of the man, that we are
tempted to detail it.
On his way to the Gulf he secured O
! horse in Kentucky, such as n knight errant
would have chosen for the companion ant
sharer Of his adventures. Landed at Vera
Cruz, he asked for an escort to convey iliu
to the capital, but the, officer in comman'
had no troopers TO spare--he must wait,,o
he must accept, instead, band of ruffial
Mexicans, called the Spy Company, who
had taken to the business of treason ant
trlckery for livelihood He accepted then
and went forward. Near Puebla his trool
encountered body of Mexcans, escortin.
a number Of distinguished officers, to Orizab
among whom were Major General Gaona
Governor of Puebla his son, Maxmilian
and General Toreion, who commanded thu
brilliant charge OF horse at Buena VISTA
The surprise was mutual, but the Spy Com
pany had the advantage Of the ground. A
the first instant of the discovery, and be
fore the rascals fully compreheRded thei
involvement, the Doctor shouted in Spanish
"Bravo. the capital adventure, Colonel
form your line for the charged" And dow
they went on the enemy; Kane and hi
gallant Kentucky charger ahead Understand
ing the principle shat sends tallsw-caDdl
through a plank and that the momentum
of a body is its weight multiplied by it
velocity, he dashed through the opposin
: force, and turning to engage after breakn
their line, he found hin self fairly surround
ed, and two of the enemy giving him thei
special attention. One of these was de
posed of in an instant by rearing his horsi'
who, with q blow of his fore loot, hooreC
. his man; and wheeling suddenly, The Doc
, tor gave the other sword wound, whic
opened the external lilac artery, and pu
= him hors de combat This subject OF tn
= Doctors military Surgery was the youn
Maximlian. The brief melee terminate
:. with cry from the Mexicans, "We SUI
J render" Two of the officers made Gas
= for an escape, the Doctor pursued then
;, ;, but soon gave up the chase. When h
= returned, he found his ruffians preparing t
massacre the prisoners. As he gallope
past the young officer whom he had wour
= =, ded, he heard him cry, "Senor, save m
u father" A group of the guerrilla guaro
we're dashing upon the MexicaHs, huddle
Z together, with their lances in rest. II
threw himself before them--one OF the
. transGxed his horse another gave him
severe wound in the groin. He killed I'll
,, first. t.lieutenant, wounded the sscond-lie,
u tenant, and blew a part of the colonel
beard off with the last charge Of his 81!
II shooter; then graphing with him, and u
d. ing his fists. he brought the party to term
- The lives Of the prisoners were saved, al