Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-30
MISC l. Il A N Y,
DIR. Kane.
A SKETCH, BY DR.. WILLIAM ELDER.


AsKErcH, BY DR.. WILLIAM ELDER. -
When mans lite is heroic, and his name has
pissed into history. the world wants to know him
personally. intimately. The ''grave and reverend
chroncler." !" passing over his beginnings, presents
him abruptly in his iuil grown greatness; men
render the admiration earn,d but the sympathet
ic emulation awakened is concerned 10 know how
ne grew iato his maturity OF excellence. This
curiosity is not an idleness of the fancy hut per
sunal interest in the facts that springs out ut those
aspirations which put every man upon the fulhll-
ment of his own destiny How came this man to
exce-what was in hlm-what happened To de
velop it? 'Some men are born great; some
chieve greatness; some have greatness thrust up
on them" How came this man by II ;! Is II
Within my reach also and. by what means =
History proyokes us with such queries as these
Biography answers them.
| Doctor EiSha Kent Kane is not quite thirty
four years old. yet he has done more 'hah GIT
cumnavlgate the globe he has visited and trav-
etsed indo. Africa. Europe, Suuth Aner'ca, the
| islands Of The Pacific. and twice penetrated the
/ Arcuc region Ia The highest latitude attained by
civilized ioan. Tie has encountered the exire
mes perils oi sea and land. in every climate OF
IN. pk.a,: ne has discharged n rurn the srveres'
/
ltht United States Navy rs a surgeon he is. nev
erihelesS enr;. ed at une ne in the coast survey
ni the tropical ocean, and ~ month or t"o, we
i,,d hin exploring the trlgid zJne and all lhe
while that his personal experiences had the char
a,,er uf romantic adventure, he was pushing them
IN the spirit of scientific and philanIhrO entet
Prise.
As a boy. his instructive bent iupelled HIM TO
the indulgence a0d enjoyment at such adventures
as were best fitted Ia train him fur the work be
f1re him. Has collegiate studies suffered S"ine
/ pusiponement while his physical qualities pressed
tor their necessary training and discipline. II was
almost in the spirit Of truancv ssst-ie explored
the Blue Mountains Of Virginia, as student OF
geology. under the guidance OF Professor Rodgers,
and cultivated. at unce his hardlhooJ OF vital en-
erry and those elements of natural science which
were To qualify him for his alter services in the
field of physical geography. But. in due time
he returned tn The pursuit of literature, and
ehieyed the usual honors AS well as though his
collene studies had suffered no diyerslon-his
muscles and nerves were educated, aud his brain
lost nothing by the indirectness ofits develop
ment but was rather currobDrated lT all the uses
which i, has served since. lie graduated at the
University Of pennsy ylvania first, in lis colIegl
ate and afterwards. in its medical, department.
i special re ISL in study Indicated his natural
drlh chemistry and surgery natural science IN
It's most intimate converse with substance, ana
the remedial art IN lis must herilc junction lie
went oul from his .l'ma Mater agnad classical
scholar a uuud chemist mlneraoglSl, astronomer.
and surgeon But he lacked, or thought he lack
ed. rnhusiness of frame aud soundneSs OF health
lie sulicued an appoininen, IN ihe navy. anu up
ON his adnission, ieulauded active service. lie
| III staff
qeon to the first Amcrican Embassy tu China
ihls p,stlou gave him Opportunity u explore the
PAlhpue lsauds, which he effected malnty ol
tuo, He WAS the first man who descended lniu
tie cra;ef vt Tael; lowered m. re than a hundred
feet by u bamboo rope Item lhe oyertaneing Gill;
aus ,.liuberluq doNn spue seven huudred more
through the scur1 he nade a Typographical
sketch OF he interior o this great volcano, collect
ed bottle Of SurphuruS acid from the very
mouth o. the crater; ahd Although he was drawn
tip almost sensecSs. he brought with him his pur-
trait uf this hjirouS cavern, and the specimens
which It afforded s
Before he returned from this Trip. he had as
cendcd the iliuaayas, and triangulated Grrere
on loot he had visited Ceyon, ihe Upper Nie
and all the myihoingjc re1iun OF Egypt; traversed
the route, aud making the acquaintance OF the
learned LepSius, who then prosecuting hts
archaeological researches.
| At home again, when the Mexican war broke
out, he asked 10 be removed from the Ptlladel-
| pha Navy Yard TO the field OF uure congenl-
al service; but the government sent him t.
the Coast of Africa Here he visited the slave
| factories from Cape Mount 20 the river Bunny
and through The infamous Da Souza. got access 1t
ho haracoIus of Dahumey. and Contracted beside:
the Coast Fever. from the effects Ut which ne
has never entirely recovered.
Frum Africa he returned beinre the cluse of the
Mexican war, and believing that his constitution
was broken, and his health rapidly giing he call
o upon President Puk, aud demanded an uppur
tunity for that mlght crowd the litlle rem
nant of his life with achevenens in keeping with
his ambition the President just then enbarrasS
ed by iemp,rary non intercourse with Genera
Scott, charged the Docior with dispatches to iht
General. ol g,eat moneat and urgency, which
must be carried through feglon occupied by lht
enemy. This embassy was marked ny an adven
iure 50 r,mantic. aud so illustrative OF the Char
acler oi the man, that are tempted 10 detail II
| Oa his way to the Gulf he secured a horse il
I heniucky. such as knight erraut would have
chosen to! the companion and sharer u his adven
lures. Landed at Vera Cruz be asked for al
escurt To convey him To the ca NAL, but the off
Ger IN commaud had II" troopers to sPare-he
| must wai. ur he must ao.ept. instead, band o
ruflin Mexlcaos. called The spy Company, VIII,
mad taken To the business oi treason aud trickery
tor livelihood He accepted them. and went
forward Near Pue5la his tropp encountered a
body OF MexIcans escJrtInI number of dstin.
guished officers 10 Orzaba, among whom were
Majlr General Gauna. Governor Ut Puebla his son
Maximlllian and General Iorejo whu command
ed The brilliant charge Of horse at Buena Vista
Tho surprise was mutual, but The Spy Compa-
ny had the advantage Of the s!sSnd. At The first
instant Of the discovery, and before the rascals
fully comprehended their involvement the Doctor