Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-04-18
Drs Elisha Kent Kanes


DR.. Kane, the Arctic explorer, died at
Havana on the 10th of February, viii
ther he was sojourning in the hope of
recovering his health. The following
brief sketch of his life, which we take
from an Eastern paper will be read
with interest = Golden Era
"Dr. Kane was man of whom the
country became more proud with eve
Ty new revelation of his character.
He was warmly cherished as one of its
brightest ornaments, and a feeling Of
almost personal affection was mingled
with the profound respect which he
everywhere inspired. Gallant, brave,
heroic, smitten equally with love of
science and a passion for adventure,
he possessed the mental force to con-
vert the dreams of Imagination into re-
ality His late Arctic expedition, oil
which he has left such graphic and
beautiful record, was but the culmina-
ton of a career which gave early pro-
mise of its subsequent achievements
DR.. Kane was born in Philadelphia,
in the year 1922, and had accordingly
just entered upon his thirty fifth year.
He received his academic education at
the University of Virginia, and gradu-
ated as Doctor of Medicine at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania in lS43
Soon after that date he entered the
United States Navy as Assistant Sur
geon, and accompanied the first Amer
lean embassy to China With his ma
tive thirst for observing the manners
and customs Of strange countries, he
visited different parts of China, the
PHILIPPINES, Ceylon, and the interior of
India. He was the first white person
who descended into the crater of the
Tail of Luzon. accomplishing this en-
terprize at the hazard of his life. He
was suspen ed by a bamboo rope round
his body, from a projecting crag, more
than two hundred feet above the re-
mains o. volcanic eruptions. With
bottles Of sulphuric acid and other spe-
cimens from the mouth of the crater,
he was dragged up senseless through
the scori@. Upon this expedition he
was attacked by the Ladrones and saw
ages OF the Negrito race, and exposed
to other hardships, which proved fatal
to his travelling companion, Baron Loe,
of Prussia. After this, he traversed a
considerable portion of India, visited
Ccylon, ascended the Nile to the con
fines of Nrbia, and passed season in
Egypt. He aveled through Greece
on foot, and returned IN 1916 to the
United States. He was Immediately
ordered to the Coast of Africa, and
sailing in the frleate United States,
visited the slave factories from Cape
Mount to the river Bonny, and obtain
ed free accrss to the baracooms of Da-
homy. Returning home in precari-
Gus state Of health, he recovered suffi-
ciently to visit Mexico Turing the war
as volunteer. He succeeded in de-
livering dispatches from the President
to the Commander>in-C Chief, escorted
by the notorious spy company of the
brigand Dominguez, and after getting
the better of detachment of Mexican
soldiers whom they encountered at
Nopaluca, he was forced to combat his
companions single-hand- d in order to
savo the lives of his prisoners, Gen.
Torrajon, Gen. Gaona, and others from
their fury. On the return of peace,
he was ordered upon the Coast Survey
under Prof. Bache, and was thus en-
pleyed in the Gulf of Mexico. when he
volunteered his services to the first
Grinnell Expedition in 1880. He was
accepted as senior surgeon and natur-
aIist OF the squadron, and entered upon
his duties with an enthusiasm, sagacity
and power of endurance which admira-
bly, prepared him for the more arduous
responsibilities of the second expedi-
ton, the results of which are before
lhe world.
In his private character DIR. Kane
displayed singularly lovely and at
tractive union of qualities in striking
contrast With the boldness and resolu-
ton which impelled him in his career
of adventure. The narrative of his ex-
petitions presents delightful ilus,ra-
tration of his personal traits. In this
respect they possess the charm of un-
conscious autography. His modest sim
picity, his refined tastes, his tender
ness of feeling, and his almost feminine
sympathies, are perpetually revealed
in connection with as dauntless cour.
age and constancy as ever nerved hero
ic heart to lofty prowess. Heuce the
magnt tic power which he exerted over
the companions of his enterprise, win.
ming their romantic attachment, and
making himself center of light and
encouragement amid the darkest mo.
ments of the forlorn hope in the Arctic
seas Whatever the scientific results
of his perilous voyages, they are OF st.l
higher significance in the example they
have presented of noble, persistent
disin;erested and undismayed man
hood.
A HARDY seaman who had escaped
one of the recent shipwrecks upen ouI
coast. was aked by good lady how h'
felt when the waves rolled over hiIO
He replied, Vet, ma'am--rcry acet j.!