Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-04-15
Omuille Dailq Bntte RtturG.
DR.. Elisha kent kane'

IcCo'CiiuR Ills uCdtJn. FiiC lOltON luz
brief sketch of his Efe, which we take
from an Eastern paper will be read
with interest - G0lden Ira.
CDR. 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 feeling of
almost personal affection was mingled
with the profound respect which he
everywhere inspired Gallant, brave,
heroic, smittcn equally with a love of
science and a passion for adventure,
he possessed the meftsl force to con-
vert the dreams Of Imagination into re-
ality His late Arctic expedition, of
which he has left such graphic and
beautiful record, was but the culmina-
ton of career which gave earl y pro-
mise Of its subsequent achievements.
DIR. Kane was born in Philadelphia,
in the year 1922, and had accordingly
Just entered upon his thlrty-fif;h year.
He received his academic education at
the University Of Virginia, and gradu-
ated as Doctor of Medicine at the Uni
yersity 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-
terprizc al the hazard Of his life. lie
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 erupilons. With
bottles of sulphuric acid and other spe-
cimens from the mouth of the crater,
he was dragged up senscless 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 traver>ed
considerable portion of India, visited
Ccylon, ascended the Nile to the con-
fines of Nubia, and passed season in
Egypt. He Travelled through Greece
on foot, and returned in lS46 to the
United States. He was Immediately
ordered to the Coast of Africa, aud
sailing va the frlpate United States,
visited tie slave ac'ories from Cape
Mount to the river Bonny, and obtain
ed free access to the baracooms of Da
homy. Returning home in prccari-
GUS state -of health, he recovered suffi-
cien,ly 90 visit Mexico during the war
as a volunteer. He succeeded in de-
liveripg dispatches from the President
80 the Commander>in,C Chief, escorted
by the notorious spy company of the
brieand Dominguez, and after getting
the better of detachment Of VI xican
soldiers whom they encountered at
Nopaluca, he was forced to combat his
companions single handed in order to
savo the lives of his prisoners, Gen.
Torraion, 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-
plcyed in the Gulf Of Mexico, when be
volunteered his services to the first
Grinnell Expedition in 1880. He was
accepted as senior surgeon and natur-
alist OF the squadron, and entered upon
his duties with an enthusiasm, sagaclty
and power of endurance which admira-
bfy prepared him for the more arduous
responsibilities of the second expedi-
ton, the results of which are before
abe world.
In his private character DR.. Kane
displayed singularly lovely and at
tractive union of qualities in striking
contrast with the boldness and resolu-
tion which Impelled him in his career
of adventure. The narrative of his ex-
pedit,ons presents delightful illus:ra-
tration of his personal traits. In this
respect they possess the charm of un'
conscious autography. His modest sim,
plicity, his refined tastes, his tender
ness of feeling, and his almost feminine
sympathies, are perpetualiy revealed
" IL