The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-03-04
A Sketch of the Life of DR.. Kane.

lhiladelphia in 1922. Nearly a third of
his life WAS consumed in travel ost ofthc
limits of the United States. No man of
his years, however, was more thoroughly
acquainted with the geographical features
of his own country. lie was educated
at the Universities Of Virginia and Penn.
sylvania, graduating as a doctor of med
icine in ls43. His graduation thesis on
"kyestine " was crawncd Ly the faculty.
and is still c'.ed us a"thority IN the books
Of the protest. IN. Immediately after re.
ceiving his degree, he was appointed upon
the diplomatic staff as surgeon TO the first
American embassy TO China. lie awaited
himself of the facilities afforded by his pc
sltion TO explore the Philippines, most Of
which travel, including Camarinas, and
MINORS, was made on foot.
His Charts are sill preserved, but we
believe have not been published. His as
soc'ate during a portion of his expIora-
lion, the lamenteI young Baron Loe, of
Prussia, sank under the effects Of the
hardship anl exposure which attended
upon it and died in IaYa. DR.. Kane dc.
voted much attention. to the volcanic re-
g,on OF Albany, expecting TO connect his
observation with subsequent travels in
.Somhava. His s%ojourn among the Ne.
gritos and Araturas was one of romantic
interest. He WAS the first who descended
the crater Of the Taei, upon which occa
sion he effected a Typographical sketch Of
the interior Of this volcano. He was low
cred more than a hundred feet by a bam-
boo rope from an overhanging cliff and
clambering down some seven hundred feet
through the scoria, was dragged up sense
les, with the interesting specimens which
lie collected. Among these were bot.
ties OF s~ulphurous acid from the very mouth
Of tie crater.
After this Pr. Kape ,raversed India,
spending q considerable time among the
monolithic structulas Of Arungabad,
(which would seem to have particularly
attracted his notice,) visited Ceylon, the
upper Nile, the Gases Of Jupiter Ammon.
&c, and various classic regions which
have since become the trodden ground of
European tourists. A portion Of this
travel introduced him to the learned Len
sius, who was then prosecuting his re.
searches in Egypt. Returning however,
Dr. Sane was SO unfortunate as to lose his
gatsaA, in a quieksand above E'Sloot, and
with 1t bis entire papers and journals of
years OF interesting travel.
Taking a profound interest in the work
angs o. tao slave trade, Dr.. Kane next sail.
ed from home in the frigate United States
foi the coast Of Africa. He visited the
slave factories from Cape Mount to the
Iper Bonny, and had free access to the
baracoons of Dahomey through the infu.
ence OF Da Sowza. An excursion which
he planned to Abomey, faeored by the
fortugees, failed through a severe attack
OF the coast fever, from the effects Of
which DR.. Kane's constitution has never
entirely recovered.
DR.. Kane's personal adventures in
Mexico are part Of the history Of his coun-
Try His wounds on the field Of NapoIu-
ca which were Of a very serious nature
opened 10 him the Inequalities Of his pris
oner, Major General Gao4a, the defender
OF Sar Juan d'UlIoa against the French
shd secured him tue gratitude of other
Mexican citizens OF the highest distinction.
we believe, however, that his travels
thrt ugh the Republc 4 c, t carried
!hIIn little outside the lines Of military Oh.
e~ratropns; After his brilliant performance
of;hs DUTY OF carrying President Folks
dispatches TO General Scott. he was still
necessarily trammelled by the movements
OF the American forces. Iris barometrical
attitudes Of PoPoca,epetl, however, are of
value.
On the return Of peace he was assigned
10 The Court Survey, under Professor
Bachc, and was at work in the Gulf Of
Mexico when the lberality of Mr.. Grinnel
stimulated the G ,vernment Of the United
States to the first American expedition in
search of Sir John Franklin. DR.. Kane
mi2ediateiy volunteered his services. and
was accepted as the Senior Surgeon Of the
Squadron. His personal Narrative" OF
this cruise was published in 1882.
Before il was completed for the press,
he had effected his arrangements for the
last Arctic Expedition, appropriating, 10
Ibis cherished object his own pecuniary
resources, rs well rs drawing largely on
those Of Mr.. Grinneli and several OF the
scientific institutions of the country.
The history Of that expedition and the
remarkable discoveries to which il led are
now before the country. They constitute
in themselves an i~nperisbabIe monument
TO DIR. Kane's fame. IL will ever be y sub
ject Of deep regre, that the sufFerings
through which he passed to achieve those
results should have prevented him from
reaping the full benefit Of the honors TO
which they would unque.tionsbIy have
led.