Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-03-05
DR.. Elisha Kent Kane.

DR.. Elisha Kent Kane.
DIR. Kane, as our readers are aware
sailed from England to Havana several
weeks since, with a view to the ameliora
ton of his impaired health, and at one
time it was announced that there was
fair prospect of his recovery. The
tidings that have now been received will
awaken universal regret. DIR. Kane was
a man ofwhom the country became more
proud with every new revelation of his
character. He was warmly cherished
as one of its brightest ornaments, and q
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 passion for adventure, he
possessed the mental force to convert
the dreams of Imagination into reality.
His late Arctic expedition, of which he
has left such graphic and beautiful re-
cord, was but the elimination of a career
which gave early promise of its subse-
quent achievements.
DR.. Kane was born in PHILADELPHIA in
the year 1922, and accordingly Just en-
tered upon his thirty fifth year. He re-
ceIved his academic education at the I'm
iversity of Virginia, and graduated as
Doctor at Medicine at the University of
Pennsylvania in lS43. Soon after that
date he entered the United States Navy
as assistant surgeon, and accompanied
the first American embassy to China
With his native thirst for observing the
manners and customs of strange coun-
tries, 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 enter
prise at the hazard of his life. He was
suspended by bamboo rope around his
body, from a projecting crag, more than
two hundred feet above the remains of
volcanic eruptions. With bottles of
sulphurous acid and other specimens
from the mouth of the crater, he was
dragged up senseless through the scor-
i@. Upon this expedition, he was at
tackled, by the Ladrones and savages of
the Negrito race, and exposed to other
hardships which proved fatal to 10 trav-
cling companion, Baron Loe of Prussia
After this, he traversed a considerable
portion of India, visited Ceylon, ascen-
ded. the Nile to the confines of Nubia
and passed a season in Egypt. He trav-
eled through Greece on foot, and return
ed in 1876 to the United States. He
was Immediately ordered to the Coast
of Africa, and sailing in the frigate Uni
ted States, visited the slave factories
from Cape Mount to the River
Bonny, and obtained free access
to the baracoons OF Dahomey. Return
inghome in a precarious,state of health, he
recovered sufficiently to visit Mexico
during the war as volunteer. He sue
ceeded in delivering dispatches from the
President to the COMMANDMENTS Chief,
escorted by the notorious spy company
of the brigand Dominguez and after get
ing the better ola detachment Of Mexican
soldiers whom they encountered at No
paluca, he was forced to combat his COM
PanIons single-handed in order to save
the lives of his prisoners, General Torra-
jon, General Gaona and others, from
their fury. On the return of peace, he
was ordered upon the Coast Survey I'M
der Prof. Bache, and was thus employed
in the Gulf of Mexico, when he volun-
teered his services to the first Grinnell
Expedition in 1850. He was accepted
as senior surgeon and naturlist of the
squadron, and entered upon his duties
with an enthusiasm, sagacity, and power
of endurance which admirably prepared
him for the more arduous responsible
ties of the second Expedition, the results
Of which are before the world
In his private character, DIR. Kane
displayed a singularly lovely and attrac-
tive union ofqualities in striking contrast
with the boldness and resolution which
impelled him on his career of adventure.
The narrative ofhis expeditions presents
delightful illustration Of his personal
traits. In this respect they possess the
charm of unconscious autobiography
His modest simplicity, his tenderness of
feeling, and his almost feminine sympa-
thies are perpetually revealed in connec-
tion with as dauntless courage and con-
stancy as ever nerved heroic heart to LOT.
ty proves. Hence the magnetic power
which he exerted over the companions
Of his enterprise, winning their romantic
attachment, and making himselfa center
of light and encouragement amid the
darkest moments of the forlorn hope in
the Arctic seas. Whatever the scientific
results of his perilous voyages, they are
of still higher significance in the exam
pie they have presented of noble, persis-
tent, disinterested and undismayed man
hood. I....
REMARKABLE SAGACITY OF A Doc