The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-02-25
DR.. Elisha Kent Kane.

~ accurate one we have SEEM OF the life
OF DR.. Kane up to his departure for
ENGLAND, aud thence to St. Thomas aud
Cuba IN search Of wasted health. We
wish it were possible to hope that the
obituary may be premature.
THE telegraphic dispatches received
on Monday leave little room to hope thot
the death of DR., Kane has not already
taken place. As our readers are aware.
he sailed from England to Havana sew
eral weeks since, with a view to the
amelioration of his impaired health, and
at one time 1t was announced that there
was fair prospect of his recovery. The
tidlngs that have now been received will
awaken universal regret. DR.. Kane was
man Of whom the country became moro
| proud with every 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 smitten equally with love Of sci
ence apG passion for adventure, be pos
sessed the mental force to conver, tho
dreams OF Imagination into reality. His
late Arctic expedition, of which he has
left such graphic auG beautiful record.
was but the elimination of career which
gave early promise Of its subsequent
achievements.
DR. Kane was born in PHILADELPHIA in
the year 1929, and had accordingly lust
entered upon his thirty fifth year. He
received his academic education at the
University Of Virginia aud graduated
as Doctor Of Medicine at the University
OF Pennsy lvania. in l543. Soon after
that date he entered the United States
Navy az assistant surgeon, and accom-
panied tho first American embassy to
emma. With his native thirst for obscry.
ing 'he manners aud custom. of strange
countries. he visited different parts of
China tho Philippines, Ccylon. and
! tho interior OF ind,a. He was ,L,
| first white person who descended into tina
crater Of the Tail of Luzon, accomplish.
lug this enterprise at the hazard of his
life. lie was suspended by a bamboo
rope around his body. from a PROTECTING
crag, more than 200 Feet above The re-.
maius Of volcanic eruptiuus. With bot
ties OF suliburous acid, and other speci.
mems from the mouth OF the crater. he
was dragged up senielcss through the
socri9. Upon this expedition be was at,
tackled by the Ladroues and savage. of
the Nrgri'o race, aud exposed to other
hardSbips. which proved fatal to bis trav-
cling companion, Baron Luc Of Prussia.
After this he travelled considerable
portion of ludia, visited Ceylon, ascend
ed to tue Nile to the confines of Nubi..
aud passed season in Egypt. He trav-
eled through Greece on foot, and return.
Cd in lsl6 to the United States.
lie was hmm. diatcly ordered to the
! Coast OF Africa, and sailing in the fig.
ate United ) ates, visited the slave fac.
tories from Cape Mount to the River
Bouny and obtained tee access to the
! baracoons Of DIhomcy Ee'uruiug home
III prccarlous state IF health he rccov-
cred sufficiently to visit Mexico during
the war as u volunteer He succeeded
III deIive'lr Z dispatches from the Prcsl.
dent to the Commander iuChicf. escorted
| by the notorious spy company Of the
uilgnnd DJmIngn'z z, and after getting the
better ct detachment of Mexican sold
lerS. whom they encountered at Nipolu-
ca, he was forced t. combat his compan-
l"nS siugle handed in order to save the
Iives Il bis prisoners, Gen. Torrej9n,
Gen. G19na and others. from thcir fury,
On the return Of peace he was ordered
On the Coast Survey under Prof B1cLe.
and was thus employed 10 the Gulf of
Mexico, when he volunteered his servc-
es to the first Griuncll Expedition 10
| $50. lie was accepted as senior sur.
geon and naturalist Of the squadron, aud
entered upon his duties with enthusiasm,
sagaclty, aud power of endurance, which
admirably prepared him for the more ar
| duuus responsibilities of the second Ex-
! petition, the rusults of which are before
the world.
In his private character, DR.. Kane dis.
played a siugularly lovely aud attractive
union of qualitios-iu striking contrast
with the boldness aud resolution which
impelled him on his career of adventure.
The narrative Of Lis expeditions presents
a most beautiful illustration OF his per-
sonal traits In this respect they pos
sess tha charm Of unconscious autobiog-
raphy His modest simplicity, his re-
fined taste, his tenderness Of feeling and
his almost feminine sympa,hics, are per-
petually revealed in connection with as
dauntless courage and constancy os ever
ncrved heroic heart 10 lofty prowess.-
Hence the magnetic power which he ex-
erted over the companions of his enter.
prise, winning their romantic attachment
and making himself center Of light aud
encouragement amid the darkest mo.
ments of the forlorn bopo in the Arctic
seas. Whatever the scientific results of
his perlious voyages, they are Of still
higher Significance in the example they
have presented Of noble, persistent, dis.
interested and undismayed manhood"
Are Vour Iun1s Diseased and vonld