The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-01
DESCENDED FROM A KING
HE IS NOW PRACTIOING MEDICINE
IN SAVANNA.

DR.. Cornelius McKane (Colored), q
Native of Libsris, Graduate of Dart
mouth College and the Medical UNI
versity Of Vermont-His Purpose in
Life Is to Establish hospital in
Liberia and Work for the Advance.
ment OF Bis People There.
There is now practicing medicine and
surgery at 1O7 Montgomery street in this
city, a colored man who traces his lineage
directly to King George of Africa His
name is Cornelius McKane and he is 80
years old. having been born in Georgetown,
British Guiana, South America, Feb. 2,
1854
A MORNING NEWS reporter called to see
him yesterday and ascertained the following
facts, which, judging from the modesty and
intelligence Of DR.. McKane, are true In
every particular. DR.. MCKane received his
education in ward school in New York
city, and finished his course In medicine at
Dartmouth College, n. H. He has been
practicing medicine successfully In Savan-
nah for one year.
HIS PLANS FoR LIBERIA.
he is very intelligent and entertaining
man, and speaks Enthusiastically of his
prospects of going back to his native coun-
try, Liberia, and taking along with him q
number Of teachers aud missionaries TO edu-
cate and to attend 10 the needs Of his people
there. His description of Liberia is inter-
esting In the extreme. He says that there
is a population at Monrovia Of 10000 in
habitants, who are, as a rule, happy and
conrented. His greatest object in life to
establish a medical college in his native
land, and to this end he Ia striving with all
the energy he possesses.
HISTORY OF M'KANE's PARKNrAGE.
Cornelius MoKane is the great grandson
of King Mannah Funacai, more Familiarity
known as King George, one OF the native
rulers who sold the first territory purchased
by the American Colonization Society on
the west coast of Africa. From this terri
tory the republic of Liberia was formed.
Funtsa, the grandmother of Cornelius
McKane, was stolen from her native coun-
try 20 be sold into slavery in Dutch Guiana.
She was the granddaughter OF the king. That
portion OF the country where she was taken
soon came into the possession Of the En-
glish. Through the efforts Of a London
missionary she was converted from pagan
ism 90 Christianity. Funica married, in
the land of her exile, fellow oountryman,
who, too. was stolen from his native land
She had several children, most Of whom
died in youth, but Ter oldest daughter mar
ried. When she died she left two little
children, a boy of o and girl OF 9 years Of
age. This boy was Cornelius McKane, Bhe
subject OF this story.
HISTORY OF HIS STRUGGLES.
MoKane started opt from Georgetown,
British Guiana, at 10 years Of age to seek
an education. His grandmother told him
a "a rfh ORt nd cot,n a
him made him promise that he would re-
turn to the land of his grandmother and
greab-grandmother and work for the re-
generation of his race. MeKane had many
years Of hardships and when he landed In
New York he was penntiess and homeless
Moses +. Wester, a devout eolored Baptist
deacon, who was In the habit Of assisting
worthy young men and women Of
his race to obtain an education, is
janitor of the Drezel building, No 80 Wall
street. He at once took Mckane into his
household and seat him to Grammar School
No. 80. McKane graduated with honors
and began lecturing In behalf Of Lfberla.
He completed a brief course at the high
school and then went out to Liberia, where
he Immediately began the study OF native
languages, making himself proficient in
them and also In Arabic. He was soon
made principal Of the City Grammar School
at Monrovia, but in order 10 be with his own
people he left Mourovia to become pVin-
cipal of the Shingay Mission School
as Sherbro, near the GalhnGs territory.
There he met Chief Neal Caulker, she ex-
ecutive bead of the Sherbro tribes, who put
him in a position 30 discover the youngest
sister OF his Great-grandmother. Twahalla.
She is an old woman, and upon recognizing
the young relative she exclaimed: "Takos
neh Ebenn Ahahp "You come to briaR
Godm
TO OPEN HOSPITAL IN AFRICA.
Young McKane here resolved TO equip
himself for a medical missionary. Re-
turning to Liberia he temporarily took
charge of the treasury department.
of the republic at the request of
President johnson. In 1888 he re-
turned TO this country TO complete his
studies, which he did at the Medical Uni
versity Of Vermont.
DR.. MoKane 10 now considering a propo-
sition from the American Colonization So
ciety to take charge Of a medical hospital
10 Monrovia. He ia doing well in his prao-
tice here, and has just been appointed
medical examiner for the New York Mu-
tual Life Insurance Company among the
colored people. Bat he wants to work
among the members of his race in the land
of his ancestors.
DIR. McKane is not only modest and
well-mannered young man, but is one of
the most Intelligent members of his race to