The New York herald., 1875-12-29
TALE OF HEROISM NEVER SURPASSED.
Paid with Ingratitudo
and Neglect.
ONLY AN ESQUIMAU.
How Joe Was Forgotten by the Men
Whose Lives He Saved.

arrived in due time, and shipped in the Pandora as
able seaman hunter and interpreter; but his accom-.
pishments in the latter capacity proved to be some
whas limited, for, although he is to all appearances
master OF the Esquimau tongue and speaks its various
dialects more or less huenty he knows scarcely any
English. This impairs his usefulness as in
terpreter somewhat, as IL is almost as
hard to understand his Interpretation as
1t is the original expression in the mouth OF wild
Esqumau. On the outward voyage rash enough to
undertake to learn the Esqumau language with Joe for
q teacher-an enterprise which may as we'll confess
resulted In an ignomnious failure It proved to be the
most heartoreaking work undertook partly be-
cause the structure Of the language is utterly differ
ent from that OF any other, and had been unable to
obtain copy of either of the three or four grammars
that have been written on It, but principally because
Joe's vocabulary is very limited and meagre and his
ideas Of the meaning and of the English verb are
of the most vague and indefinite description But II
did not learn much of the Esquimau language learned
good deal about Joe himself; he proved to be by far
the more interesting study of the two;
FOR JOE IS A CHARACTER,
and one OF the most interesting and curious ever met
1t took time to discover that there was any
more in him than appears at first sight, for he is
naturally Of retiring modest disposition, which with
the fact that he speaks little English knows that
he is liable to be misunderstood and even laughed at
makes him retcent and reserved There is besides
quiet dignity and gravity about him which efrectualy
repels anything like idle curiosity, and resents being
regarded in the light of show, which people are
only too apt to behold in poor Esquimau 1t was
only during long series of exasperatng lessons in his
native tongue which usually ended In a talk about
Captain Hall and the Poars expedition that l. at last
won his confidence and began perceive that there
was more in him than at first sight appeared
The first thing Joe did when he came to London al
though he had absolutely no clothes except what he
wore on his back. to buy umbrella in which in
vestment he spent think his last penny 1t is true
that in the climate of London umbrella is not the
least useful thing could have; but do not think
Joe was moved by any considerations of weather or
fear of rain In making this acquisition. am inclined
to the opinion that he did because no looks upon an
umbrella the highest expression of civilization, and
such right and proper thing for every to have
For Joe processes a great admiration for civil
ization and everything pertaining thereto. He
would walk about the streets of London
with the umbrella in his hand viewing everything
with an admlring though critical eye and grave
complacent air that was very pleasant to behold.
'Iondon big place" he would say; ''pretty good
noise; plenty buggy hanson go FAST two wheels;
hurt HIM head; not him speak pretty good streets
stony pretty crooked; not end him right road hotel;
not pretty lazy; plenty want speak me; not
know him.n BY which understood him to say that
London is very large and plentiful city; but tho
noise however is deafenng and terrible owing to
those strange looking vehicles tho hanson cabs, of
which there infinite number and
that, mounted two wheels go dash
ing the stone paved streets with such velocity
that the uproar actually hurts your head, and at
times prevents your hearing yourself speak. The
Streets too, very intricate and complicated, so
much that II is almost impossible to find ones way
about and very dieult to find ones hotel There arc
great many people who want TO speak to me, but
see they prompted by curiosity, I repcl
their advances and decline to enter into any
ton further than is absolutely required by the laws of
poteness."
He not in very good health when in Londen just
before starting His face was thin and hollow, and he
had disagreeable cough, which probably caused
partly by the warmth of the summer but principally
afraid by inordnate of tobacco, OF which he
is great smoker as General Grant. "By IN by git
him little seal meat then all right" he remarked in
referenceto this cough And his predictions quickly
fulfilled We had got among the ice and
killed seal than he began to grow fat his cheeks
to puff out and his whole expression to change
Whether it the seal meat the cold, bracing icy
air and healthy active life all these things together,
am unable to say. But certain IL is that Joe was
another man from that time forth. There was
expression in his face 1re his eyes than
could have thought possible when first him. for
to tell the truth, he looked anything but healthy when
he arrived in London, and heard more than
person say he was not long for this world There
came, too curious deep bronze coppery color in
his cheeks which had been hcre before aud which
afterwards observed in the Esqumaux OF Greenland
indication of rugged health. had many
long talk with Joe during our voyage
1t was pleasant, bright, sunny day.
when the ship was gliding almost silently along
the smooth, still water, and slipping and then
noselessly past huge iceberg though afraid OF
bringing it down on her. to 60 forward and find joe
and get him to talk about Captain Hall and the poaris
expedition II it his watch and there nothing
to do would generally find him leaning against the
rail boat or something else that afforded good rest
smoking his pipe and watching the sea. His face
always wore a calm, sedate, grave expression, which
was, however, tempered by gentle good-natured
look, which made very pleasant face see, in spite
Of It's Mongolan type.
Joe, would say, perhaps, "how would you Ike
say "ong time stay all winter Think better go home
Like see Hannahn
"You are lonesome without Hannah, are your"
ask.
Eyes, little Never out here without Hannah. Han
nah always come, toou
'0h, yes If Capn Young winter / like winter too;
but think better winter New York"
Gan right, joe will winter in New York IL wo
can, but II we can't hope wen have good time here
all the same. You wintered good many times with
Captain Hall?n
eyes, five, six, seven winters, Cap'n Hail."
"How did you like Captain Hall p"
Like him very much, very much. He very good
man-good 70 me, very good TO me. No other friend
like Capn Hail.
Then, after pause, looking away out to sea
*"Dead nowln
$50 you think, joe II Captain Hall had lived ho
would have gone very much further north ?"
Yes, think he do it-he want 60 mrder-North
Pole-you know--nobody on ship un' erstan Capn Hall
vcy we'll He thnk-read good deal. Nobody know
him pretty good Vely good heart--gve everything;
go North Pole-want to go good deaf-nobody un'er-
stan himn
Joe, what was the reason you did not all go on to
the North Pole after Captain Hall died2n
mo capn-nobody capn. Capn Buddng-he
cap'n-Cap'n Tyson-ho cap'n Doctor-he cap'n too
Mr.. Chester, cap'n--Mr Myers, cap'n--me, capn-
everybody cap'n No good. =
"Why didn't Captain Buddington go9'
'Guess he got about enough-not want 20 no iurder-
maybe couldn't Don know