The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-13
/ VICTIM OF THE POLARIS EX
Petition.

Pony Eoerbing. an Esquimaux girl, OF RepulS
Bay, aged nine years, recently breathed her las
in Groton Conn. She was the adopted daughiei
OF Esqulmaux Joe, tue interpreter and companlor
for many years OF the late Captain c. f. Hail. the
Arctic explorer. The history OF this child is
somewhat romantic one. When the wife OF Es-
quimaux Joe, Hanna, lost her two children she
became broken. hearted and Captain Hal, to con.
sole her. succeeded in obtaining for her bright
infant girl in exchange for Sleigh at Repulse
Bay IN 1868. Alter Hall had been assent from
the United States for fve years he returned to
this country, in 1862 by the whaling BARR
Ansell Gibbs, OF New Bedford, from HUDSON Bay,
bringing with him Joe, Hanna and Pony. Whns
Hal was making arrangements for the equip ment
OF the Polaris expedition, Pony, with ner
adopted parents resided at Groton, Conn.,, in q
house belonging to Commander Sydney o. Bud
dington, an old whaling captain.
When the Polaris felt american waters. on the
10th OF June, 1871 on her mission TO discover the
North Pole, Captain Hall took Pony and neI
parents with him. They had stateroom nttei up
for them on that vessel and were much liked foI
their gentle manners and kind and oDliglng DO.
havlor. Captain Buddington went our on the ex.
petition as sailing master and, after captain
Halls death, became its commander.
THE CAUSE OF HER DEATH.
On the 18TH or october 1872, q large number q
the Polaris' crew were suddenly carried away OF
the ice while landing provisions from the snip,
among them Pony and her parents. For 1876 day.
the unfortunate party renamed noating TO the
south III almost Zimmerman darkness and living IN
ice houses. For ten days on one occasion rn0
party remained without food. saving sucn sus-
tenance as could be derived by gnawlng he skins
oil some seals that mad been killed some time pre-
viously ana eaten. as always, raw. EntraIls were
greedlly devoured, terrible was the nun9eri
Esquimaux Joe did the party good service in cap.
turing seals, bears, &c. Finally the party, bY q
miraculous chance, were picked up by the steamer
Tigress OF the coast of Labrador. From the hard.
ships endured on this occasion Pony never recov.
cred. Another young traveller VINO lived was an
Esqulmaux baby. called "Cnarles Poarisi
aged about four months. Pony attended
Inc public school at GrOton, and was con
sdered q very intelligent pupil, being able &c
read and write with luency. One OF her delights
was playing cards with her atner. she always
spoke In EsquimauX with her parents. Hanna
(Pony's foster motnerI mas been very sick OF late
at Groton, and It Is possible that she and Joe may
90 back TO their natve home, Cumberland Inlet.
and end their days in their well.loved Polar re.
gions. Joe applied about two months ago TO the
British goyernm to be attached TO the Engllsh
Polar expedition about starting. but mas not YET
received any answer. PONY had fair compile xlon.
and IL was thought by rhe members OF the Poaris
expedition that she was the daughter OF some
American whaler, otherwise II was conjectured
she would not have been bartered away. She was
the only Esquimaux Guild on record which ever
lived over Two or nree years IN THIS country other
Esquimaux children having died mere within
year. One OF Hanna's children died IN this city
during the war, owing TO the effects OF civilized
food and the climate.