The Republican journal., 1881-11-10

| ColOlCu people OF New i OTk were not 10
be trusted; that there were hired men of
my own color who would betray me for a
few dollars; that there were hired men
ever on the lookout for fugitives; that
must trust no man with my secret; that
must not think Of going either upon the
wharves or into any colored boarding
house, for all such places were closely
watched; that he was himself unable to
help me; and, in fact, he seemed while
speaking to me to fear lest myself might
be spy and betrayer Under this ap-
prehenslon, as suppose, he showed signs
of wishing to be rid Of me, and with
whitewash brush in hand, in search of
work, he soon disappeared.
This picture given by poor Jake" of
New York, was damper to my enthusi-
asm. My little store of money would soon
! be exhausted, and since it would be un-
safe for me to 60 on the Wharves for work
and had no introduction elsewhere, the
| prospect for me was far from cheerful. |
saw the wisdom of keeping away from the
ship yards for, if pursued, as | felt GER
tain | should be, Mr.. Auld my "master,"
would naturally seek me there among the
ca!kers Every door seemed closed against
llS' tlN III IiIC illIlSl VI dill UCtdIl VI lIlN
fellow men, and yet perfect stranger to
every one. | was without home, without
acquaintance, without money, without
credit, without work, and without anv
definite knowledge as to what course to
take, or where 10 look for succor In
such an extremity. a man had something
besides his new born freedom to think Of
While wandering about the streets of New
York, and lodging at least one night
among the barrels Oh one of the wharves,
| was indeed tree-fron slavery, but free
from food and shelter as well. kept
my secret to myself as long as | could,
but ! was compelled al last to seek some
one who would befriend me without tax
ing advantage Of my destitutOn to betray
me. Such person | found in a sailor
named Stuart, q warm m-hearted and gen
erOus fellow, who, from his humble home
on Centre street, saw me standing on the
opposite sidewalk, near the Tombs prison.
AS he approached me, | ventured a re-
mark to him which at once enlisted his
interest in me. He took me 10 his home
to spend the night, and in the morning
secretary of the New York Vigilance Com
mittee, co-worker with Isaac L. Hop
per, Lewis and Arthur Tappan, Theo-
dorc 5. Wright, Samuel Cornish, Thomas
Downing, Philip 4. Bell, and other true
men of their time. All these, (save Mr.
Bell, who still lives, and is editor and
publisher Of paper called the "Eleyat-
or, in san Francisc0) have finished their
work on earth. Once in the hands Of
these brave and wise men, felt compar-
atively save. With Mr. Ruggles, on the
corner Of Lispenard and Church streets,
was hidden several days, during which
time my intended wife came on from Bal
timore at my call to share the burden of
life with me. She was a free woman and
came at once on getting the good news of
my safety. We We're married by Rev. J.
". c. Pennington, then Well-knoWn
and respected Presbyterian minister, |
had no money with which to pay the
marriage fec, but he seemed Well pleased
with our thanks.
Mr.. Ruggles was the first officer on the
Underground Railroad" whom | met
after coming North, and was, indeed, the
only one with whom had anything to do
till | became such an officer myself
Learning that my trade was that of a
calker, he promptly decided that the best
place for me was in New Bedford, Mass.
He told me that many ships for whaling
voyages were fitted out there, and that |
might there find work at my trade and
make good living. 50, on the day Of
the marriage ceremony, we took our lit
tie luggage to the steamer John W. Rjch-
mont, which, at that time, was one of the
line running between New y ork and New
port, K. |. Forty three years ago color
ed travellers were not permitted in the
cabin, nor allowed abaft the middle
wheels OF a steam vessel They were
compelled, whatever the weather might
be-Whether cold or hot, wet or dry-to
spend the night on deck. Unjust as this
regulation was, it did not trouble us
much we had Jared much harder before.
We arrived at Newport the next morning,
and soon after an old fashioned stage
coach with 'New Bedford in huge yell
lew letters on its sides came down to the
wharf. | had not money enough to pay
our fare, and stood hesitating what TO do
Fortunately for rs, there were two Quak-
er gentlemen who We're about to take
passage on the stage, Friends William
G. Taber and Joseph Rickerson-Wh at
once dlScerned our true situation, and in
peculiarly quiet way, addressing me,
MIR. Taber said: "Thee get H." never
obeyed an order with more alacrty and
we were soon on oar way 10 our new
home When we reached "Stone Bridge"
the passengers alighted for breakfast, and
paid their fares to the driver We took
no breakfast, ana, when asked for our
fares, | told the driver | would make it
right with him when we reached New
Bedford. | expected some objection to
this on his part but he made none.
When however, he reached New Bedford
he took our baggage, including three mn-
sic books, two Of them collections by
Dyer, and one by Shaw and held them
until | was able to redeem them by pay
ing to him the amount due for our rides.
This was soon done, for Mr.. Nathan John
son not only received me kindly and hos
pitably, but, on being informed about our
baggage, at once loaned me the two dol
lars with which to square accounts with
the stage driver Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan
johnson reached good old age, and are
now resting from their labors. | am un-
der many grateful obligations to them.
They not only 'tOOk me in when strang-
Ell ana "1ed me when hungry" but
taught me how to make an honest living.
Thus in fortnight after my flight from
Maryland, | was safe in New Bedford,
citizen Of the grand old commonwealth Of
Massachusetts.
Once initiated into my new life of free
dom and assured by Mr.. johnson that |
need not fear recapture in that city,
comparatively unimportant question arose
as to the name by which | should be
known thereafter in my new relation as
free man. The name given me by my
dear mother was no less pretentious and
long than Frederick Augustus Washing
ton Bailey | had, however, while living
in Maryland, dispensed with the Au-
gustus Washington, and retained only
Frederick Bailey. Between Baltimore
and New Bedford, the better to conceal
nlf II. I