The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-11
TAR-HEEL NEGRO
WHO WAS KILLED IN THE BLOWING UP
OF THE MAINE.
Left Wife and Children to StsVe in New
York.-His Last Letter Says Trouble
Was Expected.

Was Expected.
New York, March 1O.-Wedged in be-
tween the twisted steelribs of the Maine, |
down at the bottom of Havana harbOr,
lies the body of George Johnson. The
annals of the United States navy will
not mention his name; he won no bat
ties; he gained no mcdals--but on the
be inscribed:
George Johnson, cOlOred, coal-passer
on the Maine. Died at his post, Feb
rnary Is, 1893"
George Johnson's widow and two chill
dren were found by New York World
reporter yesterday hungry and fearing
at any moment to be made homeless.
True, the widow had among her few
Possessions a nicely typewriter letter
from the navy department which said:
You have the sincere sympathy of the
department in your bereavement" but
that could not bring food to the hungry
children nor pay the long overdue rent.
JOINED THE NAVY YEARS AGO.
Johnson was thirty-three years of age,
and was born in North Carolina. He
Joined the navy in 1885. and served on
the gunbOat Yorktown until his enlist
ment expired.
In 1890 he married woman from Bal
timorc, and they came to Brooklyn tOI
live. He secured a position as a porter
and supported his wife and two little
ones. They hired house at No. 113
De Kalb avenue for $50 month, anu
contenting themselves with two rooms
rented out the others for an amount
that reduced their own rent to SS.
Then johnson lost his position. He
tried hard to get something to do, but
work was slack, and finally he joined
the navy again as coal paSser and
shipped on the ram Katahdin.
His wages were SD Il month, and on
this the wife drew $11 each month att
the pay office in New York, while her
husband sent her all of the balance as
often Us nc drew it.
Ethel, the baby, grew i'll. There was
no money for doctors bills and mcd-
cines, and in her desperation the mother
wrote 10 her husband. Poor johnson
could do nothing. He was wearing out
his ifTC down in the bowels of the .Gnc
vessel the government had sent to Ha-
vana ITO protect her citizens. He could
not 90 to see his sick child and his help
less wife. He could only work and wait.
Ills LAST LETTER.
On February =. Mrs. Johnson received
this letter, the last message from her
husband: =
Havana, Cuba. January %.
b, "My Dear Wife: | take the pleasure
of informing you of my whereabouts
We arrived here on the 26tb. We got
orders to leave at once. When we got
here the Spanish did not want to let us
come in, but we did. 50 we expect
trouble here at any moment They are
fighting down here now. 1t is hard
times here. but we will not take any
bluff from the Spanish. O.
I'VE are not allowed to eat the food
and drink the water they bring, for
they might poison us all. There are
four warShips here. hope there will
not be any trouble, for | want to get
back at home one time more.
1.-THE yellow fever is down here and it
is very hot. We have to sleep on the
deck. We'll, l do not know how long
we will stay here. / hope not long, for
want to get home to see you as soon
rs / can, and the children. l know
they would be glad to sec me.
'Well, my dear, / know it is very
hard on you that / could not send you
some money, but l will send you some
next month; that is the best that l
can do. | have tried every way to get
some, but l could not. | wish | was at
home. Well, / must come to a close
God bless you and the children if
shall not get back again, for j cannot
tell. Give my love to the children.
Goodbye by dear love. With kisses.
GEORGE"
address me George Johnson, Ha-
vana, Cuba, care of Consul General of
United States"
HUSBAND LOST; RENT BEHIND.
Ethel recovered, but Mns. johnson
was in sore straits. She could not nav
all of her rent for January or any of 1t
for February. Then came the news of
the Names disaster. The poor woman,
worn out with worry and her vain
search for work, was prOstrated with
grief and horrible uncertainty. She
spent her last pennies to send Il letter
to Washington, asking for news of her
husband, but the reply came:
The name of George Johnson is not
found on the list of saved or of those
identified and buried in Havana"
Since then Mrs. johnson has lived
upon the charity of her neighbors and
Al