Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-24
pRINCEIoN.MASCOT DEAD.
"Jim" johnson, Who Was a Bunaus
Slave, Familiar Figure for Many Year

nJim" johnson, VINO Was a Runaway
Slave, Familiar Figure for Many Years.
Princeton, n. j., July 23.--James John
son, the runaway slave, for 60 years familiar
figure on the Princeton campus, Is dead at
s. years.
reformer. was little slave boy on the plan
tation of Col. Edward Lloyd, in Easton,
Nd. he made the acquaintance Of a young
negro his own age. When they became
young men they planned how they might
escape from bondage. That companion of
Fred Douglass was James johnson.
Born at Easton, Md, October ID, 1876,
his real name WIS Collins. His parents
were the slaves of Col. Wallace, and very
early in life Jim vas given by his mistress
to her son, Teakle Williams.
According 70 the Princeton negro,
Douglass and he were pl- play boys to-
to-tozether.p He would tell how Douglass
used to accompany bis masters little son to
the schoolhouse IN tho morning, and how,
not being allowed TO enter the building, he
would wait nil day outside, listening in.
tcntIy at the door TO what was being said
within. But Jim had not reckonsd with the
obstacle which lag in his path to freedom. Al
theyage Of % he had married dusky damsel
of the South. and when the time for parting
! with his sweetheart came he could not stand
the strain, $50 Fr-Fr-Fr-Frcd went a-a-
| Alone"
Time, however, win work wondrous
changes, go 1t is not to be nSarveled at that
Jimmy, year after Douglass had escaped,
| had summoned up sufficient courage to
leave Easton and his bride, under the cover
of night, not without assurances, though,
that he would send for his honey" as soon
as he was safely located In the North. He
kept his word; his first wife has been buried
| in the old Princeton cemetery for more than
80 years.
On the day Of his attempt 10 run away
Jirnmy's master had given him s. bill and
with this In his pocket be reached Whining
ton, Del, without interference on the fol.
| lowing day. Here he changed his name "a
| johnson, by which he Is still known. From
| Wilmington no went by boat to Philadel
phia and thence to Trenton, where he ar.
| rived "d-d-dead broke. y reaching Princeton
late in the afternoon without money Of
friends.
He secured a job as janitof and bootblacE
| life had passed quickly for him, when {
very critical juncture in his career came
| One day he met Teakle Wallace face TO face
| on Nassau street. His old master had beer
| informed Of Jimmy's presence in Princeton
/ by Southern student and had come on Il
claim him under the fugitive slave law. Tn,
4 late William r. Alexander appeared for thu
! negro and demanded trial by jury undel
the State law. The jury rendered verdic
/ for the claimant, and the value set OF
Jimmy's hide was $3.50, which vas paid b,
Mrs. Provost Of this place. Thus jim
secured his liberty.
The students at a massmeeting later con
tributed s100 of the amount. Since ther
Jim has paid every cent of his indebtedness
to his kind benefactress.
In 1855 Nassau Hall was, Quilted by fire
and 1t was then that Jim started on his ner
camille career. He opened little stor.
where University Hall now stands, dealinl
| r,rfuotraItu ", eocopd hand cIafhfnn