The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1938-07-01
AUTO CRASH is FATAL

| Wiscasset, Me.,-James Wei
don Johnson, CT, educator, poet
author and forrper contributing
editor of the New, York&e, was
killed early SundayA aid his
wife, Mrs. Grace N a il Johnson,
was critically injured when
their automobile was struck by a
Maine Central Railroad strain
on grade crossing near Wis
casset bridge.
Mr.. Johnson died a few minut-
es after he had been dragged
from the wreckage. Both legs
were broken and his skull frac-
tured. Mrs. Johnson, who was
driving the car, suffered frontal
fracture OFF the skull an severe
decorations of both legs. She
was taken to q hospital at near
by Damaricotta where DR.. Chas
j. DePerri said she had an even
chance to recover.
The accident happened during
a binding rainstorm which OBJ
scured Mrs. Johnson's view of
the crossing signal. Mr.. John
son was asleep at the time of
fatal crash. The Johnons were
on their way to their summer
home at Great Darlington, Mass
from Point Pleasant, Me-, where
they had been visiting Dean f.
George Payne of New York
Unworthy.
Born in Jacksonville, Fla, Mr..
johnson had varied and color
full career as lawyer, poet. music
al comedy composer, editor, dip
lomat and athlete. After gradu
alton from Atlanta u in 1894,
he taught a backwoods school
in Georgia, later becoming the
principal of Stanton Grammer
school in Jacksonville. At the
same time he studied law and
was the first Negro in Jackon-
vile to stand the local bar exam.
Later with his brother, J.
Rosamond Johnson, he moved
to New York and turned to song
writing and joined Bob Cole,
vaudeville star. They went on
tour besides writing many out
standing musical comedy hit of
the early goth century. One of
hi immortal pieces is Lift Every
Voice and Sing" the Negro
national anthem.
Theodore Roosevelt in 1905
appointed him to the post ofU.S.
Counsel at Puerto Cabelloe, Ven
ezueIla, as successor to Jerome
B. Patterson, Associate editor
of The New York Age, later be-
ing transferred to Nicaragua. In
1910, he went on leave and mar
rled Miss Grace Nail, daughter
of John b. Nail.
He resigned from the consuler
service in 1914 when promotion
to the Azores was side-tracked
by the Wilson administration.
He became contributing editor
of the New York Age and later
iield secretary to the NAACP,
being advanced to the executive
secreary's position.
II avi n g already published
several books, Mr.. Johnson re-
signed in 1880 from the NAA-
CP to devote more time to his
literary work. In recognition
of his work he won the Spingarn
medal of the NAACP, in 1925
and in 1923 won first prize in
literature of h Harmon
Foundation and a year later
years fellowship from Julius
Rosenwald Fund. In 1881 he be-
came proessor Of creative litera-
ture at Fisk University. Nash
vile, Tenn, and since 1884 has
been visiting professor of the
same subject at New York L.
The body was brought back
to the city by !. Rosamond
Johnson.on last Tuesday morn
inc and taken to the Universal
Funeral Chapel.
All funeral arrangements were
mae by Gene Buck, president Of
the American Society of Com
.roSers, Authors and Publishers.
.oi which the dcccasedwas a char
ter member and founder Pr