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of the doctor； had once made an effort to recapture MR。 DIXON；
but had failed for want of evidence to support his claim。
Jake told me the circumstances of this attempt； and how narrowly
he escaped being sent back to slavery and torture。 He told me that New York
was then full of Southerners returning from the Northern watering…places；
that the colored people of New York were not to 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 I must trust no man with my secret； that I 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
I myself might be a spy and a betrayer。 Under this apprehension；
as I 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 a damper
to my enthusiasm。 My little store of money would soon be exhausted；
and since it would be unsafe for me to go on the wharves for work；
and I had no introductions elsewhere； the prospect for me was far from
cheerful。 I saw the wisdom of keeping away from the ship…yards；
for； if pursued； as I felt certain I should be； Mr。 Auld； my 〃master；〃
would naturally seek me there among the calkers。 Every door seemed closed
against me。 I was in the midst of an ocean of my fellow…men；
and yet a perfect stranger to every one。 I was without home；
without acquaintance； without money； without credit； without work；
and without any definite knowledge as to what course to take；
or where to 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 on one
of the wharves； I was indeed freefrom slavery； but free from
food and shelter as well。 I kept my secret to myself as long as I could；
but I was compelled at last to seek some one who would befriend me without
taking advantage of my destitution to betray me。 Such a person I found
in a sailor named Stuart； a warm…hearted and generous fellow； who； from his
humble home on Centre street； saw me standing on the opposite sidewalk；
near the Tombs prison。 As he approached me； I ventured a remark to him
which at once enlisted his interest in me。 He took me to his home to spend
the night； and in the morning went with me to Mr。 David Ruggles；
the secretary of the New York Vigilance Committee； a co…worker with
Isaac T。 Hopper； Lewis and Arthur Tappan； Theodore S。 Wright； Samuel Cornish；
Thomas Downing； Philip A。 Bell； and other true men of their time。
All these （save Mr。 Bell； who still lives； and is editor and publisher of a paper
called the 〃Elevator；〃 in San Francisco） have finished their work on earth。
Once in the hands of these brave and wise men； I felt comparatively safe。
With Mr。 Ruggles； on the corner of Lispenard and Church streets；
I was hidden several days； during which time my intended wife came on
from Baltimore at my call； to share the burdens of life with me。
She was a free woman； and came at once on getting the good news of my safety。
We were married by Rev。 J。 W。 C。 Pennington； then a well…known and respected
Presbyterian minister。 I had no money with which to pay the marriage fee；
but he seemed well pleased with our thanks。
Mr。 Ruggles was the first officer on the 〃Underground Railroad〃
whom I met after coming North； and was； indeed； the only one with whom
I had anything to do till I 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 I might there find work at my trade and make a good living。
So； on the day of the marriage ceremony； we took our little luggage
to the steamer John W。 Richmond； which； at that time； was one of the line
running between New York and Newport； R。 I。 Forty…three years ago
colored travelers were not permitted in the cabin； nor allowed abaft
the paddle…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 fared much harder before。
We arrived at Newport the next morning； and soon after an
old fashioned stage…coach； with 〃New Bedford〃 in large yellow letters
on its sides； came down to the wharf。 I had not money enough to pay our fare；
and stood hesitating what to do。 Fortunately for us； there were two
Quaker gentlemen who were about to take passage on the stage；
Friends William C。 Taber and Joseph Ricketson；who at once discerned
our true situation； and； in a peculiarly quiet way； addressing me；
Mr。 Taber said： 〃Thee get in。〃 I never obeyed an order with more alacrity；
and we were soon on our way to our new home。 When we reached 〃Stone Bridge〃
the passengers alighted for breakfast； and paid their fares to the driver。
We took no breakfast； and； when asked for our fares； I told the driver
I would make it right with him when we reached New Bedford。
I expected some objection to this on his part； but he made none。
When； however； we reached New Bedford； he took our baggage；
including three music…books；two of them collections by Dyer；
and one by Shaw；and held them until I was able to redeem them
by paying to him the amount due for our rides。 This was soon done；
for Mr。 Nathan Johnson not only received me kindly and hospitably；
but； on being informed about our baggage； at once loaned me the two
dollars with which to square accounts with the stage…driver。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Nathan Johnson reached a good old age； and now rest
from their labors。 I am under many grateful obligations to them。
They not only 〃took me in when a stranger〃 and 〃fed me when hungry；〃
but taught me how to make an honest living。 Thus； in a fortnight
after my flight from Maryland； I was safe in New Bedford； a citizen of
the grand old commonwealth of Massachusetts。
Once initiated into my new life of freedom and assured by Mr。 Johnson
that I need not fear recapture in that city； a comparatively unimportant
question arose as to the name by which I should be known thereafter
in my new relation as a free man。 The name given me by my dear mother
was no less pretentious and long than Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey。
I had； however； while living in Maryland； dispensed with the
Augustus Washington； and retained only Frederick Bailey。
Between Baltimore and New Bedford； the better to conceal myself
from the slave…hunters； I had parted with Bailey and called myself Johnson；
but in New Bedford I found that the Johnson family was already so numerous
as to cause some confusion in distinguis