"Sam" was doing Slave labor at the office of the Richmond "Daily
Dispatch," as a carrier of that thoroughly pro-slavery sheet. "Sam" had
possessed himself somehow of a knowledge of reading and writing a
little, and for the news of the day he had quite an itching ear. Also
with regard to his freedom he was quite solicitous. Being of an
ambitious turn of mind, he hired his time, for which he paid his master
$175 per annum in regular quarterly payments. Besides paying this
amount, he had to find himself in board, clothing, and pay doctor's
expenses. He had had more than one owner in his life. The last one,
however, he spoke of thus: "His name is James B. Foster, of Richmond, a
very hard man. He owns three more Slaves besides myself." In escaping,
"Sam" was obliged to leave his wife, who was owned by Christian Bourdon.
His attachment to her, judging from his frequent warm expressions of
affection, was very strong. But, as strong as it was, he felt that he
could not consent to remain in slavery any longer. "Sam" had luckily
come across a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and in perusing it, all his
notions with regard to "Masters and Servants," soon underwent an entire
change, and he began to cast his eyes around him to see how he might get
his freedom. One who was thoroughly awake as he was to the idea of being
free, with a fair share of courage, could now and then meet with the
opportunity to escape by the steamers or schooners coming North. Thus
Samuel found the way open and on one of the steamers came to
Philadelphia. On arriving, he was put at once in the charge of the
Committee. While in their hands he seemed filled with astonishment at
his own achievements, and such spontaneous expressions as naturally
flowed from his heart thrilled and amazed his new found friends, and
abundant satisfaction was afforded, that Samuel Washington Johnson would
do no discredit to his fugitive comrades in Canada. So the Committee
gladly aided him on his journey.
After arriving in Canada, Samuel wrote frequently and intelligently. The
subjoined letter to his wife shows how deeply he was attached to her,
and, at the same time, what his views were of Slavery. The member of the
Committee to whom it was sent with the request, that it should be
forwarded to her, did not meet with the opportunity of doing so. A copy
of it was preserved with other Underground Rail Road documents.