The late James Forten, of Philadelphia, well known as a Colored man
of wealth, intelligence and philanthropy, relates that he remembered
well when Lord Cornwallis was overrunning the South, when thick gloom
clouded the prospect. Then Washington hastily gathered what forces he
was able and hurried to oppose him. "And I remember," said he, "for
I saw them, when the regiments from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and
Massachusetts marched through Philadelphia, that one or two companies
of Colored men were attached to each. The vessels of War of that
period, were all, to a greater or less extent, manned with Colored
men. On board the 'Royal Louis,' of twenty-six guns, commanded by
Captain Stephen Decatur, senior, there were twenty Colored seamen. I
had myself enlisted on this vessel, and on the second cruise was taken
prisoner and shortly after was confined on board the old Jersey Prison
Ship, where I remained a prisoner for seven months. The Alliance,
of thirty-six guns, commanded by Commodore Barry; the Trumbull, of
thirty-two guns, commanded by Captain Nicholson; and the ships South
Carolina, Confederacy, and the Randolph, each were manned in part with
Colored men."
The digression from military service to those rendered voluntarily
during the pestilence, seemed to me warrantable in this connection.
In the autumn of 1793, the yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia,
with peculiar malignity. The insolent and unnatural distinctions of
caste were overturned and the people called Colored, were solicited in
the public papers to come forward, and assist the perishing sick. The
same mouth which had gloried against them in its prosperity, in its
overwhelming adversity implored their assistance. The Colored People
of Philadelphia nobly responded. The then Mayor, Matthew Clarkson,
received their deputation with respect, and recommended their course.
They appointed Absalom Jones and William Gray to superintend it, the
Mayor advertising the public, that by applying to them, aid could be
obtained. This took place about September.
Soon afterwards the sickness increased so dreadfully that it became
next to impossible to remove the corpses. The colored people
volunteered this painful and dangerous duty--did it extensively, and
hired help in doing it. Dr. Rush instructed the two superintendents in
the proper precautions and measures to be used.
A sick white man crept to his chamber window, and entreated the passers
by to bring him a drink of water. Several white men passed, but hurried
on. A foreigner came up--paused--was afraid to supply the help with his
own hands, but stood and offered eight dollars to whomsoever would.
At length, a poor colored man appeared; he heard--stopped--ran for
water--took it to the sick man; and then staid by him to nurse him,
steadily and mildly refusing all pecuniary compensation.
Sarah Boss, a poor black widow, was active in voluntary and benevolent
services.
A poor black man, named Sampson, went constantly from house to house
giving assistance everywhere gratuitously, until he was seized with the
fever and died.
Mary Scott, a woman of Color, attended Mr. Richard Mason and his son,
so kindly and disinterestedly, that the widow, Mrs. R. Mason, settled
an annuity of six pounds upon her for life.
An elderly black nurse, going about most diligently and affectionately,
when asked what pay she wished, used to say, "A dinner, Massa, some
cold winter's day."
A young black woman was offered any price, if she would attend a white
merchant and his wife. She would take no money; but went, saying that,
if she went from holy love, she might hope to be preserved--but not if
she went for money. She was seized with the fever, but recovered.
A black man, riding through the streets, saw a white man push a white
woman out of the house. The woman staggered forward, fell in the gutter
and was too weak to rise. The black man dismounted, and took her gently
to the hospital at Bush-hill.
Absalom Jones and Wm. Gray, the Colored Superintendents, say, "A white
man threatened to shoot us if we passed by his house with a corpse. We
buried him three days afterwards."
About twenty times as many black nurses as white were thus employed
during the sickness.