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.
The following certificate was subsequently given by the Mayor:—
"Having, during the prevalence of the late malignant disorder, had almost daily opportunities of seeing the conduct of Absalom Jones and Richard Allan, and the people employed by them to bury their dead, I with cheerfulness give this testimony of my approbation of their proceedings, as far as the same came under my notice. The diligence, attention, and decency of deportment, afforded me at the time much satisfaction.
Signed,
Matthew Clarkson, Mayor.
Philadelphia, June 23, 1794.
On the capture of Washington by the British forces, it was judged expedient to fortify, without delay, the principal towns and cities exposed to similar attacks. The Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia waited upon three of the principal Colored citizens, namely James Forten, Bishop Allen, and Absalom Jones, soliciting the aid of the people of Color in erecting suitable defences for the city. Accordingly, two thousand five hundred Colored men assembled in the State House yard, and from thence marched to Gray's ferry, where they labored for two days, almost without intermission. Their labors were so faithful and efficient, that a vote of thanks was tendered them by the committee. A battalion of Colored troops were at the same time organized in the city, under an officer of the United States army; and they were on the point of marching to the frontier when peace was proclaimed.
A Colored man, whom I visited in the hospital, called to see me to-day. He had just got out. He looked very pitiful. His head was bent down. He said he could not get it erect, his neck was so injured. He is a very intelligent man, and can read and write. I will give you his story.