Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/142

134 stamper and paper clerk. The Postmaster and he failing to agree in a small matter, Mr. Fortune threw up his position and returned to the "case."

While "sticking type" he received an appointment in 1874 as mail-route agent between Jacksonville and Chattahoochee. He resigned this position in 1875, and was appointed Special Inspector of Customs for the Eastern District of Delaware by Sec. B. H. Bristow, at the instance of his unwavering friend, Congressman William J. Purnam of the First Congressional District of Florida. He resigned this position in the fall of 1875 and entered the Normal Department of Howard University at Washington, where he remained two school years. He then entered the composing-room of The People's Advocate, at Washington, and while there he was married to Miss Carrie C. Smiley. Soon after this he returned to Florida, and spent a year teaching county schools. In 1879 Mr. Fortune went to New York City, and entered the composing-room of The Weekly Witness. In 1880 he made his bow as a journalist, as editor of The Rumor, Geo. Parker and William Walter Sampson being partners in the publication, the name of which was soon changed to The New York Globe.

The Globe wielded a powerful influence for the right. The author well remembers the frequent references made to The Globe and its editor. At that time few Afro-American journals were published whose columns were as reliable and newsy as those of The Globe. Owing to a disagreement in the partnership, The Globe suspended in November, 1884.

In speaking of our subject, at the time of the suspension of The Globe, a writer in Dr. Simmons' "Men of Mark" has the following to say: "The suspension of The Globe did not discourage its editor. He had commenced his work with a well-defined plan in view, and he was determined to continue it. He felt the need of a journal to contend for the just rights of his race, and thought that much good might be done