New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-13

DEAR READERS: 1 am here among the
ashes of my old home in Rochester, New
York. As soon as learned Of the fire
hurried here from Washington. and have been
here ever since. A summons home TO ma
ones house in ashes is almost like going home
to a funeral, and though only sadness greets
one at the end of the journey no speed is too
great to bring him there. The house de-
stroyed had been my home during more than
twenty years and twenty years OF industry
and economy had there brought together
many things valuable in themselves, and
rendered more valuable by association. Sew
eral questions are naturally suggested by
every fire: First. How did it happen? How
was it extingrished? What was saved +?
What was lost? What was damaged? do
not mean to answer these questions in de-
tail, nor to indulge in sentimental descrp-
ton. The fire was doubtless the work OF an
incendiary. 1t began in a barn well filled
with hay OH the south side of the house, and
was first seen at midnight, when the family
of my son-in-law (who occupied the dwellng)
had been in bed two hours. No fire or light
had been carried into the barn by any OF the
family for months. What could be the mo-
tive? Was it for plumber, or was it for spite,
or was it mere wanton wickedness on the
part of persons of the bascr sort, who wander
on the outskirts of cities by starlight at late
hours? / do not know and l cannot guess.
One thing l do know and that is, while
n = x1xa
Northern cities, and its people are among
the most humane and highly civilized, it
nevertheless has its full share of that Ku-
Klux spirit which makes anything owned by
a colored man a little less respected and Sc
cure than when owned by white citizen. 1
arrived in Rochester at one O'Clock in the
night in thick darkness and drenching rain,
and not knowing where my family might be,
I applied for shelter at two of the nearest
hotels and was at first refused by both, with
the convenient excuse that 'sWe are full"
till it was known that my name was Fred
erick Douglass, when room was readily
offered me, though the house was full! did
not accept, but made my way to the police
headquarters, to learn if possible where l
might find the scattered members of my
family. Such treatment as this does not tend
to make man secure either in his person or
property. The spirit which would deny
man shelter in a public house, needs but
little change to deny him shelter, even in his
own house. II is the spirit Of hate, the
spirit of murder, the spirit which would burn
family in their beds. 1 may be wrong, but l
fear that the sentiment which repealed me at
Congress Hall burnt my house.
The fire did its work quick and with marked
thoroughness and success. Scarcely trace
Of the building, except brick walls and stone
foundations, is left, and the trees surround
ing the building, planted by my own hands
and Of more than twenty years growth were
not spared, but were scorched and charred
beyond recovery. Much was saved in the
way Of furniture and much was lost, and much
was damaged. Eleven thousand dollars
worth of government securities (of which I
have fortunately the numbers) were de-
stroyed. Sixteen volumes of my old paper the
North Star, and Frederick Douglass. paper,
were destroyed; piano worth five hundred
dollars was saved, but much damaged, the
same with three sofas, and many mahogany
chairs, and other furniture. My loss, not
covered with insurance will reach from four
to five thousand dollars. Every effort posi-
BILE was made by the police and fire depart
ment to save property, and the neighbors
(all white) did everything in their power to
afford relief to the shelterless family As
sured of the sympathy of my readers in this
l have felt at liberty to make this
brief statement, as an apology for absence
from my post of public duty, which after all
will not be long.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS,