The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-03-28
FRED. DOUGLASS ESCAPE.
The story Told for the First Time.

The Story Told for the First Time.
The Academy of Music was densely
crowded this evening, 10 hear Mr.. Fred
erick Douglass rehearsal of his " Re-
miniscencesof Slavery and Anti-Slavery.
Mr.. Douglass gave the following rehear-
sal of his own escape While slavery
existed, L had good reasons for not tell
ing the story OF my escape from bondage,
and now that the great trial is over, / do
not know any good reason why / should
not tell 1T. People generally imagined
that it was marvellous recital, but IL is
one of the most simple and common
place stories that could be given. i was
owned in Talbot county, on the eastern
shore of Maryland, in 1895, and few
years after that time made my escape.
L had been sent up TO Baltimore by my
master to brother of his for safe keep
ing, but it was n strange movement to
send me sixty miles nearer my liberty.
When L determination escaping, looked
about for q proper means to accomplish
my purpose. At that time great vigilance
was exercised by the authorities. Every
body was strictly watched, and il slave
were found outside the limits of his
masters plantation, he would be liable
to show by what right he was ont of
place. L was put to work in ship
yard, and commenced to learn the bust
ness of ship-carpentering and caulking.
Here / had frequent intercourse with
sailors, and in them L thought l discov-
cred feeling of sympathy and kindness.
Although the difficulties and obstacles
against escape were apparently insur-
mountable, l conceived an idea that l
could secure my release by dressing in
sailors clothing and making a surrepti-
tious retreat. But l had no papers by
which l could pass from place to place.
Fortunately, / met with a man named
Stanley, who lived in Baltimore, and
who was free. He resembled me in
stature, and from him l obtained suit
of sailors clothes, and his protection
papers, and in this apparel, provided
with the necessary articles, l, in Sep
TENDER, 1888, secured my liberty. got
Isaac Rhodes to take my bundle, and,
by arrangement, after the train started
he threw it in, and L ran after and
jumped on the car. If compelled to buy
ticket, it would have been necessary to
undergo the most rigid examination, and
all description in the papers must CORE
| spond exactly with the marks on my
person. Accordingly, the scheme was
carried out, and L soon arrived at Will
mington. Here / met Frederick Skein,
| for whom L had worked, but L was so
perfectly disguised that he did not know
me. In a few moments the train from
! Philadelphia, bound south, arrived, and
on this was Capt MCGOWAN, of the Rev
enue Cutter, of Baltimore, whom / had
known intimately, and who also had been
acquainted with me, but he too, failed
to recognize me. When the conductor
came through the train he rldely called
on all the passengers for tickets, but
when he came to me, instead of speaking
in an arrogant manner, told me kindly
that he supposed had my free papers.
L responded in the negative, but his sur
prise was great, and his indignation not
apparent, when L told him that my only
pass was an American Eagle. Looking
upon it, he stated that / was all right,
and with this assurance / came through
o.Philadelphia, and proceeded to New
York. / got there Mt 2 o'clock, and
strayed about and slept in the streets
until morning. | did not know that
ing / met Isaac Dixon, at whose house /
| Hdu UFei III DdltlllOIe, dIu ne IcIeTTtu
me to David Ruggles, philanthropist
and generous-minded citizen. While in
the city, where 1 remained several days,
L visited the Tombs, and there / saw
Isaac Hopper, who, for the great offense
of assisting Tom, well-known char
acter, in making his escape, was under
going trial.
Mr.. Douglass said he had kept this
story secret until this time, because the
conductor who allowed him to pass from
Baltimore to Philadelphia would have
been responsible to his master for the
pecuniary extent of the loss sustained,
and because he did not want to expose
his friend Stanley, and because he did
not want shareholders to know that
slaves had any methods of escape. His
freedom, he said, was honorably pur-
chased by British gold, $3.50 having been
paid for him by friend of his in En-
gland, and the negotiations having been
conducted by the Hon. VIM. Meredith,
of this city, who is at present the pre-
siding officer of the Convention for the
Revision of the State Constitution,
which is now in session. Phiiadelp hia
Letter.