The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-03-15

tdorities. Everybody was str ictly
watched, an If u slave was found outside
the limits of he masters plantation, |
no would be liable to show by what right
he was out of place. WAS put 10 worn in
a ship-ysrd, anil com Genced to learn the
business OF ship.carpenter,ng and caulk.
Jug. Here 1 had frequent intercourse
with sailors, and in them thought dis
covered u feeling of sympathy aud kind
ness. Although the difficulties and obsta.
Giles against escape were apparently
insurmountsble, l conceived an idea
that / could secure my release
by dressing In sailors clothing
and making u surreptitious retreat. But
had no papers by which could pass
from place to place. Fortunately, l Lset
with man named Stanley, who lived in
Baltimore, and who was free. He resem.
hled me in stature, and from him I o6-
tanned n suit of sailors clothes, and his
protection papers, and in this apparel,
provided with the necessary articles, /, IN
September, 1888, secured my liberty.
got Isaac Rhodes to take my bundle, ana,
by arrangement, after the train started
he threw it in, and l ian after and jumped
on the car. Ii compelled to buy ticket,
1t would have been necessary to undergo
the most rigid examination, and all de-
scription in tho papers must correspond
| exactly with the marks on my person.
Accordingly, the scheme was carried out,
and soon arrived at Wilmington. Here
l met Frederick Skein, for whom l
had worked, but was go perfectly dis
| guised tina. no did not know me. In n
few moments the train from Philadelphia,
| bound SOUTH arrived and on this was Capt.
| q ha IN Tor IF al 4.
more, whom l had known intimately, and
who also had been acquainted with me,
but he, too, failed to recognize me. When
tho conductor came through the train he
rudely called on the passengers for tickets
| but when he came to me instead of speak,
| ing in an arrogant msnner, told me kindly
that he supposed / had my free papers.
| responded in the negative, bu. his sur
| prise was great, and his Indignation not
| apparent when l told MIN that my only
pass was an American eagle. Looking
| upon it he stated that ! was all right,
| and with this assurance came through
| to Philadelphia, and proceeded TO New
York. / got there at 2 two o'clock, and
| stayed about and slept in the streets until
| morning. l did not know that had
friend there, but on the next morning l
met Isaac Dixon, at whose house i had
lived in Baltimore, and be referred me to
David Ruggles, philan,hropist and gen.
| erous.miGded citizen. While in the city,
where l remained several days i visited
the Toombs, and there saw Isaac Hop
per, who, for the great ofiense Of assisting
Tom, u well.known character, in max
ing his escape, was undergoing 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 Pc
cuniary extent of loss sustained, and be-
cause he did not want to expose his friend
Stanly, and because he did not want slave
holders to know that slaves had any meth
DDS of escape. His freedom, he said, was
honorably purchased by British gold,
seven hundred and fifty dollars having
been paid for him by a friend of his in
England, and the negotiations having
been conducted by the Hon. VIM. Mere
dith Of this city, who is at present the
presiding officer Of the convention for the
revision Of the state constitution, which is
now in session.