Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-03-25
Fred. Douglass Escape.

The following is the story of Fred
Douglass escape, as told by himself,
at the Academy Of Music in Phila.
delphia, on Monday evening, for the
first time:
While slavery existed, had good
reason for not telling the story oil
my escape from bondage but now
Ct at the great trial is over, | do not
know any good reason why l should
not tell it. 1t is one of the most
simple and commonplace stories that
could be given. l was owned in
Talbot county, on the eastern shore
Of Maryland | had been sent up TO
Baltimore by nay master to broth
err OF his forsafe keeping; but it was a
strange movement TO send m so
miles nearer my liberty. When
determined on escaping, 1 looked
about for proper means to accomp-
lish my purpose. at that lime great
Vigilance was exercised by the
authorities Everybody was strictly
watched. and If q slav, we're found
outside the limits of bis masters
plantation, be would be called upon
to show by what right he was out
OF place. l was put to work in q
shipyard, and commenced to learn
the business If ship carpentering an d
caulkisg. Here l had frequent inter-
course with sailors. and in them
thought l discovered q feeling of
sympathy and kindness. Although
the difficulties a. d obstacles against
escape we're apparently insurmOunt-
able. l conceived an idea that l
could secure my release by dressing
in sailors clothing ard make a sur
reptitious retreat. But l had no
papers by which could pass from
place to place. Fortunately, met
with man named Stanley, who liv-
ed in Baltimore, and who was free.
He reese mbed me in stature, and
from him | obtained a suit of sailors
clothes. and his protection papers,
and in this apparel, provided with
the necessary articles, [, in Septem-
her, 1893 secured my liberty l got
IL: &C Rhodes TO take my bundle,
and by arrangement, after The train
started he threw il in and ran after
it and jumped on the car. When
The conductor came through the
train be rudy called on all the pas
sengers for tickets, but when be
came to me, instead of speaking in
an arrogant manner told me kindly
that be supposed had my free pa
pers. | responded in the negative,
but his surprise was great, and his
Indignation not apparent, when /
told him that my only p SO was an
American Eagle. Looking upon is
be stated that was all right, and
with this assurance / came through
to Philadelphia and proceeded 70
New York. got there at 2 o'clock,
and stayed about the streets until
morning. l did not know that |
had friend there, but on the next
morning l found Isaac Dixon. at
whose house | had lived ia Balti'
more, and be referred me to David
Ruggles, a ph,lanthropist, and gener
GUS minded citizen. While in the
city, where l remained several days,
| visited the Tombs, and here l saw
Isaac Hopper, who, for the great of.
tense of assisting Tom we'll
known character, in making escape
was undergoing trial. Mr.. Dong
lass said he bad Sept his story secret
until this time, because the conduct.
or who allowed him to pass from
Baltimore to Philadelphia would
have been responsible to his master
for the pecunisry extent of loss sus-
tanned, and becase he did not want
TO expose his friend Stanley.