Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-04-02
The True Story OF Fred. Douglass,
Escape from Slavery.


Fred. Douglass, in a lecture at Phil
adelphia, recited for the first tim,
publicly the story of his escape from
slavery:
While slavery existed had good
reasons for not telling the story of my
escape from bondage, and now thai
that great trial is over. ] do not know
any good reason why / should not tel
it. People generally imagine that il
would be s marvellous recital, but II
is one OF the most simple and com.
monplace stories that could be given.
al was owned in Talbot county. on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in
1885, and a few years after that time
made my escape. ] had been sent up
to Baltimore by my master to a BROTH
er of his for safe keeping; bat it was
strange movement 20 send me sixty
miles nearer my liberty. When / de-
termined on escaping looked about
for the proper means 10 accomplish
my purpose. At that time great vigil
lance was exercised by the authorities.
Everybody was strictly watched, and
If slave was found outside of the
limits of his masters plantation, he
would be liable to show by what RIG ht
he was out of place.
~ was put TO work in ship yard,
and commenced to learn the business
of ship-carpenteringa and caulking.-
Here 1 had frequent intercourse with
sailors, and in them / thought dis
covered a feeling of sympathy and
kindness. Although the difficulties
and obstacles against escape were ap-
pa emily insurmountable, l conceived
an idea that / could secure my release
by dressing in sailors clothing and
making surreptitiOus retreat. But /
had no papers by which could pass
from place to place.
Fortunately, l met with q man
named Stanley, who lived in BaIti
more, and who was free. He resem-
bled me in stature, and from him /
obtained q suit of sailors clothes, and
his protection papers, and in this ap-
parel, provided with the necessary ar
ticles, I. in September, 1888, secured
my liberty, got Isaac Rhodes to take
my bundle, and, by arrangement, aft.
er the train started he threw it IN, and
/ ran after and jumped on the car. II
compelled to buy q ticket it would
have been necessary to undergo the
most rigid examination, and all de-
scriptiOn in the papers must cOrre-
spOhd exactly with the marks on my
person. Accordingly the scheme was
carried out, and Soon arrived at Will
Del. Here l met Frederick
Stein, for whom l had worked, but i
had worked, but / was so perfectly
that he did not know me-
In q few moments the train from Phil
adelphia, bound south, arrived, and
On this WAS Capt. MCGOWAN, of the
revenue cutter at Baltimore, whom
had known Intimately, and who had
also been acquainted with me, but he,
too, failed TO recognize me. When the
came through the train he
rudely called on all the Passengers for
tickets, but when he came to me, in.
stead of speaking in an arrogant man
ler, told me kindly that he supposed
had my free papers. / responded in
he Negative, but his surprise was
great and his Indignation not appar- |
INT when L told him that my only |
pass was an American Eagle. Look |
ng upon it, he stated that / was all |
light, and with this assurance came |
to PhiladeIphia, and Ut, .ceed- |
d to New York. / got there at two |
,'elock, aud sJrayed about and slept |
n the streets until morning. l did |
lot know had q friend there but |
IN the next morning met Mr.. Isaac |
Dixon, at whose house had lived in
and he referred nae TO Da-
lid Ruggles, q philanthropic and gen
'rous minded citizen. While in the
ity-where / remained several days,
visited the TOmbs, and there 1 saw
saRc Hopper, who for the great OF
ehse of assisting Tom a well known
in making his escape, was
trial."
Mr.. Douglass said he had kept this
tory secret until this time, because
be conductor who allowed him TO
ass from Baltimore to Philadelphia
TOuld have been responsible to his
Master for the pecuniary extent of loss
AID because he did not
rant TO expose his friend Stanley, and
ecause he did not want SHAREHOLDERS
D know that slaves had any methods
{ escape. His freedom, he said, was
purchased by British:.gold,
$50 having been paid for him by a
lend of his in England, and the ne
citations having been conducted by
Ion. William Meredith of this city,
no is at present the presiding officer
the Convention for the revision of
he State Constitution, which is now
/ session. He concluded his disser
zion by eulogizing the heroes Of the [
cause, among them VIM.
lloyd Garrison, Lucretia Mott, Gerrit {
NTH and Joshua Leavitt.