Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-29
Douglass Escapes.
THE STORY TOLD FOR THE FIRST
TIME. %
fFrom the New York Times

: lSehl duoIehce, VINO gathered L
. hear Mr.. Frederick Douglass re
hearsal of his "Reminiscences O
. Slavery and anti-Slavery." 1t was on
/ ! ~ about year ago that this stag,
was denied to theabo,e named gen
| tleman, and the outburst OF indig
nation that then escaped from ever,
loyal citizen at that time, proved
Esnch a severe reprimand to the di
rectOrs of the Academy that this ac
ton was speedily revoked, and now
Mr Douglass Or any other respecta
ble representative of his race NAV
/ have access to its floor and stage
IL was generally anticipated that
MIR. Douglass recital of the wron gs
and expressions OF the col0red peo.
PIE would be an interesting and
spirited discourse, and few were dis,
appointed with his able effort. He
began bis discourse by saying: 81
give you joy. that every vestise of
slavery has been swept from the
land" aud after comparing the rela-
tons between the existing form of
governmentin this country and the
Old world, he made reference to the
men who never did anything to pu,
man In the constitution, but are now
moving heaven and earth to nut
God i'll the constitution. He said
u am for accepting this govern
ment, as in its liberal trr til it is a
purely human government for the
accomplishment of purely human
ends, and oe to it when it shall in.
corporate the principle of divine
right in its national CODE After re-
viewing the inception and develop
ment OF the .anti-slavery movement,
Its object and ends, its accomplish
ments and its failings, its trials and
ina. victory, Mr.. Douglass gave the
following rehearsal OF his own es.
cape: '''Vhile slavery existed had
good reasons for not telling The sto.
~ of my escape from bondage. and
how that that great trial is over. / |
do not know amy good reason why |
should not tell it. People generally |
imagined that it was a marvellous
recital, but it is one ofthe most sim
pie and comm Dplace stories that
could be given. / was owned in
Talbot county, on the eastern shore
OF Maryland, 1885, aud few years
alter that time made my escape. I
had been sent up to Baltimore by
my master to a brother OF his for
Saie-keeping, but it was strange
movement to send me sixty miles
nearer my liberty. When | deter
mined ON escaping, / looked abont
Tor the proper means to ACCOMPLISH
my purpose. AT that time great
Vigilance was exercised by the au.
thorltIcs. Everybody was strictly
watched, and ii "a slave were found
outside the limits of his masters 4
)l' ntation, he would he liable TO
show by what right he was out of
,iace. Was put to work in ship
Yard, aud commenced to learn the
business of ship-carpentering and
'aulking. Here | had frequent in. I
erconrse with sailors, and in them
thought | discovered feeling of ,
and kindness. Although
ne difficulties aud obstacles gainst
scape were apparently insnrmount.
Die, conceived an idea that /
onld secure nay release by dressing I
2 sailors clothing and making a
urreptitious retreat. But had no |
'apers by which could pass from, {
lace to place. Fortunately | met {
'ith a man named Stanley, who +
we'd in Baltimore, and who was
rec. He resembled. me in stature.
nd from him | obtained a suit Of ,
aIlor's clothes, and his protection I
apers, aud in this apparel, proyid- :,
u with the necessary articles, / in =
eptember. 1888, secured my fiber. :
:. got Isaac Rhodes TO take my :
and, by Arrangement, after :.
ne train started he threw il in. and =
ran alter and jumped OH the car. !,
compelled to buy a ticket it would .
ave been NECESSARY to undergo the .
ost rigid examination and all de. !;
'ription in the papers must CORES. :, =
1nd exactly with the marks on my :
irson. Accordingly, the scheme Il :,
as carried out, and soon arrived q
W llinlngton. Here l met Fred. .,
ick stein, for whom ] had worked. a
II ! was soperfectly disguised that n
dld not know me. In a few mo- =
ehts the train from Philadelphia.
'und south, arrived, and On this g,
as Captain McGoweu, OF the re- n,
'lue cutter at Baltimore, whom / ~
ID known intimately, and who al. Il,
mad been acquainted with me. 81
Il he, too, failed to recognize me. 90 90
hen the conductor came through -
Q train lac rudely called on all the
ssengers for tickets, but when he ~,
me to me, instead of speaking in r,
arrogant manner, told me kindly s,