The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-03-21
Douglas. Escaps-The Story told for
the First Tine.

OF MS "reminiscences OF slavery
and Anti-Slavery." It was only
about a year ago that this stage was
denied to the above named gentle
man, and the Outburst OF indigna-
ton that then escaped from every
loyal citizen at that time proved
such severe reprimand 10 the di-
rectOrs Of the Academy that their
action was speedily revoked, and
now Mr. Douglass or any other re-
spectacle representative Of his race
may have access to the floor and
stage 1t was generally anticipated
tnat Alr. Douglass's recital Of the
wrongs and expressions Of the col
ored people would be an interesting
and spirited discourse, and few were
disappointed with his able effort
He began his discourse bv saviner.
Il give you JOY that every vestige Of
slavery has been swept from the
land, and after comparing the rela.
tons between the existing forms of
Government in this country and the
old world he made reference TO the
men who never did anything to put
man in the Constitution, but are
now moving heaven and earth to
put God in the Constitution. He
said: q am for accepting this Gov.
eminent, as in its literal truth It is
a purely human government for the
accomplishment of purely human
ends, and woe to it when it shall in
corporate the principle of divine
right in its national CODE" After
reviewing the inception and deYel-
opment of the anti-slayery move
ment, its objects and ends, its ae-
complishments and its failings, its
trials and final victory, Mr.. Doug
lass gave the following rehearsal Of
his own escape: "While slavery ex-
listed I had good reasons for not tell
ing the story of my escape from
bondage, and now that that great
trial is over, 1 do not know any good
reason why 1 should not tell it. Peo-
pie generally imagined that it was q
marvellous recital, but it is one of
the most simple and commonplace
stories that could be given, 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
brother of his for safe keeping, but
it was a strange movement to send
me sixty miles nearer my liberty.
When I determined on escaping, 1
looked about for the proper means
to accomplish my purpose. tthat
time great vigilance was exercised
by the authorities. Everybody was
scrictly watched, and if a slave were
found outside the limits Of his mas
ters's plantation, he would be liable
to show by what right he was out
of place. I was put to work in q
ship-yard, and commenced to learn
the business Of ship-carpenter and
caulking. Here I had frequent in
tercourse with sailors, and in them
thought l discovered q feeling of
sympathy and kindness. Although
the difficulties and obstacles Of es-
cape were apparently insRrmount-
able, I conceived the idea that I
could secure my release BY dressing
in sailors clothing and making 3
surreptitious retreat. But had no
pspers by which I could pass from
plsee to place. Fortunately l met
with a man named Stanley, who
lived in Baltimore, and who was free.
He resembled me in. stature, and
from him I obtained a suit of sail
Or's clothes and his protection pap
pers, and in this apparel, provided
with the necessary articles, I, in
September, 83S, secured my liberty.
l got Isaac Rhodes To take my
bundle, and, by arrangement, after
the train started he threw it in, and
1 ran after and jumped on the car.
If compelled to buy ticket it would
have been necessary to Undergo the
most rigid examination, and al de-
scription in the papers must cor
respond exactly with the marks On
my person. Accordingly the scheme
was carried out, aud I soon arrived
at Wilmington. Here I met Fred
eric Stein, for whom 1 had worked,
bnt was so perfectlyly disguised
that he did not know me. In few
moments the train from Philadel
phia, bound south, arrived, and on
this was Captain MCGOWAN, Of the
Revenue Cutter at Baltimore, whom
l had known Intimately, and who al
so had been acquainted with me,
but he, too, failed 70 recognize me.
When the conductor came through
he rudely called on all the passen-
gers for tickets, but when he came to
me, instead of speaking in an AFRO
giant manner, told me kindly that
he supposed 1 had my free papers.
I responded in the negative, but his
surprise was great and his indigna-
ton apparent when l told him my
only pass was an American Eagle.
Looking upon it he stated that I was
all right, and with this assurance I
came through to Philadelphia and
proceeded to New York. Igot there
at two o'clock and strayed about and
slept in the streets until morning. 1
did not know that l had friend
there, but on the next morning /
met Isaac Dixon, at whose house 1
bsd lived in baltimore. and he refer
red me to David Ruggles, a philan
thropie and generous minded citi-
zen. While in the city, where ! re
NAMED several days, l visited the
Tombs, and there saw Isaac Hop
per, who, for the great ofense of as
sisting 'Tom,' a Well-knOwn eharac
ter, in making his escape, was under
going trial."
Mr.. Douglass said he had kept
this story secret until this time, be-
cause the conductor who allowed
him to pass from Baltimore to Phila-
delphia would have been responsible
to his master for the pecuniary ex-
tent of 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
purchased by British gold, $3.50
having been paid for him by a friend
of his in England, and the negotia-