Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-15
FRED. DOUGLASS ESCAPE.

FEED. DOUGL1SS' ESCAPE.
fhe Academy of Music in Philadelphia
wa recently densely crowded with IN
intelligent audience who gathered to hear
Nj Frederic Douglass rehearsal of bis
al minisceuces of Slavery and ANTI
slavery"
ater reviewing the inception and de.
ve.opment ot the anli.sayerY movement,
lis aoject AMI ends. its accomplishments
an Is laiIings, its trials and final victory,
Nj Douglass gave the following rchear.
SaI II his own escape.
while slavery existed 1 had good res
son for not telling the story OF my escape
irom bondage, and now that the great
trii is over. do not know any good rca.
son Why | should not tell il. People gen.
era y imagine that il was a marvellous
rec al. but il is one of the most simple
anu commonplace stories That could be
giy,n. / was owned in Talbot County.
on ne eastern shore OF Maryland. in 1885.
and few years alter that time made my
csc. pe. | was sent up TO Baltimore by my
mas Ter TO u brother OF his for safe keep
ing Out it was strange moyementto send
mt siXty miles nearer my liberty. When
/ determined on escaping, looked about
Tor he proper means to accomplish my
purpose. At that time great vigilance
wa, exercised by the authorities. Every
body was strictly watched, and il q slave
were found outside the limits OF his mas
ter. plantation, he would he liable TO show
/ by what right he was out of place. was
put 20 work in a ship.yard, and commenc-
eG 90 lean the business OF shlp'carpenter'
ing and caulking Here | had frequent
int course with sailors, and in them |
thought | discovered . feeling OF sympa.
thy and kindness Although the obstacles
| against my escape were apparently Insur.
mOuntablc conceived an idea that could
secure my release by dressing in sailors
clo.hing and making = surreptIllous re.
treat. But had no papers by which |
could pass from place TO place. Fortu'
natcly | met with \ man named Stanley,
1
! He yesemblcd me in stature, aud from
him obtained suit OF sailors clothes,
and protection papers, and in this apparel,
provided with the necessary articles, !
IN september, 1888. secured NY Liberty.
| act Isaac Rhodes 10 take my bundle,
ana by arrangement, after the train start
cd nc threw it in, ard | ran after and
Jumped on the car. il compelled TO buy
lc1et, it would have been necessary 10
ur ergo most rigid examination, and all
descriptions in the papers must cores
pond exactly with the marks on my per-
SON Accordingly the scheme WAS car
ricD out, and soon arrived at Whining
ton. Here mel Frederic Stein. lOI whom
| had worked, but | was so perfectly dis
au ed that he did not know nae. In =
few moments the train from Philadelphia,
bound south, arrived, and on this vas Capt.
Mciiowan, OF the revenue cutter at Bal
timOre, whom had known intimately,
and who also had been acquainted with
me, but he also failed to recognize ne.
When the conductor came through the
train he rudely called on all the passen-
gci Tor tickets, but when he came to ne,
ms I'd of speaking in the arrogant man
ner, told me kindly that he supposed
has my free papers.
! responded in the negative, but his
surprise was great and his Indignation
wa not apparent, when | told him my
Oniy pass was an American Eagle. Lock
i'm upon it. he stated that | was all right
an With this assurance came through
TO Philadelphia. and proceeded 10 New
Yo.t. got there III TWO o'clock and
staid about and slcpti in the streets until
morning.
/ id not know that had friend here
bui on the next morning met Isaac Dix.
on. NJ whose house had lived in Balti
moIc, and lie referred me TO David Rug
GLE. philanthropic and generous mind
ed ,.iizcn. While in the city, where
remained several days, | visited the
Ton bs and there | saw Isaac Hopper,
who for the great offensc of assisting
Tom u well known character. in max.
ing his escape, was then undergoing
trial
Air. Douglass said lie had kept this
slorv secret until this time because the
conductor who allowed him to pass from
Baltimore 10 Philadeldhia would have
beer responsible TO his master Tor the pc.
cuniary extent of loss sustained, and be
cause he did not want 10 expose his iriend
Stanley, and because he did not want
Shareholders to know that slaves had any
ME tAods of escape. His freedom. he
said, was honorably purchased by British
gold, $3.50 having been paid for him by u
friend of his in England, and the nego
tiations having been conducted by Hon.
VIM. Meredith of this city, who is at
present the presiding officer of the Con.
vention Tor the Revision of the State Con-
stitution, which is now in session. He
concluded his dissertation by culogizing
the heroes of the anti.savery cause,
among them William Lloyd Garrison,
Lucrelia Mott, Gerritt Smith, and Joshua
Leayitt.