Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-07

FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. =, 1881.
Slavery Days.
THE STORY OF FRED. DOUGLASS ESCAPE |
FROM HIS MAsTER-AN INTERESTING |
CHAPTER IN THIS MANS. LIFE, NOW |
PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME-A
TRIP TO NEW YORK UNDER "a SAILORS |
PRoTECTION"-sEvERA NARROW Es-
CAPEs.
The New York ''Times'' published
Tuesday a long ane interesting sketch of
the life and career of Hon. Frederick Doug
lass, covering his birth and slavery expe-
rience on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
his apprenticeship (if such it can be called)
in Baltimore, and his subsequent work for
the good of his race. Among the most in
teresting parts Of the article is that rela-
nting to his escape from his master at st.
4chaels, which is now published for the
{ time. This account is as follows:
Ter making up his mind that. come
might, he would escape from con-
of bondage, the young man, after
onths OF hard work, pinching HIM
svery turn. managed to scrape to-
S17. He knew that it was impossi-
him to obtain so called ''free pa
which would permit him to leave
imOre without question, but he did
keed, after some effort, in securing
was in those days called sailors
bction.' This was a certificate of Cit
Ship, duly signed and sealed by the
thorities, which was given to all colored
men leaving baltimore and other South
portes, as a guarantee against moles-
ion because of their race. An old friend
DOuglaSS-a freeman-WhO had ceased
Jing to sea and who had in his possession
me Of these certificates. gave it to him.
ut is true that the description of the man
contained in it was very far from fitting
Douglass; still, after attiring himself in a
full suit of sailors clothes, and knowing
that no matter how closely he might be
questioned he conld, because of his famili-
arity with ships and shlpyards, sustain the
disguise, he went to the railway depot and
Just as the train was departing for New
! York jumped upon it and went into the
tcolOred car At this time one of The raj
lying cries Of the dominant party was Free
Trade and Sailors Rights and as the
Baltimore, thus giving ample time for the
examination of colored passengers, none
of the officers at the depot attempted to
: prevent Douglass. apparently fresh from
the sea, from taking passage in the Car.
Having succeeded to this extent, he still
knew that his chief ordeal was yet before
him. At che time in question railroad
companies were not only held responsible
for the safe delivery Of goods and passen-
gers, but also, to celtain extent, for th'
value of slave property which might escape
over their roads. Having this RESPONSE
bility, the conductor and other servants OF
the railroads were given authority to ar
rest and detain those whom they had good
\6ason to believe were slaves attempting
y TO escape, AS the conductor of the train
upon which Douglass was approached him
he was for a moment much alarmed. but
summoning all his courage and resolution
to his aid, he put the boldest front upor
the matter. After minutely questioning
all the other colored people on the car, the
conductor came to what seemed to him to
be young sailor, and said:
ssWelI, Jack, Of course you've got your
Eyes, replied Douglass, boldly; and
without the slightest apparent anxiety;
II guess I've got papers here that will car
ny me anywhere saying which he drew
it to his queStiOner. The conductor glanc
ed at 1t rapidly; saw that the broad eagle
of the government was at its top, and thai
it was duly signed and sealed, and. fully
satisfied that Douglas had every right to
travel where he would, passed into the
next csr.
Until the train reached Havre de Grace
the fugitive encountered no further deten-
ton. AT that place. however. his train
La, IL rI,xr fn md O. r.
other on opposite tracks, and the window
of the seat In which he sat, as chance
would have it, came directly opposite that
at which Capt. MCGOWAN, who knew
him well, was seated. Fortunately, how
ever. the trains separated without Doug
lass being recognized by this man, who
uncertainly would have secured his return TO
his master. On the boat from Whining
ton to Philadelphia the young man Was
met by negro who had known MN IN
slavery, and who. with very little OF that
caution for which his race is proyerblal
said quickly and quite aloud;
81 suppose you are not going back this
way very soon?"
He was going on to make some further
remarks in the same direction, when Doug
lass. with look and a word or two Spok-
ga under his breath, effectually sllenced
him. Having effectually passed through
these slight dangers, he arrived safely a
Philadelphia, and had no trouble IN max
inc his way to New York. How rejoiced
he was to be within the limits of that free
state may be inferred from the fact that al
the time in question runaway slaves were
almost invariably whipped within an lnch
of their lives. and then sold to planters IL
the Gulf States. literally to be ground up
into sugar and rice, for it was then uni
yersally acknowledged by land owners ID
che South that the most profitable way to
work plantation was to use up Iull-
grown s'nigger" in seven years. and linen
commence anew with flesh crop, mat
is to say. it was the custom to work ne
gro night and day for as long time as ne
would hold Out-the longest period 1oi
which 1t was possible for human nature TO
endure such treatment was usually seven
yeass-When the unfortunate man dled
miserably, and his place was taken py
one Of the ''fresh crop" For a tine
after his arrival in. New aoTk ne mao
good reason to fear That ne mlgnt
at any moment be taken 10 make up
one of this ssfresh crop" With this pros
pect continually before him, he knew Inat
he could not live contentedly iE New orK
and he concluded to try and make a nome
in New ENGLAND. With this intention, he
went to New Bedford and tried to gel
work at his trade. By few GOOD people
who belong to the then growing AoonSloh
party. he Was very kindly treated and much
enconraged. But by the working classes
about the ship yards he was made to feel
plainly that be was an unwelcome intrud-
er. StilI, he struggled on against INJURY
and insult. the knowledge that ne was at
least a free man supporting him through
!. many trials. This sort Of life continued
pme years, and little by little ms Is COL !
improved. His marked intellectual
ability, and his power as a pubic Sp siana
~. brought him into communication with
Garrison and many Of the other advanced
advocates of the emancipation movement,