Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-01-18
Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass.
The name Of Fred Dnnglass is ono of tho
best known in the country, and the fact
that he, colored man, escaped from
slavery at a time when the underground
railway" was running its periIous trips, is
also well known. The manner of his es
cape, however, has never until now been
told. Mr.. Douglass narrative of his escape
is now printed in The Century magazine
for the first time. Though often asked to
write the story of his escape, Mr.: Douglass
has refused on the grounds that while
slavery existed there were "a great many
reasons Tor not telling the story, and since
it has ceased to exist, there was no reason
tor telling it He has at last been prevail.
ed upon to tell the tale. Those persons
who expected Il sensational story will be
disappointed. There is, however, in the
simple narrative a pathos that all who
read it must feel. 1t Is record of cour-
age that could risk betrayal, AMI bravery
that was ready to encounter death if need
be. But these qualities were not largely
drawn upon. Address and cunning were
of more use, and they won the day.
Nearly half century ago, when Doug
lass made his escape from slavery, il was
he custom in the state of Maryland to
require all free colored people TO be pro-
vlded with "free papers," without which
they were not permitted to travel. A de
scription of the person was given in these
papers, and the pnsSessOr was examined
very rlgidly to make sure of his identity.
slave answering to the general deScrip
tun would sometimes borrow or hire his
pipers from free negro; but this was Il
critical thing to do, and often resulted
'ilsastrousIy to both the owner and the
borrower. Dong lass answered no odescrip
tion papers that he had seen, so that plan
cUud not be adopted in his case He had
frlend-a saIlor-who was supplied with
certain government papers that had at
least an official look. B.lumore was hi.
starting point. He arranged witha friend
" hackm IN To bring his luggage to the
station, and arrived there jus; in time 10
jump aboard the train, hoping in the con
tuS on attending his departure to avoid ex
cling suspicion. The story is best told
in Douglass own language:
In my clothing | was rugged out in
sailor style. | had on red shirt, tar
paulin hat and black cravat tied sailor
tusiIion caroloesiy aud loosely about my
neck. My knowledge of ships and sailors
tank came much TO my assistance, for |
knew n ship from stem to siern and from
Eeelson tOcross trees, and could talk sailor
| like an old silt | was well on the way
10 Havre de Grace before the conductor
came INTO the negro Car to collect the tick
cts and examine The papers of his black
passengers. This was II critical moment
in the drama. My whole future depended
upon the decision Of this conductor. Agi.
tated though | was while this ceremony
proceeded, still, externally at least, was
apparently calm and self fpossessed. H,
went on with his duty, examining several
colored passengers before reaching me
He was Somewhat harsh in tone and per
emplory in manner until he reached me-
when. strange enough, and to my surprise
and relief, his whole manner was changed
Seeing that did not produce my free pa
pers, as the other colored people in the cal
had done, he said 10 me, in friendly con
lrast with his bearing toward the others:
81 suppose you haze your free papersP'
10 which answered:
mo. sir; never carry my free papers
to SEA with me-"
But you have something to show tha
you are freeman. haven't youP"
Yes, sir l answered; II have Il pa
per with the American eagle upon it, anC
that will carry me round the world"
At Havre de Grace he met a young COL
orel man whom ne knew, and W seemed
curious TO ind out his business so far hon
home. He got out of this difficulty only
to encounter another. At the window o.
a train stan ling on a side track directly
opposite the one he was in, sat man fol
whom he had just been workins at Balti
more. BY good luck, the man did no
turn around; so he was undiscovered. Or
reaching Philadelphia he inquired his WAY
to the New York trains, and arrived il
that city on the 4th of September, 1886, {
free man
But his troubles were not yet over. Ii
New York, he found thai it was hard t
find trustworthy man of even hi, owl
race. Large premiums were offered 70
the return OF runaway slaves, and few o
the miserable darkles in the city coult
withstand the temptation to betray
brother For days Douglass wandere,
homeless and hungry through the streets
Finally he found "a good Samaritan, VIII,
directed him TO the house of David Rug
giles, one of the officers of the "under
ground railroad" There The runawa
was hidden for several days, and there h,
was joined by his intended wife, fire.
woman from Baltimore, and they wer
married by Presbyterian minister. From
New York the newly married couple wen
to New Bedford. Mass where their fire.
life began in earnest. 1t was in New Bed
torl that Douglass, on the advice of col
ored friend, changed the name gwen hin
at birth to the one he now bears. Fred
erick Augustus Washington Bailey VIA
his original name His friend, havin,
just read "rhe Ltdy OF the Lake." sug
gested, indeed, insisted upon, Douglass IL
the new surname; and Douglass it wa
made.