The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-21
Special to the RECoRD-UNIox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. - Frederick
Douglass, the noted freedman orator and
diplomat, died a few minutes before
o'clock tonight at his residence at Ana
costa, suburb of this city, OF heart fail
ure. His death was entirely unexpected,
as he had been enjoying the best OF health.
During the afternoon he attended the con-
vention OF the women Of the United States
now in progress in this city, and chatted
with Susan B. Anthony and others of the
leading mem bers, with whom he has been
on intimate terms for many years.
When he returned home he said moth
ing OF any feeling of illness, though he
expressed himself as being little ex-
hausted from the climb UP the stairs lead
ing from the street to his house. which is
on a high terrace. lie sat down and
chatted with his wife about the women al
the convention. Suddenly he gasped
clapped his hands to his heart, and 1elI
back unconscious. y doctor was hastily
summoned, and arrived within very
few moments, but his efforts to revive
him were hopeless from the first. Within
twenty minutes after the attack the faint
motion OF the heart ceased entirely, and
the great ex-Slaye statesman was dead.
Mir. Douglass leaves two sons ana a
daughter, the children of his first wife.
His second wife, who is white woman,
survives him.
The story of the second marriage is a
romantic one. Miss Helen Pitts, whom
he married, was a New England woman
OF middle age, clerk in the Office of the
Recorder of Deeds Of the District Of Co.
lum bia whom MIR. Douglass was apppint-
ed TO that office. she was a member of q
literary society to which he belonged
They were thrown much together, and
finally became engaged. Her relatives
opposed the union bitterly on account ot
his color, but finally yielded to force oI
circumstances. Some of them have 10,
some time been living near the Douglass
home on AnacOsta Hights.
Frederick Douglass was born at Tuck.
ahOe, Talbot County, Md, February,
lSiI. His mother was negro slave, and
his father a white man. Douglass was 8
slave until the age OF 10 years, when be
was sent TO Baltimore to live with rela-
tive of his master. His master allowed
him later to hire his own time, and be
was employed lii a shIpyard, and in ac.
cOrdance with resolution long enter.
tained, fled from Baltimore and from
slavery in September, 1888. lie made
his way to New Iorb, and thence tC
New BeIfOrd, Mass, where he married
and lived ior two or three years, support.
ing himself by day labor on the wharves
and in various workshops.
in 1911 he attended an anti-slayery con-
yention at Nantucket, and afterwarC
travelled and lectured through the New
England States IN that cause for foul
years.
In 1917 he began at Rochester, \. y.
IN r al
PopeT, which title was later changed tt
the North StUr. His supposed implica.
ton in the John Brown raid in 1889 led
TO requisitiOn for his arrest upon the
Governor of Michigan where he theL
was, and in consequence he went to Eng.
land and remained several months.
When the civil war broke out he urged
upon President Lincoln the employment
OF c0lored troops and the proclamation
of emancipation. After the abolition o
slavery he discontinued his paper ana
entered the lecture field.
IN 1871 he was appointed Assistant Sec
retary TO the commission to San Do.
mingo, and on his return President Gram
appointed him one Of the Territorial
Council Of the District of Columb
In 1872 he was elected Presidential
Elector from the State of New York auC
was appointed to carry the electoral vote
TO Washington. In 1876 he was sppointed
United States Marshal Tor The District o
Columbia, which Office he retained til
1881, alter which be became Recorder ot
Deeds IN the district, from which office
he was removed by President CleyeianC
in 1886.
In the autumn of that year he revisited
Engla TO inform the friends whom bf
had made while fugitive slave OF the
| progress OF the African race in theIJniteC
States. After his return to the United
States he was appointed Minister to Hayt
by President Harrison in 1889. He was
sent to Hayu in United States man-of
war. He arrived in Hayti on October S
1889, just as that country was emerging
! from one OF the most exciting revolutions
it had witnessed for years. The Govern.
ment existing upon his arrival was sim.
! ply provisional, and even after the new
President took office there was some de-
lay IN the arrival and presentation of his
credentials. These circumstances gave
rise in the United States to persisten
rumors that the Haytian Government
had refused to receive Mr.. Douglass or
account of his color. They were denied
however, and MIR. Douglass was finally
warmly received.
The HayLian Minister was the last posi-.
ton in the gift of the United States hello
by Mr.. Douglass. In 1892 Hayti made al
appropriation of money for the Coluin
ban Exposition, and appointed Mr.
Douglass the senior of her two Commits
sioners TO the exposition. Since the close
of the fair Mr.. Douglass has lived quietly
in Washington without engaging in any
special business. His wealth is variouslJ
estimated at from 100000 to 100000.